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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:

  • That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
  • We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
  • On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.

By learning about North Blendon (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.

As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for North Blendon. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.

Name Variations for North Blendon ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

For example, a typical abbreviation for North Blendon: N. Blendon

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

Neighboring Counties ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived:  their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the west contained birth and death records; the county to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

North Blendon is located in Ottawa County.

To see how the shape of Michigan's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Ottawa County: Allegan, Kent & Muskegon.

Below are the counties that are near North Blendon. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to North Blendon:

  • Ottawa County     (The home county of North Blendon)
    • The following are listed by their distance from North Blendon, with the one closest to North Blendon listed first.
    • Bauer
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Bauer is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
    • Allendale
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Rusk
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Rusk is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rusk
    • South Blendon
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • South Blendon is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Blendon
    • Eastmanville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Eastmanville is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastmanville
    • Lamont
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Lamont is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamont
    • Hudsonville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Robinson
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Robinson is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson
    • Noordeloos
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Noordeloos is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noordeloos
    • Jenison
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Zeeland
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Coopersville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Allegan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from North Blendon, with the one closest to North Blendon listed first.
    • Fillmore
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Fillmore is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fillmore
    • Burnips
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Burnips is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnips
      • Former name for Burnips:
      • Burnip's Corners
    • New Salem
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • New Salem is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
    • Graafschap
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Graafschap is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graafschap
    • Boyd
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Boyd is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyd
    • Diamond Springs
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Diamond Springs is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond Springs
    • Hamilton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Dorr
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Moline
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Moline is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moline
    • Hilliards
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Hilliards is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilliards
    • Singapore ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Singapore is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Singapore
    • Saugatuck
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Barry County
    • Middleville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Kent County
    • The following are listed by their distance from North Blendon, with the one closest to North Blendon listed first.
    • Grandville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Walker
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Kinney
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Kinney is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinney
    • Beverly
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Beverly is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly
    • Burlingame Heights
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Burlingame Heights is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame Heights
    • Burlingame
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Burlingame is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
    • Clyde Park
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Clyde Park is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde Park
    • Galewood
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Galewood is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galewood
    • Urbandale
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Urbandale is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Urbandale
    • Wyoming
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Byron Center
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Carlisle
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Carlisle is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlisle
  • Muskegon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from North Blendon, with the one closest to North Blendon listed first.
    • Fruitport
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Ravenna
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Sullivan
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Sullivan is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sullivan
    • Slocum
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Slocum is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slocum
    • Canada Corners
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Canada Corners is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canada Corners
    • Morgan Corners
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Morgan Corners is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Corners
    • Norton Shores
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Wolf Lake
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Wolf Lake is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Lake
    • Muskegon Heights
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Roosevelt Park
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Bailey
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Muskegon
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Newaygo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from North Blendon, with the one closest to North Blendon listed first.
    • Ashland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Ashland is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
    • Bridgeton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Bridgeton is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeton
    • Grant
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Sun
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Sun is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to North Blendon, see our County-by-County Page for North Blendon.

Cemeteries Near North Blendon ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of North Blendon.

This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.

Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for North Blendon - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for North Blendon covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from North Blendon, with the one closest to North Blendon listed first.

  • Blendon Twp. Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blendon Twp. Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Blendon Twp. Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located 3 miles [4.8 km]<2> to the northwest of Hudsonville.
    • The Blendon Twp. Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Blendon Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #128 <3>
  • Rusk Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Borculo Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Beaverdam Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Bauer Road Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Church Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Allendale Twp. Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Olive Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Georgetown Twp. Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Elmwood Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Maplewood Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Eastmanville Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (240 more) ...

Nearby Communities in 1895 ...

We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<4>

While we didn't find North Blendon in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of North Blendon.

These communities are listed based on their distance from North Blendon, with the one closest to North Blendon listed first.

  • South Blendon
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • South Blendon is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Blendon
  • Bauer
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Bauer is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
  • Pearline
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Pearline is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearline
  • Allendale
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Borculo
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Borculo is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Borculo
  • Beaverdam
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Beaverdam is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaverdam
  • Hudsonville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Lamont
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Lamont is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamont
  • Eastmanville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Eastmanville is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastmanville
  • Olive Center
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Olive Center is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olive Center
  • New Holland
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • New Holland is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Holland
  • Noordeloos
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Noordeloos is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noordeloos
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Tallmadge
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Tallmadge is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallmadge
    • Robinson
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Robinson is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson
    • Zeeland
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around North Blendon. See our List of 1890's Communities around North Blendon.

Newspapers Published in North Blendon ...

An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).

To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.

Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 37 newspapers that have been published in the area around North Blendon.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of North Blendon, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for North Blendon.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.

To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to North Blendon:

Footnotes ...

<1>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<2>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- North Blendon) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com.
<4>We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about North Blendon, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.