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 Podunk (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 Podunk. 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.
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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.
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 east contained birth and death records; the county to the south 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.
Podunk is located in Barry 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 Barry County: Allegan, Calhoun, Eaton, Ionia, Kalamazoo & Kent.
Below are the counties that are near Podunk. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Podunk:
- Barry County (The home county of Podunk)
- The following are listed by their distance from Podunk, with the one closest to Podunk listed first.
- Hastings
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cloverdale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Cloverdale is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
- Irving
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Irving is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
- Cedar Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Cedar Creek is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Creek
- Delton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Dowling
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Dowling is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dowling
- Prairieville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Prairieville is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
- Morgan
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Morgan is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
- Middleville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Freeport
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Banfield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Banfield is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banfield
- Hickory Corners
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Maple Grove
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Maple Grove is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Grove
- Allegan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Podunk, with the one closest to Podunk listed first.
- Hooper
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Hooper is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooper
- Neeley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Neeley is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neeley
- Bradley
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Bradley is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradley
- Shelbyville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Martin
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Wayland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Moline
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Moline is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moline
- Plainwell
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Watson
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Watson is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watson
- Hilliards
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Hilliards is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilliards
- Dorr
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Otsego
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hopkins
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Podunk, with the one closest to Podunk listed first.
- Bedford
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Level Park
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Level Park is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Level Park
- Oak Park
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Oak Park is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Park
- Springfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Pennfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Pennfield is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennfield
- Fort Custer
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Fort Custer is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Custer
- Former name for Fort Custer:
- Camp Custer
- Verona Park
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Verona Park is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verona Park
- Battle Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Brownlee Park
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Brownlee Park is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownlee Park
- Beadle Lake
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Beadle Lake is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beadle Lake
- Sonoma
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Sonoma is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonoma
- West Leroy
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- West Leroy is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Leroy
- Ceresco
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Ceresco is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ceresco
- Eaton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Podunk, with the one closest to Podunk listed first.
- Vermontville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Woodbury
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Woodbury is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbury
- Carlisle
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Carlisle is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlisle
- Bellevue
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Little Venice
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Little Venice is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Venice
- Sunfield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Chester
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Chester is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chester
- Ainger
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Ainger is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ainger
- Gresham
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Gresham is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gresham
- Stalls Corner
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Stalls Corner is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stalls Corner
- Olivet
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Needmore
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Needmore is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Needmore
- Mulliken
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Ionia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Podunk, with the one closest to Podunk listed first.
- Campbell Corners
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Campbell Corners is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Corners
- Elmdale
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Elmdale is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmdale
- Lake Odessa
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Clarksville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- West Sebewa
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- West Sebewa is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Sebewa
- Saranac
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- South Ionia
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- South Ionia is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Ionia
- Portland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ionia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Kalamazoo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Podunk, with the one closest to Podunk listed first.
- Highland Park
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Highland Park is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Park
- South Gull Lake
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- South Gull Lake is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Gull Lake
- Richland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Yorkville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Yorkville is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville
- Augusta
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- East Cooper
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- East Cooper is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Cooper
- Galesburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Parchment
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Comstock
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Comstock is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comstock
- Eastwood
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Eastwood is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastwood
- Alamo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Alamo is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alamo
- Kalamazoo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Climax
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Climax is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Climax
- Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
- Kent County
- The following are listed by their distance from Podunk, with the one closest to Podunk listed first.
- Caledonia
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Alto
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Corinth
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Corinth is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
- Dutton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Dutton is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutton
- Segwun
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Segwun is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Segwun
- Lowell
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Carlisle
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Carlisle is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlisle
- Cutlerville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Kentwood
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Byron Center
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- North Dorr
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- North Dorr is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Dorr
- Ada
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Forest Hills
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Forest Hills is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hills
- Ottawa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Podunk, with the one closest to Podunk listed first.
- Forest Grove
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Forest Grove is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Grove
- Jamestown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Jamestown is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Forest Grove Station
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Forest Grove Station is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Grove Station
- Jenison
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Van Buren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Podunk, with the one closest to Podunk listed first.
- Kendall
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Kendall is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendall
- North Lake
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- North Lake is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Lake
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Podunk, see our County-by-County Page for Podunk.
Cemeteries Near Podunk ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Podunk.
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 Podunk - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Podunk covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Podunk, with the one closest to Podunk listed first.
- Brush Ridge Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- McCallum Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Rutland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Riverside Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ingraham Grave
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Barry County Poor Farm Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Irving Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Yankee Springs Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Jesuit Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Cedar Creek Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (292 more) ...
- Striker Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Hastings Twp. Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Leach Grave
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
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.<2>
While we didn't find Podunk in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Podunk.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Podunk, with the one closest to Podunk listed first.
- Cloverdale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Cloverdale is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
- Hastings
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar Creek
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Cedar Creek is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Creek
- Irving
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Irving is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
- Delton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Prairieville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Prairieville is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
- Dowling
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Dowling is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dowling
- Bowens Mill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Bowens Mill is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowens Mill
- Morgan
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Morgan is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
- Coats Grove
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Coats Grove is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coats Grove
- Middleville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Banfield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Banfield is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banfield
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Freeport
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Hickory Corners
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Lacey
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lacey is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacey
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Podunk. See our List of 1890's Communities around Podunk.
Newspapers Published in Podunk ...
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 119 newspapers that have been published in the area around Podunk.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Podunk, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Podunk.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Podunk:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Barry County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allegan County
- Calhoun County
- Eaton County
- Ionia County
- Kalamazoo County
- Kent County
- Ottawa County
- Van Buren County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Michigan
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> | 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 Podunk, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Podunk) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |