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 Ramona Park (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 Ramona Park. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Ramona Park is located in Kalamazoo 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 Kalamazoo County: Allegan, Barry, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Saint Joseph & Van Buren.
Below are the counties that are near Ramona Park. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ramona Park:
- Kalamazoo County (The home county of Ramona Park)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ramona Park, with the one closest to Ramona Park listed first.
- Portage
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Pavillion Center
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Pavillion Center is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pavillion Center
- Milwood
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Milwood is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milwood
- Vicksburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Scotts
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Comstock
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Comstock is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comstock
- Eastwood
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Eastwood is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastwood
- Kalamazoo
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Schoolcraft
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Oshtemo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Parchment
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Galesburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Allegan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ramona Park, with the one closest to Ramona Park listed first.
- Plainwell
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Otsego
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Neeley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Neeley is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neeley
- Hooper
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Hooper is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooper
- Martin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Watson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Watson is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watson
- Shelbyville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Allegan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Bradley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Bradley is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradley
- Barry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ramona Park, with the one closest to Ramona Park listed first.
- Doster
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Doster is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doster
- Hickory Corners
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Delton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Prairieville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Prairieville is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
- Banfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Banfield is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banfield
- Cloverdale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Cloverdale is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
- Cedar Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar Creek is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Creek
- Dowling
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Dowling is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dowling
- Branch County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ramona Park, with the one closest to Ramona Park listed first.
- Sherwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Sherwood is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 306 people
- Union City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Matteson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Matteson is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matteson
- Hodunk
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hodunk is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodunk
- Bronson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Girard
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Girard is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girard
- Batavia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Batavia is located in Branch County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batavia
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ramona Park, with the one closest to Ramona Park listed first.
- West Leroy
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- West Leroy is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Leroy
- Fort Custer
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Fort Custer is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Custer
- Former name for Fort Custer:
- Camp Custer
- East Leroy
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- East Leroy is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Leroy
- Sonoma
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Sonoma is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonoma
- Joppa
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Joppa is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joppa
- Level Park
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Level Park is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Level Park
- Athens
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Park
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Park is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Park
- Springfield
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Beadle Lake
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Beadle Lake is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beadle Lake
- Battle Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bedford
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Cass County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ramona Park, with the one closest to Ramona Park listed first.
- Marcellus
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Corey
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Corey is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corey
- Wakelee
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Wakelee is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakelee
- Jones
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Penn
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Penn is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penn
- Vandalia
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Vandalia is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 281 people
- Brownsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Brownsville is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Cassopolis
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- La Grange
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- La Grange is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Grange
- Saint Joseph County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ramona Park, with the one closest to Ramona Park listed first.
- Parkville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Parkville is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkville
- Mendon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Chamberlain
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Chamberlain is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamberlain
- Factoryville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Factoryville is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Factoryville
- Leonidas
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Three Rivers
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Wasepi
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Wasepi is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wasepi
- Centreville
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Centreville is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centreville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,400 people
- Fairfax
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Fairfax is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfax
- Nottawa
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Colon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Colon is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,155 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Colon <1>
- Fabius
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Fabius is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fabius
- Van Buren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ramona Park, with the one closest to Ramona Park listed first.
- Mattawan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Almena
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Almena is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almena
- Lawton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- North Lake
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- North Lake is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Lake
- Paw Paw
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Kendall
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Kendall is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendall
- Gobles
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Decatur
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Glendale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Glendale is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
- Lawrence
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Breedsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Bangor
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- LaGrange County (IN)
- Scott
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Scott is located in LaGrange County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ramona Park, see our County-by-County Page for Ramona Park.
Cemeteries Near Ramona Park ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ramona Park.
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 Ramona Park - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ramona Park covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ramona Park, with the one closest to Ramona Park listed first.
- Smith Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Portage South Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Portage Central Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Indian Fields Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Gourdneck Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Mt. Ever-Rest Memorial Park South
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Dry Prairie Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Schoolcraft Twp. Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Jenkinson Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- McKain Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Boughten Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Wheaton Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (289 more) ...
- Maple Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Schoolcraft Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Westnedge Park Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
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.<3>
While we didn't find Ramona Park in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Ramona Park.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ramona Park, with the one closest to Ramona Park listed first.
- Portage
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Vicksburg
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Pavilion
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Pavilion is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pavilion
- Scotts
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Comstock
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Comstock is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comstock
- Schoolcraft
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Kalamazoo
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Oshtemo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Galesburg
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Flowerfield
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Flowerfield is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flowerfield
- Fulton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Fulton is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fulton
- Parkville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Parkville is located in Saint Joseph County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkville
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Climax
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Climax is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Climax
- Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
- East Cooper
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- East Cooper is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Cooper
- Mattawan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ramona Park. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ramona Park.
Newspapers Published in Ramona Park ...
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 112 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ramona Park.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ramona Park, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ramona Park.
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 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 Ramona Park:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Kalamazoo County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allegan County
- Barry County
- Branch County
- Calhoun County
- Cass County
- Saint Joseph County
- Van Buren County
- LaGrange 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> | 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. |
| <3> | 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 Ramona Park, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Ramona Park) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |