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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 Rapid City (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 Rapid City. 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 and doctors 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.

Rapid City is located in Kalkaska 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 Kalkaska County: Antrim, Crawford, Grand Traverse, Missaukee, Otsego, Roscommon & Wexford.

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

  • Kalkaska County     (The home county of Rapid City)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rapid City, with the one closest to Rapid City listed first.
    • Torch River
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Torch River is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Torch River
    • Barker Creek
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Barker Creek is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barker Creek
    • Westwood
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Westwood is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
    • Kalkaska
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • South Boardman
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Lodi
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Lodi is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodi
    • Sigma
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Sigma is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sigma
    • Spencer
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Spencer is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencer
    • Deibert
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Deibert is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deibert
    • Angling
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Angling is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angling
    • Fife Lake
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Sharon ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Sharon is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon
      • Sharon has also been known as:
      • Big Oley
      • Jam One
    • Fletcher
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Fletcher is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fletcher
  • Antrim County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rapid City, with the one closest to Rapid City listed first.
    • Alden
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Clam Lake ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Clam Lake is located in Antrim County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clam Lake
    • Elk Rapids
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Kewadin
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Bellaire
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Mancelona
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Wetzel ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Wetzel is located in Antrim County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wetzel
      • Wetzel has also been known as:
      • Wetzell
    • Central Lake
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Finkton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Finkton is located in Antrim County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finkton
    • Alba
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Eastport
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Ellsworth
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
  • Benzie County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rapid City, with the one closest to Rapid City listed first.
    • Lake Ann
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Bendon
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Bendon is located in Benzie County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bendon
  • Charlevoix County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rapid City, with the one closest to Rapid City listed first.
    • East Jordan
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Goo ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Goo is located in Charlevoix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goo
    • Norwood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Norwood is located in Charlevoix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
    • Ironton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Ironton is located in Charlevoix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironton
    • Boyne City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Boyne City is located in Charlevoix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyne City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,717 people
      • Former names for Boyne City:
      • Bay Springs
      • Boyne
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Boyne City <1>
    • Boyne Falls
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Crawford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rapid City, with the one closest to Rapid City listed first.
    • Deward ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Deward is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deward
    • McIntyre Landing
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • McIntyre Landing is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McIntyre Landing
    • Frederic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Rasmus
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Rasmus is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rasmus
    • Grayling
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Grand Traverse County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rapid City, with the one closest to Rapid City listed first.
    • Tunk ‑ Historic
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Tunk is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunk
    • Mabel
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Mabel is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mabel
    • Angel
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Angel is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angel
      • Angel has also been known as:
      • Angel Station
      • Angell Station
    • Williamsburg
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Acme
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Mapleton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Mapleton is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mapleton
    • Old Mission
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Devils Elbow
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Devils Elbow is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devils Elbow
    • Traverse City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Mayfield
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Mayfield is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayfield
    • Kingsley
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Kingsley is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,618 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kingsley <1>
    • Walton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Walton is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walton
      • Walton has also been known as:
      • Walton Junction
    • Summit City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Summit City is located in Grand Traverse County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summit City
  • Leelanau County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rapid City, with the one closest to Rapid City listed first.
    • Greilickville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Greilickville is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greilickville
    • Bingham
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Bingham is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bingham
    • Hatchs
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Hatchs is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatchs
    • Manseau ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Manseau is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manseau
    • Peshawbestown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Peshawbestown is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peshawbestown
    • Suttons Bay
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Omena
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Lake Leelanau
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Solon
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Solon is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solon
    • Isadore ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Isadore is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isadore
    • Schomberg
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Schomberg is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schomberg
    • Bodus
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Bodus is located in Leelanau County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bodus
    • Cedar
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
  • Missaukee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rapid City, with the one closest to Rapid City listed first.
    • Stittsville ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Stittsville is located in Missaukee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stittsville
    • Moorestown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Moorestown is located in Missaukee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moorestown
    • Cutcheon
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Cutcheon is located in Missaukee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cutcheon
  • Otsego County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rapid City, with the one closest to Rapid City listed first.
    • Elmira
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Waters
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Hallock
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Hallock is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallock
    • Arbutus Beach
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Arbutus Beach is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbutus Beach
  • Wexford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rapid City, with the one closest to Rapid City listed first.
    • Baxter
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Baxter is located in Wexford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baxter
    • Manton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Buckley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Rapid City ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rapid City.

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 Rapid City - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Clearwater Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Mary Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Helena Twp. Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • South Milton Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Maplegrove Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Westwood Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Chapman Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Williamsburg Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Circle Hill Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Fairview Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Kewadin Indian Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Sacred Heart Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (142 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.<3>

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

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

  • Barker Creek
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Barker Creek is located in Kalkaska County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barker Creek
  • Clam Lake ‑ Historic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Clam Lake is located in Antrim County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clam Lake
  • Williamsburg
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Leetsville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Leetsville is located in Kalkaska County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leetsville
  • Kewadin
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Elk Rapids
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Bates
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Bates is located in Grand Traverse County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bates
  • Kalkaska
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Westwood
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Westwood is located in Kalkaska County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
  • Yuba
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Yuba is located in Grand Traverse County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yuba
  • Antrim
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Antrim is located in Antrim County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antrim
  • Bellaire
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Acme
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Crofton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Crofton is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crofton
    • Mancelona
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Rapid City ...

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 88 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rapid City.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rapid City, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rapid City.

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 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 Rapid City:

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 Rapid City, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Rapid City) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.