RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Michigan >> Ottawa County >> Reno >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Reno (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 Reno. 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.

Reno 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 Reno. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Reno:

  • Ottawa County     (The home county of Reno)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Reno, with the one closest to Reno listed first.
    • Wright
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Wright is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright
    • Marne
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Conklin
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Coopersville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Lamont
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Lamont is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamont
    • Eastmanville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Eastmanville is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastmanville
    • Allendale
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Bauer
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Bauer is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
    • Jenison
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Rusk
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Rusk is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rusk
    • Nunica
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • South Blendon
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • South Blendon is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Blendon
    • Robinson
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Robinson is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinson
  • Allegan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Reno, with the one closest to Reno listed first.
    • New Salem
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • New Salem is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
    • Burnips
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Burnips is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnips
      • Former name for Burnips:
      • Burnip's Corners
    • Dorr
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Moline
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Moline is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moline
    • Fillmore
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Fillmore is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fillmore
    • Graafschap
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Graafschap is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graafschap
    • Diamond Springs
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Diamond Springs is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond Springs
    • Boyd
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Boyd is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyd
    • Hamilton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Hilliards
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Hilliards is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilliards
    • Wayland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Ionia County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Reno, with the one closest to Reno listed first.
    • Smyrna
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Belding
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Kent County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Reno, with the one closest to Reno listed first.
    • Lisbon
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Lisbon is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
    • Kinney
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • Kinney is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinney
    • Walker
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Comstock Park
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Sparta
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Kent City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Belmont
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Casnovia
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Grand Rapids
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Grandville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Beverly
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Beverly is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly
    • Burlingame Heights
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Burlingame Heights is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame Heights
    • Galewood
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Galewood is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galewood
  • Montcalm County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Reno, with the one closest to Reno listed first.
    • Pierson
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Howard City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Coral
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Gowen
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Trufant
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Greenville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Muskegon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Reno, with the one closest to Reno listed first.
    • Ravenna
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Slocum
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Slocum is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slocum
    • Canada Corners
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Canada Corners is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canada Corners
    • Morgan Corners
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Morgan Corners is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Corners
    • Sullivan
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Sullivan is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sullivan
    • Bailey
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Fruitport
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Wolf Lake
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Wolf Lake is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Lake
    • Norton Shores
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Muskegon Heights
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Muskegon
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Roosevelt Park
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • North Muskegon
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Newaygo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Reno, with the one closest to Reno listed first.
    • Ashland
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Ashland is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
    • Grant
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Sun
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Sun is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun
    • Bridgeton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Bridgeton is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeton
    • Sitka
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Sitka is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sitka
    • Newaygo
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Bishop
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Bishop is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
    • Brookside
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Brookside is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside
    • Croton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Croton is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Croton
    • Reeman
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Reeman is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reeman
    • Fremont
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Fremont is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fremont
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,102 people
      • Former name for Fremont:
      • Fremont Center
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fremont <1>
    • Riverview
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Riverview is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverview
    • Wooster
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Wooster is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wooster

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

Cemeteries Near Reno ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Reno.

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 Reno - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Wells Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Maple Hill Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • St. Mary's Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • St. Joseph's Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Big Springs Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Marne Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Cross Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Trinity Lutheran Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • St. Francis Xavier's Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Maplewood Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Elmwood Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Alpine Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (268 more) ...
    • Lisbon Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Coopersville - Polkton Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coopersville - Polkton Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Coopersville - Polkton Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the north of Coopersville.
      • The Coopersville - Polkton Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Coopersville Cemetery
      • Polkton Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #312 <2>
    • McNitt Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Reno had a population of 42 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Herrington
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Herrington is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrington
  • Wright
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Wright is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright
  • Conklin
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Coopersville
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Lamont
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Lamont is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamont
  • Tallmadge
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Tallmadge is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallmadge
  • Kinney
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Kinney is located in Kent County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinney
  • Lisbon
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Lisbon is located in Kent County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon
  • Eastmanville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Eastmanville is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastmanville
  • Alpine
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Alpine is located in Kent County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpine
  • Dennison
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Dennison is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dennison
  • Harrisburg
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Harrisburg is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrisburg
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Pearline
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Pearline is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearline
    • Englishville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Englishville is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Englishville
    • Sparta
      (8 miles [12.9 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 Reno. See our List of 1890's Communities around Reno.

Newspapers Published in Reno ...

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 65 newspapers that have been published in the area around Reno.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Reno, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Reno.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Reno:

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 Reno, 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 from Point A (ie- Reno) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.