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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 Richland Junction (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 Richland Junction. 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 Richland Junction ...

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 Richland Junction: Richland Jct. (or less commonly used: Richland Jctn.)

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Richland Junction. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Richland Junction.

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 northeast 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 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 east 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.

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

  • Kalamazoo County     (The home county of Richland Junction)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Richland Junction, with the one closest to Richland Junction listed first.
    • Richland
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Highland Park
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Highland Park is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Park
    • East Cooper
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • East Cooper is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Cooper
    • South Gull Lake
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • South Gull Lake is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Gull Lake
    • Yorkville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Yorkville is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville
    • Parchment
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Comstock
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Comstock is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comstock
    • Eastwood
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Eastwood is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastwood
    • Augusta
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Galesburg
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Kalamazoo
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Westwood
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Westwood is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
    • Alamo
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Alamo is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alamo
  • Allegan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Richland Junction, with the one closest to Richland Junction listed first.
    • Neeley
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Neeley is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neeley
    • Plainwell
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Hooper
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Hooper is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooper
    • Otsego
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Martin
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Watson
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Watson is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watson
    • Shelbyville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Bradley
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Bradley is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradley
    • Wayland
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Allegan
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Hopkins
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Hilliards
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Hilliards is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilliards
    • South Monterey
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • South Monterey is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Monterey
  • Barry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Richland Junction, with the one closest to Richland Junction listed first.
    • Doster
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Doster is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doster
    • Hickory Corners
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Prairieville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Prairieville is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
    • Delton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Banfield
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Banfield is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banfield
    • Cloverdale
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Cloverdale is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
    • Cedar Creek
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Cedar Creek is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Creek
    • Dowling
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Dowling is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dowling
    • Irving
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Irving is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
    • Hastings
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Middleville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Maple Grove
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Maple Grove is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Grove
    • Morgan
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Morgan is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
  • Branch County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Richland Junction, with the one closest to Richland Junction listed first.
    • Union City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Sherwood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Sherwood is located in Branch County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 306 people
  • Calhoun County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Richland Junction, with the one closest to Richland Junction listed first.
    • Level Park
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Level Park is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Level Park
    • Fort Custer
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Fort Custer is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Custer
      • Former name for Fort Custer:
      • Camp Custer
    • Oak Park
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Oak Park is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Park
    • Bedford
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Springfield
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • West Leroy
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • West Leroy is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Leroy
    • Battle Creek
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Brownlee Park
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Brownlee Park is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownlee Park
    • Verona Park
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Verona Park is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verona Park
    • Sonoma
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Sonoma is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonoma
    • Beadle Lake
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Beadle Lake is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beadle Lake
    • Pennfield
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Pennfield is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennfield
    • Joppa
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Joppa is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joppa
  • Cass County
    • Marcellus
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Eaton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Richland Junction, with the one closest to Richland Junction listed first.
    • Bellevue
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Carlisle
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Carlisle is located in Eaton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlisle
    • Vermontville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Ainger
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Ainger is located in Eaton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ainger
    • Olivet
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Kent County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Richland Junction, with the one closest to Richland Junction listed first.
    • Caledonia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Corinth
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Corinth is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
    • North Dorr
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • North Dorr is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Dorr
    • Byron Center
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Carlisle
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Carlisle is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlisle
    • Dutton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Dutton is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutton
  • Saint Joseph County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Richland Junction, with the one closest to Richland Junction listed first.
    • Factoryville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Factoryville is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Factoryville
    • Parkville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Parkville is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkville
    • Chamberlain
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Chamberlain is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamberlain
    • Leonidas
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Mendon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Mendon is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 848 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mendon <1>
  • Van Buren County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Richland Junction, with the one closest to Richland Junction listed first.
    • Kendall
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Kendall is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendall
    • North Lake
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • North Lake is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Lake
    • Almena
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Almena is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almena
    • Mattawan
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Gobles
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Paw Paw
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Lawton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Lawton is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,796 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lawton <1>
    • Glendale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Glendale is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
    • Bloomingdale
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Breedsville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Grand Junction
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Lawrence
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Richland Junction ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Richland Junction.

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 Richland Junction - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Cressey Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Prairie Home Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • East Cooper Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Yorkville Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Charlotte Dewey Grave
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Cooper Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Gate of Heaven Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Howlandsburg Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Hickory Corners Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Mt. Olivet Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Riverside Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Comstock Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (295 more) ...
    • Stony Lake Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • North Hickory Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Prairieville Twp. Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Richland Junction had railroad service and no post office.

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

  • Richland
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Cressey
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Cressey is located in Barry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cressey
  • East Cooper
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • East Cooper is located in Kalamazoo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Cooper
  • Yorkville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Yorkville is located in Kalamazoo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville
  • Doster
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Doster is located in Barry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doster
  • Cooper
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Cooper is located in Kalamazoo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooper
  • Hickory Corners
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Comstock
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Comstock is located in Kalamazoo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comstock
  • Prairieville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Prairieville is located in Barry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
  • Plainwell
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Kalamazoo
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Galesburg
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Hooper
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Hooper is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooper
    • Delton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Otsego
      (10 miles [16.1 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 Richland Junction. See our List of 1890's Communities around Richland Junction.

Newspapers Published in Richland Junction ...

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 134 newspapers that have been published in the area around Richland Junction.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Richland Junction, 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 Richland Junction.

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 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 Richland Junction:

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