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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 (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. 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 hospitals and doctors 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.

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

  • Kalamazoo County     (The home county of Richland)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Richland, with the one closest to Richland listed first.
    • Yorkville
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Yorkville is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville
    • Highland Park
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Highland Park is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Park
    • South Gull Lake
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • South Gull Lake is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Gull Lake
    • Augusta
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • East Cooper
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • East Cooper is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Cooper
    • Galesburg
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Comstock
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Comstock is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comstock
    • Parchment
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Eastwood
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Eastwood is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastwood
    • Kalamazoo
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Milwood
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Milwood is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milwood
    • Westwood
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Westwood is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
    • Climax
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Climax is located in Kalamazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Climax
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
  • Allegan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Richland, with the one closest to Richland listed first.
    • Neeley
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Neeley is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neeley
    • Hooper
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Hooper is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooper
    • Plainwell
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Otsego
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Martin
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Watson
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Watson is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watson
    • Shelbyville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Bradley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Bradley is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradley
    • Allegan
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Wayland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Hopkins
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Hilliards
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Hilliards is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilliards
    • South Monterey
      (25 miles [40.2 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, with the one closest to Richland listed first.
    • Hickory Corners
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Doster
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Doster is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doster
    • Delton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Prairieville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Prairieville is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
    • Banfield
      (10 miles [16.1 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 north)
      • 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
    • Hastings
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Maple Grove
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Maple Grove is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Grove
    • Irving
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Irving is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
    • Morgan
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Morgan is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
    • Middleville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
  • Branch County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Richland, with the one closest to Richland listed first.
    • Union City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Sherwood
      (28 miles [45.1 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, with the one closest to Richland listed first.
    • Fort Custer
      (8 miles [12.9 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
    • Level Park
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Level Park is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Level Park
    • Oak Park
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Oak Park is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Park
    • Bedford
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Springfield
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • West Leroy
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • West Leroy is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Leroy
    • Battle Creek
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Verona Park
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Verona Park is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verona Park
    • Sonoma
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Sonoma is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonoma
    • Brownlee Park
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Brownlee Park is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownlee Park
    • Pennfield
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Pennfield is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennfield
    • Beadle Lake
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Beadle Lake is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beadle Lake
    • East Leroy
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • East Leroy is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Leroy
  • Cass County
    • Marcellus
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Eaton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Richland, with the one closest to Richland listed first.
    • Bellevue
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Ainger
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Ainger is located in Eaton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ainger
    • Olivet
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Carlisle
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Carlisle is located in Eaton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlisle
    • Vermontville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Kent County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Richland, with the one closest to Richland listed first.
    • Caledonia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Corinth
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Corinth is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
  • Saint Joseph County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Richland, with the one closest to Richland listed first.
    • Factoryville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Factoryville is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Factoryville
    • Leonidas
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Mendon
      (25 miles [40.2 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>
    • Parkville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Parkville is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkville
    • Chamberlain
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Chamberlain is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chamberlain
    • Colon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • 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>
    • Fairfax
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Fairfax is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfax
    • Wasepi
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Wasepi is located in Saint Joseph County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wasepi
  • Van Buren County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Richland, with the one closest to Richland listed first.
    • Kendall
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Kendall is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendall
    • North Lake
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • North Lake is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Lake
    • Almena
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Almena is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almena
    • Mattawan
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Gobles
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • 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>
    • Paw Paw
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Glendale
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Glendale is located in Van Buren County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale

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

Cemeteries Near Richland ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Richland.

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 - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Prairie Home Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Yorkville Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Howlandsburg Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Cressey Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Stony Lake Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Charlotte Dewey Grave
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • East Cooper Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Gate of Heaven Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Shafter Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Oak Grove Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Oak Grove Cemetery is located outside and to the north of Galesburg.
  • Augusta Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Comstock Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (285 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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Richland had a population of 293 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Richland had a population of 847 people.

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

  • Yorkville
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Yorkville is located in Kalamazoo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville
  • Richland Junction
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Richland Junction is located in Kalamazoo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland Junction
  • Cressey
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Cressey is located in Barry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cressey
  • East Cooper
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • East Cooper is located in Kalamazoo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Cooper
  • Comstock
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Comstock is located in Kalamazoo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comstock
  • Galesburg
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Hickory Corners
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Doster
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Doster is located in Barry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doster
  • Cooper
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Cooper is located in Kalamazoo County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooper
  • Kalamazoo
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Delton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Prairieville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Prairieville is located in Barry County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Banfield
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Banfield is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banfield
    • Hooper
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Hooper is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooper
    • Plainwell
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Richland ...

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 42 newspapers that have been published in the area around Richland.

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

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Richland:

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, 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) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.