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 Riley (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 Riley. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Riley is located in Clinton 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 Clinton County: Eaton, Gratiot, Ingham, Ionia, Montcalm, Saginaw & Shiawassee.
Below are the counties that are near Riley. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Riley:
- Clinton County (The home county of Riley)
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Fowler
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Westphalia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- De Witt
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Johns
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- East DeWitt
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- East DeWitt is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East DeWitt
- Price
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Price is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Price
- Eagle
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Gunnisonville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Gunnisonville is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunnisonville
- Clinton Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Clinton Village is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton Village
- Maple Rapids
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Maple Rapids is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Rapids
- Population from the 2020 Census: 671 people
- Bath
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Duplain
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Duplain is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duplain
- Shepardsville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Shepardsville is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shepardsville
- Barry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Woodland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Woodland is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 449 people
- Nashville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Eaton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Grand Ledge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Waverly
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Waverly is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
- Millett
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Millett is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millett
- Millett has also been known as:
- Milletts
- Mulliken
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Dimondale
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- West Windsor
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- West Windsor is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Windsor
- Needmore
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Needmore is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Needmore
- Sunfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Potterville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Little Venice
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Little Venice is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Venice
- Gresham
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Gresham is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gresham
- Stalls Corner
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Stalls Corner is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stalls Corner
- Woodbury
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Woodbury is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbury
- Gratiot County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Middleton
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Perrinton
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Perrinton is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perrinton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 391 people
- Pompeii
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Bannister
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Ashley
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- North Star
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- North Star is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Star
- North Star has also been known as:
- Northstar
- Ithaca
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Sumner
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Sumner is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumner
- Sickles
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Sickles is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sickles
- Edgewood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Edgewood is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewood
- Ingham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Edgemont Park
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Edgemont Park is located in Ingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgemont Park
- North Lansing
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- North Lansing is located in Ingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Lansing
- Lansing
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- East Lansing
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Haslett
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Okemos
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Holt
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Meridian
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Meridian is located in Ingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridian
- Mason
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Williamston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Pollok ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pollok is located in Ingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pollok
- Pollok has also been known as:
- Pollock
- Webberville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Ionia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Pewamo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Portland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Matherton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Matherton is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matherton
- Hubbardston
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Muir
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lyons
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- West Sebewa
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- West Sebewa is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Sebewa
- Palo
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Palo is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palo
- Ionia
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- South Ionia
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- South Ionia is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Ionia
- Woods Corners
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Woods Corners is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods Corners
- Shiloh
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Shiloh is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Lake Odessa
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Montcalm County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Carson City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Butternut
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Butternut is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butternut
- Vickeryville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Vickeryville is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vickeryville
- Fenwick
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Fenwick is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fenwick
- Crystal
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Amsden
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Amsden is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amsden
- Sheridan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Saginaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Chapin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Chapin is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapin
- Fenmore
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Fenmore is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fenmore
- Oakley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Shiawassee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- Laingsburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Burton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Burton is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burton
- Shaftsburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Shaftsburg is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaftsburg
- Five Points
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Five Points is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Five Points
- Perry
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Smith Crossing
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Smith Crossing is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith Crossing
- Morrice
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Owosso
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Middletown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Middletown is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Henderson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Corunna
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Nicholson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Nicholson is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicholson
- Newburg
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Newburg is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Riley, see our County-by-County Page for Riley.
Cemeteries Near Riley ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Riley.
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 Riley - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Riley covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- St. Peter's Lutheran Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Boughton Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Georgia Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Ridge Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Bray Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- St. Pauls Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- South Riley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Alward Lake Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Merihew Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Wacousta Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- St. Marys Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- North Eagle Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (254 more) ...
- Niles Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- DeWitt City Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for DeWitt City Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the DeWitt City Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in De Witt.
- The DeWitt City Cemetery has also been known as:
- DeWitt Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #375405 <2>
- South Bingham Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
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, Riley had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Riley, with the one closest to Riley listed first.
- South Riley
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- South Riley is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Riley
- Wacousta
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Wacousta is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wacousta
- Fowler
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Westphalia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- De Witt
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Johns
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Eagle
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Price
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Price is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Price
- Gunnisonville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Gunnisonville is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunnisonville
- Pewamo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Portland
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Grand Ledge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- North Lansing
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- North Lansing is located in Ingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Lansing
- Bath
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Maple Rapids
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Maple Rapids is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Rapids
- Population from the 2020 Census: 671 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Riley. See our List of 1890's Communities around Riley.
Newspapers Published in Riley ...
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 68 newspapers that have been published in the area around Riley.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Riley, 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 Riley.
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 Riley:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Clinton County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Barry County
- Eaton County
- Gratiot County
- Ingham County
- Ionia County
- Montcalm County
- Saginaw County
- Shiawassee 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 Riley, 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- Riley) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |