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 Riverdale (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 Riverdale. 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 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.
Riverdale is located in Gratiot 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 Gratiot County: Clinton, Ionia, Isabella, Midland, Montcalm, Saginaw & Shiawassee.
Below are the counties that are near Riverdale. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Riverdale:
- Gratiot County (The home county of Riverdale)
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Elm Hall
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Elm Hall is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Hall
- Elwell
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Sumner
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Sumner is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumner
- Forest Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Forest Hill is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hill
- Alma
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Saint Louis
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Ithaca
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Middleton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Perrinton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Perrinton is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perrinton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 391 people
- Breckenridge
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- North Star
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- North Star is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Star
- North Star has also been known as:
- Northstar
- Pompeii
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Clare County
- Clare
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Clinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Maple Rapids
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Maple Rapids is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Rapids
- Population from the 2020 Census: 671 people
- Eureka
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Eureka is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
- Fowler
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Duplain
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Duplain is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duplain
- Elsie
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Johns
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Ionia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Hubbardston
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Palo
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Palo is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palo
- Matherton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Matherton is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Matherton
- Shiloh
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Shiloh is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Woods Corners
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Woods Corners is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods Corners
- Pewamo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Orleans
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Orleans is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orleans
- Muir
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Lyons
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Belding
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Ionia
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Isabella County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Strickland
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Strickland is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strickland
- Summerton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Summerton is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerton
- Crawford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Crawford is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
- Winn
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Winn is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winn
- Coe
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Coe is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coe
- Shepherd
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Mount Pleasant
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Blanchard
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Alembic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Alembic is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alembic
- Beal City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Beal City is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beal City
- Jordan
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Jordan is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jordan
- Lake Isabella
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Lake Isabella is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Isabella
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,688 people
- Lake Isabella has also been known as:
- Lake Isabella village
- Mecosta County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Millbrook
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Millbrook is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millbrook
- Remus
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Halls Corner
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Halls Corner is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halls Corner
- Mecosta
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Rustford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Rustford is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rustford
- Canadian Lakes
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Canadian Lakes is located in Mecosta County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canadian Lakes
- Barryton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Midland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Redstone
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Redstone is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redstone
- Oil City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Oil City is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oil City
- Porter
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Porter is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
- Ryan
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Ryan is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ryan
- Alamando
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Alamando is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alamando
- Coleman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- North Bradley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- North Bradley is located in Midland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Bradley
- Sanford
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Montcalm County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Vestaburg
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Vestaburg is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vestaburg
- Cedar Lake
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Cedar Lake is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Lake
- Crystal
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Edmore
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- McBride
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Wyman
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wyman is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyman
- Stanton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Butternut
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Butternut is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butternut
- Carson City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Vickeryville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Vickeryville is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vickeryville
- Sheridan
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Entrican
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Entrican is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Entrican
- Saginaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Lakefield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Lakefield is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakefield
- Merrill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Iva
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Iva is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iva
- Fenmore
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Fenmore is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fenmore
- Hemlock
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Nelson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Nelson is located in Saginaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nelson
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Riverdale, see our County-by-County Page for Riverdale.
Cemeteries Near Riverdale ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Riverdale.
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 Riverdale - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Riverdale covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Riverdale Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Elm Hall Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Sibley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Richland Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Ferris Center Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Sumner Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Pritchard Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Chapel Gardens Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Seville Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Klees Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Spencer Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Wright Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (210 more) ...
- Irishtown Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Roosa Farm Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Brady 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Riverdale had a population of 227 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Riverdale, with the one closest to Riverdale listed first.
- Elm Hall
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Elm Hall is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elm Hall
- Sumner
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Sumner is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumner
- Strickland
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Strickland is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strickland
- Summerton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Summerton is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerton
- Cedar Lake
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Cedar Lake is located in Montcalm County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Lake
- Forest Hill
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Forest Hill is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Hill
- Crystal
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- New Haven Center
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- New Haven Center is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Haven Center
- Alma
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Crawford
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Crawford is located in Isabella County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crawford
- McBride
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Edmore
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Sethton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Sethton is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sethton
- Newark
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Newark is located in Gratiot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newark
- Saint Louis
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Riverdale. See our List of 1890's Communities around Riverdale.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Riverdale ...
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 225 newspapers that have been published in the area around Riverdale.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Riverdale. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Riverdale and those printed in the larger area surrounding Riverdale.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3> of Riverdale.
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 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 Riverdale:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Gratiot County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clare County
- Clinton County
- Ionia County
- Isabella County
- Mecosta County
- Midland County
- Montcalm County
- Saginaw 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> | 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 Riverdale, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Riverdale) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |