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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 Rockwood (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 Rockwood. 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.

Rockwood is located in Wayne 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 Wayne County: Macomb, Monroe, Oakland & Washtenaw.

Below are the counties that are near Rockwood. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rockwood:

  • Wayne County     (The home county of Rockwood)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rockwood, with the one closest to Rockwood listed first.
    • Gibraltar
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Gibraltar is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibraltar
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,516 people
    • Woodhaven
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Grosse Ile
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Trenton
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Riverview
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Willow
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Willow is located in Wayne County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow
    • Southgate
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Taylor
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • New Boston
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Wyandotte
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Ecorse
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Lincoln Park
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Romulus
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Lenawee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rockwood, with the one closest to Rockwood listed first.
    • Deerfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Britton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Macomb County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rockwood, with the one closest to Rockwood listed first.
    • Dalton Corners ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Dalton Corners is located in Macomb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dalton Corners
    • Van Dyke ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Van Dyke is located in Macomb County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Dyke
    • Center Line
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Monroe County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rockwood, with the one closest to Rockwood listed first.
    • South Rockwood
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Flat Rock
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Estral Beach
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Estral Beach is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estral Beach
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 396 people
    • Newport
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Carleton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Grafton ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Grafton is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grafton
    • Stony Point
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Stony Point is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Point
    • Woodland Beach
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Woodland Beach is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland Beach
    • Steiner
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Steiner is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steiner
    • Detroit Beach
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Detroit Beach is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Detroit Beach
    • Scofield
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Scofield is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scofield
    • Monroe
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Maybee
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
  • Oakland County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rockwood, with the one closest to Rockwood listed first.
    • Clarenceville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Clarenceville is located in Oakland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarenceville
    • Farmington Acres
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Farmington Acres is located in Oakland County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Farmington Acres
    • Ferndale
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Hazel Park
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Oak Park
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Southfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Northville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Farmington
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Huntington Woods
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Pleasant Ridge
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Farmington Hills
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Lathrup Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Madison Heights
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Washtenaw County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rockwood, with the one closest to Rockwood listed first.
    • Willis
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Rawsonville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Rawsonville is located in Washtenaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rawsonville
    • Whittaker
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Whittaker is located in Washtenaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittaker
    • Stony Creek
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Stony Creek is located in Washtenaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Creek
    • Ypsilanti
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Dixboro
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Dixboro is located in Washtenaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixboro
    • Pittsfield
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Pittsfield is located in Washtenaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsfield
      • Pittsfield has also been known as:
      • Pittsfield Village
    • Salem
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Salem is located in Washtenaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
    • Saline
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Saline is located in Washtenaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saline
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,350 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Saline <1>
    • Ann Arbor
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Emery
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Emery is located in Washtenaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emery
  • Lucas County (OH)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rockwood, with the one closest to Rockwood listed first.
    • Harbor View
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Harbor View is located in Lucas County (OH)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harbor View
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 108 people
    • Immergrun
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Immergrun is located in Lucas County (OH)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Immergrun
    • Willow Beach
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Willow Beach is located in Lucas County (OH)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Beach
    • Ironville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Ironville is located in Lucas County (OH)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironville
    • Bono
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Bono is located in Lucas County (OH)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bono
    • Yondota
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Yondota is located in Lucas County (OH)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yondota
    • West Toledo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • West Toledo is located in Lucas County (OH)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Toledo

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

Cemeteries Near Rockwood ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rockwood.

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

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

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

  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Riverside Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • East Rockwood Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Gibraltar Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Huron Valley Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Oak Forest Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Ash Center Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Potter Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Oak Ridge Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Oakwood Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Newport Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (280 more) ...
    • The Old Burial Ground
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Riverside Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Rupert Farm Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)

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 Rockwood had a population of 300 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Rockwood had a population of 3,146 people.

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

  • South Rockwood
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Gibraltar
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Gibraltar is located in Wayne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibraltar
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,516 people
  • Flat Rock
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Newport
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Grosse Ile
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Trenton
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Grafton ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Grafton is located in Monroe County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grafton
  • Sibley
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Sibley is located in Wayne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sibley
  • Carleton
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Stony Creek
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Stony Creek is located in Monroe County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stony Creek
  • Steiner
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Steiner is located in Monroe County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steiner
  • Taylor Center
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Taylor Center is located in Wayne County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor Center
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • New Boston
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Wyandotte
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Scofield
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Scofield is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scofield

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Rockwood ...

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 458 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rockwood.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Rockwood. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Rockwood and those printed in the larger area surrounding Rockwood.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<3> of Rockwood.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 Rockwood:

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 Rockwood, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Rockwood) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.