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 Ross (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 Ross. 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 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.
Ross is located in Kent 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 Kent County: Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo & Ottawa.
Below are the counties that are near Ross. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ross:
- Kent County (The home county of Ross)
- The following are listed by their distance from Ross, with the one closest to Ross listed first.
- Corinth
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Corinth is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
- Byron Center
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Carlisle
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Carlisle is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlisle
- North Dorr
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- North Dorr is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Dorr
- Cutlerville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Dutton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Dutton is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutton
- Burlingame Heights
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Burlingame Heights is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame Heights
- Burlingame
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Burlingame is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
- Clyde Park
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Clyde Park is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde Park
- Kentwood
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Caledonia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Beverly
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Beverly is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly
- Allegan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ross, with the one closest to Ross listed first.
- Moline
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Moline is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moline
- Dorr
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- New Salem
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- New Salem is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
- Hilliards
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hilliards is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilliards
- Wayland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Burnips
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Burnips is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnips
- Former name for Burnips:
- Burnip's Corners
- Bradley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Bradley is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradley
- Hopkins
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Diamond Springs
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Diamond Springs is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond Springs
- Shelbyville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- South Monterey
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- South Monterey is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Monterey
- Watson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Watson is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watson
- Barry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ross, with the one closest to Ross listed first.
- Middleville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Irving
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Irving is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
- Freeport
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Cloverdale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cloverdale is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
- Hastings
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Prairieville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Prairieville is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
- Doster
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Doster is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doster
- Delton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Creek
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Creek is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Creek
- Morgan
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Morgan is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
- Dowling
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Dowling is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dowling
- Hickory Corners
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Ionia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ross, with the one closest to Ross listed first.
- Elmdale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Elmdale is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmdale
- Campbell Corners
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Campbell Corners is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Corners
- Clarksville
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Saranac
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Odessa
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Smyrna
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Kalamazoo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ross, with the one closest to Ross listed first.
- Alamo
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Alamo is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alamo
- East Cooper
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- East Cooper is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Cooper
- Highland Park
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Highland Park is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Park
- Richland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Muskegon County
- Ravenna
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ottawa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ross, with the one closest to Ross listed first.
- Forest Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Forest Grove is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Grove
- Jamestown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Jamestown is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Jenison
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Forest Grove Station
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Forest Grove Station is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Grove Station
- Hudsonville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Drenthe
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Drenthe is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drenthe
- South Blendon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- South Blendon is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Blendon
- Bauer
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Bauer is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
- Zeeland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Marne
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Allendale
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Lamont
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Lamont is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamont
- Van Buren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Ross, with the one closest to Ross listed first.
- Kendall
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Kendall is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendall
- Gobles
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Ross, see our County-by-County Page for Ross.
Cemeteries Near Ross ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ross.
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 Ross - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Ross covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Ross, with the one closest to Ross listed first.
- Jones Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Weaver Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Winchester Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Winegar Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Winegar Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- North Dorr Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- South Gaines Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Kent Memorial Gardens
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- St. Sebastian's Catholic Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Dorr Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Boynton Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- St. Mary's Catholic Church of New Salem Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (287 more) ...
- Blain Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Tanner Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Dutton Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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 Ross had a population of 28 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Ross, with the one closest to Ross listed first.
- Corinth
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Corinth is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
- Byron Center
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- North Dorr
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- North Dorr is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Dorr
- Moline
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Moline is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moline
- Carlisle
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Carlisle is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlisle
- Dorr
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- New Salem
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- New Salem is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
- Corning
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Corning is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corning
- Dutton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Dutton is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutton
- Hilliards
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hilliards is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilliards
- Gitchel
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Gitchel is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gitchel
- Wayland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Jamestown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Jamestown is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Forest Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Forest Grove is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Grove
- Grandville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Ross. See our List of 1890's Communities around Ross.
Newspapers Published in Ross ...
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 231 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ross.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ross, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ross.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Ross:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Kent County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allegan County
- Barry County
- Ionia County
- Kalamazoo County
- Muskegon County
- Ottawa County
- Van Buren 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 Ross, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Ross) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |