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 Sodus (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 Sodus. 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.
Sodus is located in Berrien 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 Berrien County: LaPorte (IN), Saint Joseph (IN), Cass & Van Buren.
Below are the counties that are near Sodus. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Sodus:
- Berrien County (The home county of Sodus)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sodus, with the one closest to Sodus listed first.
- Shanghai Corners
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Shanghai Corners is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanghai Corners
- Hartman
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hartman is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartman
- Scottdale
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Scottdale is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scottdale
- Naomi
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Naomi is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naomi
- Fair Plain
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Fair Plain is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Plain
- Eau Claire
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Hinchman
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Hinchman is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinchman
- Benton Heights
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Benton Heights is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton Heights
- Benton Harbor
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Joseph
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Berrien Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Berrien Center
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Glenlord
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Glenlord is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenlord
- Glenlord has also been known as:
- Glen Lord
- Allegan County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sodus, with the one closest to Sodus listed first.
- South Haven Highlands
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Miami Park
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Miami Park is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Miami Park
- Miami Park has also been known as:
- Miami Park Beach
- Miomi Park Beach
- Mount Pleasant
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Mount Pleasant is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
- Hawkhead
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Hawkhead is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawkhead
- Cass County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sodus, with the one closest to Sodus listed first.
- Sumnerville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sumnerville is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumnerville
- Dowagiac
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Pokagon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Pokagon is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pokagon
- La Grange
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- La Grange is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Grange
- Cassopolis
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Edwardsburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Penn
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Penn is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penn
- Vandalia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Vandalia is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vandalia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 281 people
- Brownsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Brownsville is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
- Wakelee
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Wakelee is located in Cass County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wakelee
- Marcellus
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Jones
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Van Buren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Sodus, with the one closest to Sodus listed first.
- Keeler
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Keeler is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keeler
- Fish Corners
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Fish Corners is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fish Corners
- Hartford
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Covert
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Decatur
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Lawrence
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bangor
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- South Haven
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Breedsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Kibbie
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Kibbie is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kibbie
- Glendale
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Glendale is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
- Paw Paw
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lacota
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lacota is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacota
- Elkhart County (IN)
- Simonton Lake
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Simonton Lake is located in Elkhart County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simonton Lake
- LaPorte County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sodus, with the one closest to Sodus listed first.
- Hesston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hesston is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hesston
- Smith
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Smith is located in LaPorte County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smith
- Rolling Prairie
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Michiana Shores
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Joseph County (IN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Sodus, with the one closest to Sodus listed first.
- Georgetown
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Georgetown is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Indian Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Indian Village is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
- Population from the 2020 Census: 134 people
- Roseland
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Roseland is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 635 people
- New Carlisle
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Zeigler
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Zeigler is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zeigler
- Granger
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- South Bend
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Mishawaka
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Crumstown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Crumstown is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumstown
- Gulivoire Park
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Gulivoire Park is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gulivoire Park
- Osceola
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Osceola is located in Saint Joseph County (IN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osceola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,486 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Osceola <1>
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Sodus, see our County-by-County Page for Sodus.
Cemeteries Near Sodus ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sodus.
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 Sodus - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Sodus covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Sodus, with the one closest to Sodus listed first.
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Shanghai Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Bethel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Royalton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lett Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pearl Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Scottdale Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Brant Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- B'nai Sholom Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Crystal Springs Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Eau Claire Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Pennyan Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (209 more) ...
- Millburg Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Riverview Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Jerome 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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Sodus had a population of 67 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Sodus, with the one closest to Sodus listed first.
- Hartman
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hartman is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartman
- Hollywood
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hollywood is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollywood
- Spinks Corners
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Spinks Corners is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spinks Corners
- Hinchman
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Hinchman is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinchman
- Eau Claire
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Naomi
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Naomi is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Naomi
- Millburg
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Millburg is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millburg
- Vineland
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Vineland is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vineland
- Derby
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Derby is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Berrien Springs
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Benton Harbor
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Saint Joseph
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Stevensville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Berrien Center
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Twelve Corners
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Twelve Corners is located in Berrien County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twelve Corners
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Sodus. See our List of 1890's Communities around Sodus.
Newspapers Published in Sodus ...
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 88 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sodus.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sodus, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Sodus.
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 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 Sodus:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Berrien County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Allegan County
- Cass County
- Van Buren County
- Elkhart County
- LaPorte County
- Saint Joseph 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 Sodus, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Sodus) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |