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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 Tallmadge (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 Tallmadge. 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.

Tallmadge is located in Ottawa 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 Ottawa County: Allegan, Kent & Muskegon.

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

  • Ottawa County     (The home county of Tallmadge)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tallmadge, with the one closest to Tallmadge listed first.
    • Marne
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Lamont
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Lamont is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamont
    • Bauer
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Bauer is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
    • Jenison
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Allendale
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Eastmanville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
      • Eastmanville is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastmanville
    • Coopersville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Wright
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Wright is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright
    • Hudsonville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • South Blendon
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • South Blendon is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Blendon
    • Conklin
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Rusk
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Rusk is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rusk
  • Allegan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tallmadge, with the one closest to Tallmadge listed first.
    • New Salem
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • New Salem is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
    • Burnips
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Burnips is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnips
      • Former name for Burnips:
      • Burnip's Corners
    • Dorr
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Moline
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Moline is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moline
    • Diamond Springs
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Diamond Springs is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond Springs
    • Fillmore
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Fillmore is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fillmore
    • Hilliards
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Hilliards is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilliards
    • Boyd
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Boyd is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyd
    • Graafschap
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Graafschap is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graafschap
    • Hamilton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Wayland
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Hopkins
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
  • Barry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tallmadge, with the one closest to Tallmadge listed first.
    • Middleville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Irving
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Irving is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
    • Freeport
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Ionia County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tallmadge, with the one closest to Tallmadge listed first.
    • Elmdale
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Elmdale is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmdale
    • Smyrna
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Kent County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tallmadge, with the one closest to Tallmadge listed first.
    • Kinney
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Kinney is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinney
    • Walker
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Grandville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Comstock Park
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Grand Rapids
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Beverly
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Beverly is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly
    • Burlingame Heights
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Burlingame Heights is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame Heights
    • Burlingame
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Burlingame is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
    • Galewood
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Galewood is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galewood
    • Urbandale
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Urbandale is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Urbandale
    • Wyoming
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Clyde Park
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Clyde Park is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde Park
  • Montcalm County
    • Pierson
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Muskegon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tallmadge, with the one closest to Tallmadge listed first.
    • Ravenna
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Canada Corners
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Canada Corners is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canada Corners
    • Slocum
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Slocum is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slocum
    • Sullivan
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Sullivan is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sullivan
    • Fruitport
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Morgan Corners
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Morgan Corners is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Corners
    • Bailey
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Wolf Lake
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Wolf Lake is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Lake
    • Norton Shores
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Muskegon Heights
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Muskegon
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Roosevelt Park
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Newaygo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Tallmadge, with the one closest to Tallmadge listed first.
    • Ashland
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Ashland is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
    • Grant
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Sun
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Sun is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun
    • Bridgeton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Bridgeton is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeton
    • Sitka
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Sitka is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sitka
    • Bishop
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Bishop is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bishop
    • Newaygo
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Brookside
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Brookside is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside

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

Cemeteries Near Tallmadge ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Tallmadge.

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

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

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

  • Church Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Rosedale Memorial Park
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Marne Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Maplewood Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Elmwood Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • St. Mary's Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Bauer Road Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • River Bend Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • White Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Maple Hill Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Brooklawn Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Wells Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (269 more) ...
    • Allendale Twp. Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Georgetown Twp. Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery
      • To give a relative sense of its location, the Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northwest of Grand Rapids.
      • The Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Mt. Calvary Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1123 <2>

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, Tallmadge had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Kinney
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Kinney is located in Kent County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinney
  • Lamont
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Lamont is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamont
  • Pearline
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Pearline is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearline
  • Herrington
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Herrington is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrington
  • Bauer
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Bauer is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
  • Reno
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Reno is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reno
  • Allendale
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Jenison
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Grandville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Eastmanville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Eastmanville is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastmanville
  • Coopersville
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • South Blendon
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • South Blendon is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Blendon
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Hudsonville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Grand Rapids
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Wright
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Wright is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright

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

Newspapers Published in Tallmadge ...

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 229 newspapers that have been published in the area around Tallmadge.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Tallmadge, 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 Tallmadge.

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 Tallmadge:

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 Tallmadge, 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 from Point A (ie- Tallmadge) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.