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 Vantown (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 Vantown. 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 doctors 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.
Vantown is located in Ingham 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 Ingham County: Clinton, Eaton, Jackson, Livingston, Shiawassee & Washtenaw.
Below are the counties that are near Vantown. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Vantown:
- Ingham County (The home county of Vantown)
- The following are listed by their distance from Vantown, with the one closest to Vantown listed first.
- Webberville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Dansville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Pollok ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Pollok is located in Ingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pollok
- Pollok has also been known as:
- Pollock
- Williamston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Meridian
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Meridian is located in Ingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridian
- Bunker Hill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bunker Hill is located in Ingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunker Hill
- Stockbridge
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Fitchburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Fitchburg is located in Ingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitchburg
- Mason
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Haslett
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Okemos
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- North Leslie
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- North Leslie is located in Ingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Leslie
- Clinton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vantown, with the one closest to Vantown listed first.
- Bath
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Clinton Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Clinton Village is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton Village
- Gunnisonville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Gunnisonville is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunnisonville
- East DeWitt
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- East DeWitt is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East DeWitt
- De Witt
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Price
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Price is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Price
- Ovid
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Shepardsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Shepardsville is located in Clinton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shepardsville
- Eaton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vantown, with the one closest to Vantown listed first.
- Petrieville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Petrieville is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Petrieville
- Dimondale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Kingsland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Kingsland is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsland
- Millett
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Millett is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millett
- Millett has also been known as:
- Milletts
- Waverly
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Waverly is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
- Eaton Rapids
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- West Windsor
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- West Windsor is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Windsor
- Charlesworth
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Charlesworth is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charlesworth
- Potterville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Grand Ledge
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Genesee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vantown, with the one closest to Vantown listed first.
- Argentine
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Argentine is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Argentine
- Gaines
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Duffield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Duffield is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duffield
- Linden
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Fenton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lakeside
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lakeside is located in Genesee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeside
- Jackson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vantown, with the one closest to Vantown listed first.
- Munith
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Lake
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Waterloo
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Waterloo is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterloo
- Trist
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Trist is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trist
- Berryville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Berryville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryville
- Rives Junction
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Rives Junction is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rives Junction
- Tompkins
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Tompkins is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tompkins
- Grass Lake
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Leoni
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Leoni is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leoni
- Michigan Center
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Jackson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Jackson is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 32,374 people
- Former name for Jackson:
- Jacksonopolis
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jackson <1>
- Fishville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Fishville is located in Jackson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishville
- Livingston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vantown, with the one closest to Vantown listed first.
- Parkers Corners
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Parkers Corners is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkers Corners
- Fowlerville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Plainfield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Plainfield is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainfield
- Gregory
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Howell
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Anderson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Anderson is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anderson
- Unadilla
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Unadilla is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unadilla
- Chalkerville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Chalkerville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chalkerville
- Chalkerville has also been known as:
- Chalkers Landing
- Kaiserville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Kaiserville is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kaiserville
- Oak Grove
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Grove is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
- Chubb's Corners ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Chubb's Corners is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chubb's Corners
- Hell
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hell is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hell
- Hell has also been known as:
- Hi Land Lake
- Highland Lake
- Hiland Lake
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hell <1>
- Oakland County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vantown, with the one closest to Vantown listed first.
- Hickory Ridge
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Hickory Ridge is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Ridge
- West Highland
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- West Highland is located in Oakland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Highland
- Highland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- South Lyon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Shiawassee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vantown, with the one closest to Vantown listed first.
- Nicholson
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Nicholson is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nicholson
- Shaftsburg
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Shaftsburg is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaftsburg
- Perry
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Morrice
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Bancroft
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Laingsburg
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Byron
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Newburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Newburg is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburg
- Durand
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Vernon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Middletown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Middletown is located in Shiawassee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middletown
- Corunna
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Washtenaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Vantown, with the one closest to Vantown listed first.
- Dover
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Dover is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover
- Hudson Mills
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hudson Mills is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hudson Mills
- Chelsea
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Dexter
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Delhi Mills
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Delhi Mills is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delhi Mills
- Rowes Corner
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Rowes Corner is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rowes Corner
- Sharon Hollow
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Sharon Hollow is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon Hollow
- Barton Hills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Barton Hills is located in Washtenaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barton Hills
- Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Vantown, see our County-by-County Page for Vantown.
Cemeteries Near Vantown ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Vantown.
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 Vantown - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Vantown covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Vantown, with the one closest to Vantown listed first.
- Cabot Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Alchin Farm Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Fairview Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Dennis Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Spalding Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Howard Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Briggs Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Coffery Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Webberville Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Reeves Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (323 more) ...
- North Stockbridge Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Paige Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Rowley Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
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>
While we didn't find Vantown in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Vantown.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Vantown, with the one closest to Vantown listed first.
- Webberville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Dansville
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- White Oak
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- White Oak is located in Ingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Oak
- Williamston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fowlerville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bunker Hill
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bunker Hill is located in Ingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunker Hill
- Plainfield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Plainfield is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plainfield
- Meridian
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Meridian is located in Ingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridian
- Stockbridge
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Eden
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Eden is located in Ingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden
- Fitchburg
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Fitchburg is located in Ingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fitchburg
- Fleming
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Fleming is located in Livingston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleming
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Mason
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Gregory
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Okemos
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Vantown. See our List of 1890's Communities around Vantown.
Newspapers Published in Vantown ...
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 61 newspapers that have been published in the area around Vantown.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Vantown, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Vantown.
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 Vantown:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Ingham County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clinton County
- Eaton County
- Genesee County
- Jackson County
- Livingston County
- Oakland County
- Shiawassee County
- Washtenaw 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 Vantown, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Vantown) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |