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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 Walker (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 Walker. 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 and 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.

Walker 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 Walker. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Walker:

  • Kent County     (The home county of Walker)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Walker, with the one closest to Walker listed first.
    • Kinney
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Kinney is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinney
    • Grand Rapids
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Beverly
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Beverly is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly
    • Galewood
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Galewood is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galewood
    • Urbandale
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Urbandale is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Urbandale
    • Comstock Park
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Burlingame Heights
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Burlingame Heights is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame Heights
    • Grandville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Wyoming
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Burlingame
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Burlingame is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
    • Clyde Park
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Clyde Park is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde Park
    • East Grand Rapids
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Allegan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Walker, with the one closest to Walker 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
    • Dorr
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Moline
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Moline is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moline
    • 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
    • Hilliards
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Hilliards is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilliards
    • Diamond Springs
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Diamond Springs is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond Springs
    • Wayland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Fillmore
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Fillmore is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fillmore
    • Hopkins
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Boyd
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Boyd is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyd
    • Hamilton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Bradley
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Bradley is located in Allegan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradley
  • Barry County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Walker, with the one closest to Walker listed first.
    • Middleville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Freeport
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Irving
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Irving is located in Barry County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
  • Ionia County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Walker, with the one closest to Walker listed first.
    • Elmdale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Elmdale is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmdale
    • Smyrna
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Belding
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Clarksville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Saranac
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Campbell Corners
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Campbell Corners is located in Ionia County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Corners
  • Montcalm County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Walker, with the one closest to Walker listed first.
    • Pierson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Greenville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Gowen
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Eureka Place
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Eureka Place is located in Montcalm County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka Place
    • Trufant
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Muskegon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Walker, with the one closest to Walker listed first.
    • Ravenna
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Canada Corners
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Canada Corners is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canada Corners
    • Slocum
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Slocum is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slocum
    • Bailey
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Sullivan
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Sullivan is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sullivan
    • Morgan Corners
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Morgan Corners is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan Corners
    • Fruitport
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Wolf Lake
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Wolf Lake is located in Muskegon County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolf Lake
    • Norton Shores
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Muskegon Heights
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Muskegon
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Roosevelt Park
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Newaygo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Walker, with the one closest to Walker listed first.
    • Ashland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Ashland is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
    • Sun
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Sun is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun
    • Grant
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Bridgeton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Bridgeton is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeton
    • Newaygo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Sitka
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Sitka is located in Newaygo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sitka
  • Ottawa County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Walker, with the one closest to Walker listed first.
    • Marne
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Jenison
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Bauer
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Bauer is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
    • Lamont
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Lamont is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamont
    • Wright
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Wright is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright
    • Hudsonville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Coopersville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Allendale
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Eastmanville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Eastmanville is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastmanville
    • Conklin
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Jamestown
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Jamestown is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
    • South Blendon
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • South Blendon is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Blendon

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

Cemeteries Near Walker ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Walker.

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

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

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

  • Holy Cross Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • White Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Rosedale Memorial Park
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 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>
  • Greenwood Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Greenwood Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located outside and to the northwest of Grand Rapids.
  • Blood Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Washington Park Memorial Gardens
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washington Park Memorial Gardens
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Washington Park Memorial Gardens is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northwest of Grand Rapids.
    • The Washington Park Memorial Gardens has also been known as:
    • Washington Park Cemetery
    • Washington Park Memorial Garden
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1907 <2>
  • Lithuanian Freedom Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lithuanian Freedom Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Lithuanian Freedom Cemetery is located outside and to the northwest of Grand Rapids.
    • The Lithuanian Freedom Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Freedom Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2166861 <2>
  • St.s Peter and Paul Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St.s Peter and Paul Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the St.s Peter and Paul Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northwest of Grand Rapids.
    • The St.s Peter and Paul Cemetery has also been known as:
    • St.s Peter - Paul Lithuanian Catholic Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1961493 <2>
  • Ahavas Israel Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ahavas Israel Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Ahavas Israel Cemetery is located outside and to the northwest of Grand Rapids.
    • The Ahavas Israel Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Achim Cemetery
    • Ahavis Achim Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #3 <2>
  • St.s Peter & Paul's Lithuanian Catholic Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • River Bend Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (287 more) ...
    • Brooklawn Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Lamareaux Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Marne Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)

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>

While we didn't find Walker in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Walker.

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

  • Kinney
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Kinney is located in Kent County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kinney
  • Grand Rapids
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Tallmadge
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Tallmadge is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallmadge
  • Jenison
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Grandville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Alpine
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Alpine is located in Kent County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpine
  • Herrington
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Herrington is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Herrington
  • Reno
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Reno is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reno
  • Bauer
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Bauer is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
  • Lamont
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Lamont is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamont
  • Pearline
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Pearline is located in Ottawa County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearline
  • Hudsonville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Wright
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Wright is located in Ottawa County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright
    • Belmont
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Englishville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Englishville is located in Kent County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Englishville

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

Newspapers Published in Walker ...

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 240 newspapers that have been published in the area around Walker.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Walker, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Walker.

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 Walker:

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