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 Wayland (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 Wayland. 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 northeast 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 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 east 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.
Wayland is located in Allegan 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 Allegan County: Barry, Kalamazoo, Kent, Ottawa & Van Buren.
Below are the counties that are near Wayland. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Wayland:
- Allegan County (The home county of Wayland)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wayland, with the one closest to Wayland listed first.
- Bradley
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Bradley is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradley
- Moline
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Moline is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moline
- Hilliards
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Hilliards is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilliards
- Dorr
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Shelbyville
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Hopkins
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- New Salem
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- New Salem is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
- Martin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Watson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Watson is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watson
- Burnips
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Burnips is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnips
- Former name for Burnips:
- Burnip's Corners
- Hooper
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Hooper is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooper
- South Monterey
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- South Monterey is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Monterey
- Neeley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Neeley is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Neeley
- Barry County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wayland, with the one closest to Wayland listed first.
- Middleville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Irving
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Irving is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irving
- Prairieville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Prairieville is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairieville
- Doster
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Doster is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doster
- Cloverdale
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Cloverdale is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
- Delton
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Freeport
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Hastings
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Cedar Creek
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Creek is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Creek
- Hickory Corners
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Banfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Banfield is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banfield
- Dowling
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Dowling is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dowling
- Morgan
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Morgan is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wayland, with the one closest to Wayland listed first.
- Bedford
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Level Park
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Level Park is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Level Park
- Oak Park
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oak Park is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Park
- Fort Custer
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Fort Custer is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Custer
- Former name for Fort Custer:
- Camp Custer
- Eaton County
- Woodbury
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Woodbury is located in Eaton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodbury
- Ionia County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wayland, with the one closest to Wayland listed first.
- Elmdale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Elmdale is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmdale
- Campbell Corners
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Campbell Corners is located in Ionia County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campbell Corners
- Clarksville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Odessa
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Saranac
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Kalamazoo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wayland, with the one closest to Wayland listed first.
- Alamo
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Alamo is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alamo
- East Cooper
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- East Cooper is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Cooper
- Highland Park
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Highland Park is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Park
- Richland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- South Gull Lake
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- South Gull Lake is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Gull Lake
- Yorkville
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Yorkville is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yorkville
- Parchment
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Eastwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Eastwood is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastwood
- Westwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Westwood is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
- Kalamazoo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Comstock
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Comstock is located in Kalamazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Comstock
- Augusta
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Galesburg
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Kent County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wayland, with the one closest to Wayland listed first.
- Corinth
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Corinth is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
- North Dorr
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- North Dorr is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Dorr
- Carlisle
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Carlisle is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlisle
- Caledonia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Byron Center
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cutlerville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Dutton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Dutton is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutton
- Kentwood
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Burlingame Heights
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Burlingame Heights is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame Heights
- Burlingame
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Burlingame is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burlingame
- Clyde Park
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Clyde Park is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clyde Park
- Wyoming
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Beverly
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Beverly is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beverly
- Ottawa County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wayland, with the one closest to Wayland listed first.
- Forest Grove
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Forest Grove is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Grove
- Jamestown
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Jamestown is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jamestown
- Forest Grove Station
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Forest Grove Station is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Grove Station
- Drenthe
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Drenthe is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drenthe
- Hudsonville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jenison
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- South Blendon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- South Blendon is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Blendon
- Bauer
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Bauer is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bauer
- Zeeland
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Noordeloos
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Noordeloos is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noordeloos
- Holland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Waverly
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Waverly is located in Ottawa County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
- Allendale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Van Buren County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wayland, with the one closest to Wayland listed first.
- Kendall
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Kendall is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kendall
- Gobles
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- North Lake
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- North Lake is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Lake
- Bloomingdale
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Grand Junction
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Almena
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Almena is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Almena
- Glendale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Glendale is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
- Lacota
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Lacota is located in Van Buren County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lacota
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Wayland, see our County-by-County Page for Wayland.
Cemeteries Near Wayland ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wayland.
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 Wayland - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Wayland covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Wayland, with the one closest to Wayland listed first.
- Elmwood Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Selkirk Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Bradley Indian Mission Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Hooker Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Maplewood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Round Andrews Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Andrews Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Round Andrews Cemetery is located 10 miles [16.1 km]<2> to the northeast of Allegan.
- The Round Andrews Cemetery has also been known as:
- Hopkinsburg Cemetery
- Ingerson Cemetery
- Pioneer Cemetery
- Round Family Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #796 <3>
- St.s Cyril & Methodius' Catholic Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- St. Stanislaus' Catholic Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- German Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Robbins Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Dorr Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (315 more) ...
- Lakeview Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Messer Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jones Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Wayland had a population of 523 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Wayland had a population of 4,237 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Wayland, with the one closest to Wayland listed first.
- Bradley
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Bradley is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradley
- Moline
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Moline is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moline
- Corning
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Corning is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corning
- Hilliards
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Hilliards is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hilliards
- Shelbyville
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Dorr
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Hopkins
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bowens Mill
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Bowens Mill is located in Barry County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowens Mill
- Corinth
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Corinth is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corinth
- Ross
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Ross is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ross
- Watson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Watson is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watson
- Martin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Continue List (21 more) ...
- Middleville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- North Dorr
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- North Dorr is located in Kent County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Dorr
- New Salem
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- New Salem is located in Allegan County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Wayland. See our List of 1890's Communities around Wayland.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Wayland ...
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 174 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wayland.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Wayland. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Wayland and those printed in the larger area surrounding Wayland.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<2> of Wayland.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Wayland:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Allegan County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Barry County
- Calhoun County
- Eaton County
- Ionia County
- Kalamazoo County
- Kent 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> | 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- Wayland) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Wayland, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |