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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 Wildwood (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 Wildwood. 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 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.

Wildwood is located in Charlevoix 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 Charlevoix County: Antrim, Emmet & Otsego.

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

  • Charlevoix County     (The home county of Wildwood)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wildwood, with the one closest to Wildwood listed first.
    • Walloon Lake
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Zenith Heights
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Zenith Heights is located in Charlevoix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenith Heights
    • Boyne City
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Boyne City is located in Charlevoix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyne City
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,717 people
      • Former names for Boyne City:
      • Bay Springs
      • Boyne
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Boyne City <1>
    • Horton Bay
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Horton Bay is located in Charlevoix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horton Bay
    • Bay Shore
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Bay Shore is located in Charlevoix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay Shore
    • Boyne Falls
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Goo ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Goo is located in Charlevoix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goo
    • East Jordan
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Ironton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Ironton is located in Charlevoix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironton
    • Charlevoix
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Norwood
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Norwood is located in Charlevoix County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
  • Antrim County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wildwood, with the one closest to Wildwood listed first.
    • Ellsworth
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Finkton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Finkton is located in Antrim County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Finkton
    • Central Lake
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Alba
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Eastport
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Bellaire
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Wetzel ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Wetzel is located in Antrim County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wetzel
      • Wetzel has also been known as:
      • Wetzell
    • Mancelona
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Clam Lake ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Clam Lake is located in Antrim County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clam Lake
    • Alden
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Kewadin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Cheboygan County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wildwood, with the one closest to Wildwood listed first.
    • Wildwood
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Wildwood is located in Cheboygan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood
    • Burt Lake
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Wolverine
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Indian River
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Giauque Beach
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Giauque Beach is located in Cheboygan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Giauque Beach
    • Topinabee
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Afton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Fingerboard Corner
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Fingerboard Corner is located in Cheboygan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fingerboard Corner
    • Veery Point
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Veery Point is located in Cheboygan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Veery Point
    • Long Point
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Long Point is located in Cheboygan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Point
    • Riggsville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Riggsville is located in Cheboygan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riggsville
    • Silver Beach
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Silver Beach is located in Cheboygan County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Beach
  • Crawford County
    • Deward ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Deward is located in Crawford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deward
  • Emmet County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wildwood, with the one closest to Wildwood listed first.
    • Bay Harbor
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Petoskey
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Bay View
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Kegomic ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Kegomic is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kegomic
    • Forest Beach
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Forest Beach is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Beach
    • Harbor Springs
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Ramona Park
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Ramona Park is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramona Park
    • Roaring Brook
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Roaring Brook is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roaring Brook
    • Wequetonsing
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Wequetonsing is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wequetonsing
    • Conway
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Oden
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Ponshewaing
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Ponshewaing is located in Emmet County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ponshewaing
  • Kalkaska County
    • Westwood
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Westwood is located in Kalkaska County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
  • Otsego County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wildwood, with the one closest to Wildwood listed first.
    • Elmira
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Berryville ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Berryville is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Berryville
    • Hallock
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Hallock is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallock
    • Vanderbilt
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Gaylord
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Green Timbers
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Green Timbers is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Timbers
    • Pearll City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Pearll City is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearll City
    • Sparr
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Sparr is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparr
    • Arbutus Beach
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Arbutus Beach is located in Otsego County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbutus Beach
    • Waters
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Wildwood ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wildwood.

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

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

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

  • Evangeline Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Dyer Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Dunkard Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Duncan Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Maple Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maple Hill Cemetery
    • The Maple Hill Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Clarion Cemetery
  • Advance Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Wilson Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Maple Lawn Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • North Bay Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Horton Bay Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Knob Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Undine Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (110 more) ...
    • Lewis Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Boyne Valley Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • St. Augustine Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)

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 Wildwood in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Wildwood.

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

  • Boyne City
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Boyne City is located in Charlevoix County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyne City
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,717 people
    • Former names for Boyne City:
    • Bay Springs
    • Boyne
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Boyne City <1>
  • Clarion
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Clarion is located in Charlevoix County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarion
  • Horton Bay
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Horton Bay is located in Charlevoix County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horton Bay
  • Advance
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Advance is located in Charlevoix County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Advance
  • Boyne Falls
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Petoskey
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • East Jordan
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Bay View
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Kegomic ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Kegomic is located in Emmet County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kegomic
  • Burgess
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Burgess is located in Charlevoix County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burgess
  • Ironton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Ironton is located in Charlevoix County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ironton
  • Epsilon
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Epsilon is located in Emmet County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Epsilon
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Harbor Springs
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Conway
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Charlevoix
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)

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

Newspapers Published in Wildwood ...

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 70 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wildwood.

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

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 either 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 Wildwood:

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