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 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 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 Crawford 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 Crawford County: Antrim, Kalkaska, Missaukee, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego & Roscommon.
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:
- Crawford County (The home county of Wildwood)
- The following are listed by their distance from Wildwood, with the one closest to Wildwood listed first.
- Bucks
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Bucks is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucks
- Pere Cheney ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Pere Cheney is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pere Cheney
- Pere Cheney has also been known as:
- Center Plains
- Cheney
- Grayling
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Deerheart Valley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Deerheart Valley is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerheart Valley
- Skyline Village
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Skyline Village is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skyline Village
- Rasmus
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Rasmus is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rasmus
- Frederic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- McIntyre Landing
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- McIntyre Landing is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McIntyre Landing
- Deward ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Deward is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deward
- Antrim County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wildwood, with the one closest to Wildwood listed first.
- Alba
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Mancelona
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wetzel ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wetzel is located in Antrim County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wetzel
- Wetzel has also been known as:
- Wetzell
- Kalkaska County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wildwood, with the one closest to Wildwood listed first.
- Fletcher
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Fletcher is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fletcher
- Angling
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Angling is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angling
- Sigma
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Sigma is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sigma
- Sharon ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Sharon is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon
- Sharon has also been known as:
- Big Oley
- Jam One
- Spencer
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Spencer is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spencer
- Westwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Westwood is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood
- Missaukee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wildwood, with the one closest to Wildwood listed first.
- Stratford ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Stratford is located in Missaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stratford
- Moorestown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Moorestown is located in Missaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moorestown
- Star City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Star City is located in Missaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Star City
- Stittsville ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Stittsville is located in Missaukee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stittsville
- Montmorency County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wildwood, with the one closest to Wildwood listed first.
- Garland Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Garland Village is located in Montmorency County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland Village
- Vienna Junction
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Vienna Junction is located in Montmorency County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vienna Junction
- Lewiston
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Vienna Corners
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Vienna Corners is located in Montmorency County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vienna Corners
- Bigelow
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Bigelow is located in Montmorency County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bigelow
- Big Rock ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Big Rock is located in Montmorency County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Rock
- Atlanta
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Ogemaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wildwood, with the one closest to Wildwood listed first.
- Damon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Damon is located in Ogemaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damon
- Rose City
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Fayettes Corner ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Fayettes Corner is located in Ogemaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fayettes Corner
- Ogemaw Springs
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ogemaw Springs is located in Ogemaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ogemaw Springs
- Oscoda County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wildwood, with the one closest to Wildwood listed first.
- Red Oak
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Red Oak is located in Oscoda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Oak
- Luzerne
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Mio
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Kneeland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Kneeland is located in Oscoda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kneeland
- Fairview
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- McKinley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- McKinley is located in Oscoda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McKinley
- Otsego County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wildwood, with the one closest to Wildwood listed first.
- Lower Chub Landing ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Lower Chub Landing is located in Otsego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lower Chub Landing
- Waters
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Arbutus Beach
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Arbutus Beach is located in Otsego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbutus Beach
- Johannesburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Pearll City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Pearll City is located in Otsego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearll City
- Gaylord
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Hetherton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Hetherton is located in Otsego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hetherton
- Sparr
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Sparr is located in Otsego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparr
- Hallock
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hallock is located in Otsego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hallock
- Elmira
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Roscommon County
- The following are listed by their distance from Wildwood, with the one closest to Wildwood listed first.
- Roscommon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Geels
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Geels is located in Roscommon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geels
- Higgins Lake
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Hillcrest
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Hillcrest is located in Roscommon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillcrest
- Tent City
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Tent City is located in Roscommon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tent City
- Saint Helen
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Houghton Lake
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Prudenville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Houghton Lake Heights
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Houghton Lake Heights is located in Roscommon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houghton Lake Heights
- Nellsville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Nellsville is located in Roscommon County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nellsville
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.
- Stephan Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Pere Cheney Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Lovells Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Elmwood Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- United States Government Military Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Rock Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Maple Forest Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Pioneer Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Ball Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Oakwood Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Higgins Twp. Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Richfield Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Continue List (61 more) ...
- Shrine Cemetery
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Indian Graves
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Luzerne Cemetery
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
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 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.
- Pere Cheney ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Pere Cheney is located in Crawford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pere Cheney
- Pere Cheney has also been known as:
- Center Plains
- Cheney
- Grayling
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Red Oak
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Red Oak is located in Oscoda County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Oak
- Frederic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Roscommon
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Luzerne
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Waters
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Otsego Lake
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Otsego Lake is located in Otsego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otsego Lake
- Mio
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Damon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Damon is located in Ogemaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damon
- Fletcher
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Fletcher is located in Kalkaska County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fletcher
- Saint Helen
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Gaylord
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Fairview
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Hetherton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Hetherton is located in Otsego County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hetherton
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 42 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]<4>. 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 like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These 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 Wildwood:
- Websites specific to Michigan
- Pages specific to Crawford County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Antrim County
- Kalkaska County
- Missaukee County
- Montmorency County
- Ogemaw County
- Oscoda County
- Otsego County
- Roscommon 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> | 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 Wildwood, 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 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'. |