This cemetery was founded by the Rural Hill Cemetery Association in October 1885.
The first burial took place in April 1886. Many gravestones pre-date the opening of the
cemetery, indicating that families have moved loved ones that were originally buried
elsewhere. Ownership of the cemetery was transferred to the Village of Northville in
June 1948. The City of Northville Public Works Department now maintains the
cemetery.

1977 – Originally read by Robert Geake (Michigan State Senator) and Jack W. Hoffman
(author of Northville: The First 100 Years)

1990 – 2nd Rural Hill Transcription by Northville Genealogical Society, with Gloria Collins as editor

2003 – 3rd Rural Hill Transcription by Richard & Patricia Allen of the Northville
Genealogical Society.

2021 – 4th Rural Hill Transcription by Joe & Jen Brodzik of the Northville Genealogical Society. This reading is available online, rather than in book form. Located on the Northville Library’s local history website, The Rural Hill Cemetery Database contains an updated transcription of the cemetery, along with a full index, maps and a detailed history of the cemetery itself.

Tombstone photos may be found on Find a Grave. The Northville Genealogical Society has photographed many of the gravestones in this cemetery.