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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 Hampden (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 Hampden. 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.

A Few Details for Hampden ...

While it's still very early in our research, we found that:

  • Hampden was settled in 1741.
  • It was incorporated in 1878.

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 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.

Hampden is located in Hampden County.

To see how the shape of Massachusetts' counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Hampden County: Hartford (CT), Litchfield (CT), Tolland (CT), Berkshire, Hampshire & Worcester.

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

  • Hampden County     (The home county of Hampden)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hampden, with the one closest to Hampden listed first.
    • Baptist Village
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Baptist Village is also located in Hampden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baptist Village
    • South Factory Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • South Factory Village is also located in Hampden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Factory Village
    • Wilbraham
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Wilbraham is also located in Hampden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilbraham
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,670 people
    • Monson
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Monson is also located in Hampden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,750 people
    • State Line
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • State Line is also located in Hampden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for State Line
    • East Longmeadow
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • East Longmeadow is also located in Hampden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Longmeadow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 16,093 people
    • North Wilbraham
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • North Wilbraham is also located in Hampden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Wilbraham
    • Palmer
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Palmer is also located in Hampden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,174 people
    • Tenneyville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Tenneyville is also located in Hampden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenneyville
    • Indian Orchard
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Indian Orchard is also located in Hampden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Orchard
    • Ludlow
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Ludlow is also located in Hampden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ludlow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 21,101 people
    • Three Rivers
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Three Rivers is also located in Hampden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Three Rivers
    • Longmeadow
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Longmeadow is also located in Hampden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longmeadow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 15,624 people
  • Franklin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hampden, with the one closest to Hampden listed first.
    • Smiths ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Smiths was located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smiths
    • Shutesbury
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Shutesbury is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shutesbury
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,753 people
    • Cooleyville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Cooleyville is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooleyville
    • Leverett
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Leverett is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leverett
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,836 people
    • Whately
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Whately is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whately
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,583 people
    • Millington ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Millington was located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millington
    • Moores Corner
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Moores Corner is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moores Corner
    • Sunderland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Sunderland is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunderland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,634 people
    • Locks Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Locks Village is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locks Village
    • New Salem
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • New Salem is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Salem
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,034 people
    • South Deerfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • South Deerfield is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Deerfield
  • Hampshire County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hampden, with the one closest to Hampden listed first.
    • Bondsville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Bondsville is located in Hampshire County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bondsville
    • Belchertown
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Belchertown is located in Hampshire County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belchertown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 15,103 people
    • Granby
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Granby is located in Hampshire County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granby
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,262 people
    • South Hadley
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • South Hadley is located in Hampshire County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Hadley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,539 people
    • Ware
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Ware is located in Hampshire County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ware
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,897 people
    • Enfield ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Enfield was located in Hampshire County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enfield
    • Mount Tom
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Mount Tom is located in Hampshire County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Tom
    • South Amherst
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • South Amherst is located in Hampshire County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Amherst
    • Easthampton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Easthampton is located in Hampshire County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Easthampton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 15,750 people
    • Southampton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Southampton is located in Hampshire County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southampton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,162 people
    • West Pelham
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • West Pelham is located in Hampshire County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Pelham
    • Hadley
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Hadley is located in Hampshire County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hadley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,327 people
    • Northampton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Northampton is located in Hampshire County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northampton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 28,362 people
  • Worcester County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hampden, with the one closest to Hampden listed first.
    • West Warren
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • West Warren is located in Worcester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Warren
    • Fiskdale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Fiskdale is located in Worcester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fiskdale
    • Warren
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Warren is located in Worcester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,203 people
    • Old Sturbridge Village
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Sturbridge
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Sturbridge is located in Worcester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturbridge
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,561 people
    • Globe Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Globe Village is located in Worcester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe Village
    • West Brookfield
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • West Brookfield is located in Worcester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Brookfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,713 people
    • Southbridge
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Southbridge is located in Worcester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southbridge
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 16,788 people
    • Brookfield
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Brookfield is located in Worcester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,439 people
    • Gilbertville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Gilbertville is located in Worcester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbertville
    • Greenwich ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Greenwich was located in Worcester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwich
    • East Brookfield
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • East Brookfield is located in Worcester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Brookfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,196 people
    • North Brookfield
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • North Brookfield is located in Worcester County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Brookfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,789 people
  • Hartford County (CT)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hampden, with the one closest to Hampden listed first.
    • Hazardville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Hazardville is located in Hartford County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazardville
    • Sherwood Manor
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Sherwood Manor is located in Hartford County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherwood Manor
    • Enfield
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Enfield is located in Hartford County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 43,559 people
    • Enfield
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Southwood Acres
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Southwood Acres is located in Hartford County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southwood Acres
    • Thompsonville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Thompsonville is located in Hartford County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompsonville
    • Mill Pond Village
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Mill Pond Village is located in Hartford County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Pond Village
    • Broad Brook
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • East Windsor
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • East Windsor is located in Hartford County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Windsor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,654 people
    • Suffield Depot
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Suffield Depot is located in Hartford County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suffield Depot
    • Suffield
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Windsorville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Windsorville is located in Hartford County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsorville
    • Spring Village
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Spring Village is located in Hartford County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Village
  • Litchfield County (CT)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hampden, with the one closest to Hampden listed first.
    • Hampsted
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Hampsted is located in Litchfield County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampsted
    • Barkhamsted
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Barkhamsted
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Barkhamsted is located in Litchfield County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barkhamsted
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,587 people
  • New London County (CT)
    • Liberty Hill
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Liberty Hill is located in New London County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Hill
  • Tolland County (CT)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hampden, with the one closest to Hampden listed first.
    • Somers
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Somers is located in Tolland County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somers
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,741 people
    • Somers
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Somers is located in Tolland County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somers
      • Somers has also been known as:
      • Central Somers
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Somers <1>
    • State Line
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
      • State Line is located in Tolland County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for State Line
    • Somersville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Stafford
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Stafford is located in Tolland County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stafford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 11,834 people
    • Stafford
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Crystal Lake
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Crystal Lake is located in Tolland County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal Lake
    • Stafford Springs
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Staffordville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Ellington
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Ellington is located in Tolland County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 16,652 people
    • Ellington
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Quarryville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Quarryville is located in Tolland County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quarryville
    • Rockville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
  • Windham County (CT)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Hampden, with the one closest to Hampden listed first.
    • Westford
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Westford is located in Windham County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westford
    • Ashford
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Ashford is located in Windham County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,246 people
    • Warrenville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Warrenville is located in Windham County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warrenville
    • West Ashford
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • West Ashford is located in Windham County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Ashford
    • Ashford
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Woodstock Valley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • West Woodstock
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • West Woodstock is located in Windham County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Woodstock
    • Eastford
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Eastford is located in Windham County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,800 people
    • Eastford
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Woodstock
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Woodstock is located in Windham County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodstock
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 7,834 people
    • East Woodstock
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Chaplin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Chaplin is located in Windham County (CT)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chaplin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,232 people
    • Chaplin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Hampden ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Hampden.

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

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

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

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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Hampden had a population of 308 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Hampden had a population of 5,154 people.

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

  • Wilbraham
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Wilbraham is also located in Hampden County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilbraham
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,670 people
  • Somers
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Somers is located in Tolland County (CT)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somers
    • Somers has also been known as:
    • Central Somers
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Somers <1>
  • State Line
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • State Line is located in Tolland County (CT)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for State Line
  • South Monson
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • South Monson is also located in Hampden County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Monson
  • Monson
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Monson is also located in Hampden County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monson
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,750 people
  • East Longmeadow
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • East Longmeadow is also located in Hampden County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Longmeadow
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 16,093 people
  • Somersville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Ellithorpe
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Ellithorpe is located in Tolland County (CT)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellithorpe
  • North Monson
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • North Monson is also located in Hampden County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Monson
  • North Wilbraham
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • North Wilbraham is also located in Hampden County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Wilbraham
  • Scitico
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Scitico is located in Hartford County (CT)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scitico
  • West Stafford
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • West Stafford is located in Tolland County (CT)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Stafford
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Ludlow
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Ludlow is also located in Hampden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ludlow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 21,101 people
    • Palmer
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Palmer is also located in Hampden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,174 people
    • Red Bridge
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Red Bridge is also located in Hampden County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bridge

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

Newspapers Published in Hampden ...

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 197 newspapers that have been published in the area around Hampden.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Hampden, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Hampden.

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 Hampden:

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 Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) has created and maintains a database of historic properties that is called MACRIS (for the Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System). More information about the MHC and MACRIS can be found on their website: mhc-macris.net.

When visiting the MACRIS website, you might encounter their page requiring the 'Acceptance of Terms'. With your acceptance, you'll be transfered to the desired page.

<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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Hampden) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<5>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 Hampden, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.