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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 Avon (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 Avon. 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 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.

Avon is located in Franklin County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Franklin County: Androscoggin, Kennebec, Oxford & Somerset.

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

  • Franklin County     (The home county of Avon)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Avon, with the one closest to Avon listed first.
    • Strong
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • South Strong
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • South Strong is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Strong
    • Phillips
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • New Vineyard
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • New Vineyard is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Vineyard
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 777 people
    • Temple
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Temple is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Temple
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 518 people
    • Fairbanks
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Fairbanks is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairbanks
    • East Madrid
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • East Madrid is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Madrid
    • Madrid
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Perkin's Plantation ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Perkin's Plantation is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perkin's Plantation
    • Weld
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Weld is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weld
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 417 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Weld <1>
    • Industry
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Industry is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Industry
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 927 people
    • Farmington
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Androscoggin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Avon, with the one closest to Avon listed first.
    • Livermore Falls
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Shy Corner
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Shy Corner is located in Androscoggin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shy Corner
    • North Livermore
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • North Livermore is located in Androscoggin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Livermore
    • East Livermore
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • East Livermore is located in Androscoggin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Livermore
    • Livermore
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • South Livermore
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • South Livermore is located in Androscoggin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Livermore
  • Kennebec County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Avon, with the one closest to Avon listed first.
    • Vienna
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Rome
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Rome is located in Kennebec County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rome
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,013 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rome <1>
    • Mount Vernon
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • North Fayette
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • North Fayette is located in Kennebec County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Fayette
    • Belgrade Lakes
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Fayette
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Locks Corner
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Locks Corner is located in Kennebec County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Locks Corner
    • Kents Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
    • North Belgrade
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • North Belgrade is located in Kennebec County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Belgrade
  • Oxford County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Avon, with the one closest to Avon listed first.
    • Roxbury
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Byron
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Byron is located in Oxford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byron
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 149 people
    • Dixfield
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Peru
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Peru is located in Oxford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peru
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,509 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Peru <1>
    • Mexico
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • West Peru
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • West Peru is located in Oxford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Peru
    • Rumford
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Canton Point
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Canton Point is located in Oxford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canton Point
    • South Rumford
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • South Rumford is located in Oxford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Rumford
    • Gilbertville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Gilbertville is located in Oxford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbertville
    • Dickvale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Dickvale is located in Oxford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickvale
    • Canton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Canton is located in Oxford County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,097 people
  • Somerset County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Avon, with the one closest to Avon listed first.
    • New Portland
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • East New Portland
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • East New Portland is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East New Portland
    • Starks
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Starks is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starks
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 638 people
    • Anson
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Anson is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,397 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Anson <1>
    • North Anson
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Mercer
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Mercer is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mercer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 637 people
    • Madison
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Barron Corner
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Barron Corner is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barron Corner
    • Embden
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Embden is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Embden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 956 people
    • Highland Plantation
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Highland Plantation is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Plantation
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
    • Solon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Solon is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,078 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Solon <1>
    • Norridgewock
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)

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

Cemeteries Near Avon ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Avon.

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

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

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

  • Avon Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Strong Town Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Riverside Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Phillips - Maine Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Staples Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Intervale Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Mitchell Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Hardy Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Village Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Smith Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Gay Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (142 more) ...
    • Holley Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Center Hill Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Savage Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)

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

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

  • Strong
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • South Strong
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • South Strong is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Strong
  • Phillips
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Salem
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Salem is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salem
  • New Vineyard
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • New Vineyard is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Vineyard
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 777 people
  • Fairbanks
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Fairbanks is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairbanks
  • East Madrid
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • East Madrid is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Madrid
  • Weld
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Weld is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weld
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 417 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Weld <1>
  • New Portland
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Madrid
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Farmington
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Allens Mills
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Allens Mills is located in Franklin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allens Mills
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Kingfield
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • East Wilton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • East Wilton is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Wilton
    • East New Portland
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • East New Portland is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East New Portland

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

Newspapers Published in Avon ...

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 82 newspapers that have been published in the area around Avon.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Avon, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Avon.

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 Avon:

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 Avon, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Avon) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.