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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 Bar Harbor (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 Bar Harbor. 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.

Name Variations for Bar Harbor ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might have occurred.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Bar Harbor: Bar Hbr. (or less commonly used: Bar Harb. or Bar Hrbr.)

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 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 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.

Bar Harbor is located in Hancock County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Hancock County: Penobscot, Waldo & Washington.

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

  • Hancock County     (The home county of Bar Harbor)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bar Harbor, with the one closest to Bar Harbor listed first.
    • Hulls Cove
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Salsbury Cove
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Salsbury Cove have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salsbury Cove
      • Salsbury Cove is located in Hancock County
    • Otter Creek
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • South Gouldsboro
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Winter Harbor
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Winter Harbor have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winter Harbor
      • Winter Harbor is located in Hancock County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 510 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Winter Harbor <1>
    • Sorrento
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sorrento have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sorrento
      • Sorrento is located in Hancock County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 267 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sorrento <1>
    • Seal Harbor
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Seal Harbor have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seal Harbor
      • Seal Harbor is located in Hancock County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Seal Harbor <1>
    • West Gouldsboro
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • East Lamoine
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Mount Desert
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mount Desert have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Desert
      • Mount Desert is located in Hancock County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,114 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mount Desert <1>
    • Northeast Harbor
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Indian Point
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Birch Harbor
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Knox County
    • Isle Au Haut
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Isle Au Haut have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isle Au Haut
      • Isle Au Haut is located in Knox County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 65 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Isle Au Haut <1>
  • Washington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bar Harbor, with the one closest to Bar Harbor listed first.
    • Steuben
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Steuben have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steuben
      • Steuben is located in Washington County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,148 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Steuben <1>
    • East Steuben
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Milbridge
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Cherryfield
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cherryfield have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherryfield
      • Cherryfield is located in Washington County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,167 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cherryfield <1>
    • Harrington
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Deblois
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Addison
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Addison have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addison
      • Addison is located in Washington County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,265 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Addison <1>
    • Columbia
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Columbia. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia
      • Columbia is located in Washington County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 469 people
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Columbia
      • From Bar Harbor to Columbia
    • Columbia Falls
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Columbia Falls have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbia Falls
      • Columbia Falls is located in Washington County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 536 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Columbia Falls <1>
    • Epping
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Epping. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Epping
      • Epping is located in Washington County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Epping
      • From Bar Harbor to Epping
    • Beals
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Beals have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beals
      • Beals is located in Washington County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 504 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Beals <1>

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

Cemeteries Near Bar Harbor ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bar Harbor.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

  • Meeting House Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Meeting House Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Meeting House Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • The Graveyard
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Graveyard
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for The Graveyard have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Hillside Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Salisbury Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Salisbury Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Salisbury Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Paine Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Paine Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Paine Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Seal Harbor Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Hillside Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Brookside Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Brookside Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Brookside Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Forest Hill Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Forest Hill Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Forest Hill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Mountain View Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mountain View Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mountain View Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Kimball Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Kimball Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Kimball Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Bragdon Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Bragdon Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Bragdon Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (137 more) ...
    • Higgins Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Higgins Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Higgins Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Hillcrest Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Hillcrest Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Hillcrest Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Hall Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Hall Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Hall Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.

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 Bar Harbor had a population of 1,000 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Bar Harbor had a population of 5,594 people.

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

  • Hulls Cove
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Otter Creek
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Hancock Point
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hancock Point have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hancock Point
    • Hancock Point is located in Hancock County
  • South Gouldsboro
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Asticou
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Asticou have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Asticou
    • Asticou is located in Hancock County
  • Seal Harbor
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Seal Harbor have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seal Harbor
    • Seal Harbor is located in Hancock County
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Seal Harbor <1>
  • Winter Harbor
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Winter Harbor have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winter Harbor
    • Winter Harbor is located in Hancock County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 510 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Winter Harbor <1>
  • Marlboro
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Marlboro have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marlboro
    • Marlboro is located in Hancock County
  • Sorrento
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sorrento have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sorrento
    • Sorrento is located in Hancock County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 267 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sorrento <1>
  • Lamoine Beach
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lamoine Beach have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamoine Beach
    • Lamoine Beach is located in Hancock County
  • Eden
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Eden have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden
    • Eden is located in Hancock County
  • Mount Desert
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mount Desert have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Desert
    • Mount Desert is located in Hancock County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,114 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mount Desert <1>
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Bar Harbor ...

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 45 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bar Harbor.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Bar Harbor. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Bar Harbor and those printed in the larger area surrounding Bar Harbor.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<6> of Bar Harbor.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Bar Harbor:

The official website for Bar Harbor: www.ci.bar-harbor.me.us/

The official website for Hancock County: www.co.hancock.me.us/

The official website for State of Maine: https://www.maine.gov/

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 location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<4>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.
<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 Bar Harbor, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>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 from Point A (ie- Bar Harbor) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Bar Harbor. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 44.3875, Longitude: -68.2043    









 

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In closing, please keep in mind that we can not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of the information on this website, so use with care. We encourage you to double-check the information that is critical to you.

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025