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 Benton (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 Benton. 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.
Benton is located in Kennebec 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 Kennebec County: Androscoggin, Franklin, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Somerset & Waldo.
Below are the counties that are near Benton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Benton:
- Kennebec County (The home county of Benton)
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton, with the one closest to Benton listed first.
- Benton Falls
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Benton Falls is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton Falls
- Benton Station
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Benton Station is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton Station
- Clinton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Waterville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Winslow
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Morrison Corner
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Morrison Corner is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrison Corner
- Albion
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- China
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- North Vassalboro
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- North Vassalboro is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Vassalboro
- Oakland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- East Vassalboro
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- East Vassalboro is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Vassalboro
- Vassalboro
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Branch Mills
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Branch Mills is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branch Mills
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton, with the one closest to Benton listed first.
- New Sharon
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Farmington Falls
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Chesterville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Chesterville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,348 people
- Industry
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Industry is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Industry
- Population from the 2020 Census: 927 people
- North Chesterville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- North Chesterville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Chesterville
- Farmington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- West Farmington
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- West Farmington is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Farmington
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton, with the one closest to Benton listed first.
- West Appleton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- West Appleton is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Appleton
- Razorville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Razorville is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Razorville
- Burkettville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Burkettville is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burkettville
- Lucas Corner
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Lucas Corner is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas Corner
- Washington
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Stickney Corner
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Stickney Corner is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stickney Corner
- Appleton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Globe
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Globe is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe
- Hope
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Union
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lincoln County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton, with the one closest to Benton listed first.
- Somerville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Somerville is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somerville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 569 people
- Coopers Mills
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- North Whitefield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- North Whitefield is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Whitefield
- Jefferson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Flanders Corner
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Flanders Corner is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flanders Corner
- Whitefield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Penobscot County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton, with the one closest to Benton listed first.
- Dixmont
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Dixmont is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixmont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,119 people
- Plymouth
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Newport
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- East Newport
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- East Newport is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Newport
- East Dixmont
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- East Dixmont is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Dixmont
- Etna
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Etna is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,194 people
- Newburgh
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Newburgh is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburgh
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,530 people
- South Newburgh
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- South Newburgh is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Newburgh
- Corinna
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- North Newport
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- North Newport is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Newport
- Carmel
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Newburgh Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Newburgh Village is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburgh Village
- Stetson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Stetson is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stetson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,192 people
- Somerset County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton, with the one closest to Benton listed first.
- Fairfield
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Shawmut
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Shawmut is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawmut
- Nyes Corner
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Nyes Corner is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nyes Corner
- Hinckley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hinckley is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinckley
- Canaan
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Norridgewock
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Smithfield
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Pittsfield
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Skowhegan
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Dogtown
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Dogtown is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogtown
- Houston Corner
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Houston Corner is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houston Corner
- Cornville
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Cornville is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,389 people
- Detroit
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Waldo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Benton, with the one closest to Benton listed first.
- Burnham
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Burnham is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,243 people
- Winnecook
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Winnecook is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winnecook
- Unity
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Palermo
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- North Palermo
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- North Palermo is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Palermo
- Freedom
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Thorndike
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Knox Ledge Corner
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Knox Ledge Corner is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox Ledge Corner
- Troy
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Montville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Montville is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,093 people
- Knox
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Knox is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox
- Population from the 2020 Census: 791 people
- Liberty
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- West Searsmont
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- West Searsmont is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Searsmont
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Benton, see our County-by-County Page for Benton.
Cemeteries Near Benton ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Benton.
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 Benton - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Benton covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Benton, with the one closest to Benton listed first.
- Reed Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Wilson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Brown Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Holt Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Emery Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Ames Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Maplewood Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- McClintock Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Abbott Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- St. Francis Catholic Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (334 more) ...
- Whitaker Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Nobels Ferry Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Drummond Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Benton had a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Benton had a population of 2,720 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Benton, with the one closest to Benton listed first.
- Benton Falls
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Benton Falls is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton Falls
- Fairfield
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- East Benton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- East Benton is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Benton
- Shawmut
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Shawmut is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawmut
- Waterville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Winslow
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Clinton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Morrison Corner
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Morrison Corner is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrison Corner
- Lambs Corner
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Lambs Corner is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lambs Corner
- Fairfield Center
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Fairfield Center is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield Center
- South Albion
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- South Albion is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Albion
- Albion
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- North Vassalboro
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- North Vassalboro is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Vassalboro
- China
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- North Fairfield
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- North Fairfield is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Fairfield
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Benton. See our List of 1890's Communities around Benton.
Newspapers Published in Benton ...
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 58 newspapers that have been published in the area around Benton.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Benton, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Benton.
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 helpful 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 Benton:
- Websites specific to Maine
- Pages specific to Kennebec County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Franklin County
- Knox County
- Lincoln County
- Penobscot County
- Somerset County
- Waldo County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Maine
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 Benton, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Benton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |