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 Blackstrap (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 Blackstrap. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Blackstrap is located in Cumberland 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 Cumberland County: Androscoggin, Oxford, Sagadahoc & York.
Below are the counties that are near Blackstrap. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Blackstrap:
- Cumberland County (The home county of Blackstrap)
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackstrap, with the one closest to Blackstrap listed first.
- Ireland Corner
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Ireland Corner is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ireland Corner
- Cumberland Center
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Windham
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Westbrook
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Falmouth
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- South Windham
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- South Windham is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Windham
- Newhall
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Newhall is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newhall
- Cumberland Foreside
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Cumberland Foreside is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland Foreside
- Falmouth Foreside
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Falmouth Foreside is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falmouth Foreside
- North Yarmouth
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- North Yarmouth is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Yarmouth
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,997 people
- Sagamore Village
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Sagamore Village is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sagamore Village
- North Gorham
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- North Gorham is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Gorham
- Androscoggin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackstrap, with the one closest to Blackstrap listed first.
- Danville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Danville is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
- Durham
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- West Poland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- East Poland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- East Poland is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Poland
- Littlefield Corner
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Littlefield Corner is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littlefield Corner
- Penley Corner
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Penley Corner is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penley Corner
- Poland
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Rumford Junction
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Rumford Junction is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rumford Junction
- Lisbon Falls
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Minot
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Minot is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minot
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,595 people
- Moussam
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Moussam is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moussam
- Lisbon
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Oxford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackstrap, with the one closest to Blackstrap listed first.
- Spurrs Corner
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Spurrs Corner is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spurrs Corner
- Rankins Mill
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Rankins Mill is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rankins Mill
- East Otisfield
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- East Otisfield is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Otisfield
- Durgintown
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Durgintown is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durgintown
- East Hiram
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- East Hiram is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Hiram
- Hiram
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Oxford
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- East Denmark
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- East Denmark is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Denmark
- Denmark
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Kezar Falls
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Kezar Falls is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kezar Falls
- Hebron
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- East Brownfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- East Brownfield is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Brownfield
- Sagadahoc County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackstrap, with the one closest to Blackstrap listed first.
- Pejepscot
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Pejepscot is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pejepscot
- Topsham
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Sebasco Estates
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Sabino
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Sabino is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sabino
- Small Point
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- West Bath
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Phippsburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Bowdoin Center
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bowdoin Center is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowdoin Center
- Bath
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Popham Beach
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Popham Beach is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Popham Beach
- Bowdoin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Bowdoin is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowdoin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,222 people
- Bowdoinham
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- York County
- The following are listed by their distance from Blackstrap, with the one closest to Blackstrap listed first.
- Chicopee
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Chicopee is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chicopee
- Buxton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Buxton is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buxton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,368 people
- Kimbles Corner
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Kimbles Corner is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimbles Corner
- Bar Mills
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- East Limington
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- East Limington is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Limington
- Old Orchard Beach
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Hollis Center
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hollis
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hollis is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollis
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,807 people
- North Limington
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- North Limington is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Limington
- Ocean Park
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Clarks Mills
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Clarks Mills is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks Mills
- South Limington
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- South Limington is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Limington
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Blackstrap, see our County-by-County Page for Blackstrap.
Cemeteries Near Blackstrap ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Blackstrap.
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 Blackstrap - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Blackstrap covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Blackstrap, with the one closest to Blackstrap listed first.
- Huston Family Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Leighton Family Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Highland Lake Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Morrison Hill Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Knight Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Highland Lake Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Gowen Family Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Hale Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Leighton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Chase Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Field Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Merrill Graveyard
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (400 more) ...
- Blanchard Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Farris Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- West Cumberland Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
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>
While we didn't find Blackstrap in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Blackstrap.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Blackstrap, with the one closest to Blackstrap listed first.
- North Falmouth
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- North Falmouth is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Falmouth
- West Falmouth ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- West Falmouth is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Falmouth
- Prides Corner
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Prides Corner is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prides Corner
- West Cumberland
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- West Cumberland is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Cumberland
- Cumberland Center
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Windham Center
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Windham Center is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windham Center
- Newhall
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Newhall is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newhall
- South Windham
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- South Windham is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Windham
- Westbrook
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Falmouth
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Walnut Hill
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Walnut Hill is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Hill
- Cumberland Mills
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Cumberland Mills is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland Mills
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Deering
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Deering is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deering
- West Gray
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- West Gray is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Gray
- Falmouth Foreside
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Falmouth Foreside is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Falmouth Foreside
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Blackstrap. See our List of 1890's Communities around Blackstrap.
Newspapers Published in Blackstrap ...
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 269 newspapers that have been published in the area around Blackstrap.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Blackstrap, there are papers which were published within 12 miles [19.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Blackstrap.
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 either 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 Blackstrap:
- Websites specific to Maine
- Pages specific to Cumberland County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Androscoggin County
- Oxford County
- Sagadahoc County
- York 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 Blackstrap, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Blackstrap) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |