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 Bridgton (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 Bridgton. 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 northwest 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 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.
Bridgton 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 Bridgton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bridgton:
- Cumberland County (The home county of Bridgton)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bridgton, with the one closest to Bridgton listed first.
- Sandy Creek
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Sandy Creek is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Creek
- North Bridgton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Harrison
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- South Bridgton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- South Bridgton is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Bridgton
- West Bridgton
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- West Bridgton is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bridgton
- Naples
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Otisfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Otisfield is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Otisfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,819 people
- Casco
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Cobb Cove
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Cobb Cove is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobb Cove
- Sebago
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Crescent Lake
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Crescent Lake is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent Lake
- South Casco
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Androscoggin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bridgton, with the one closest to Bridgton listed first.
- West Poland
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Poland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Mechanic Falls
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Moussam
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Moussam is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moussam
- West Minot
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- West Minot is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Minot
- East Poland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- East Poland is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Poland
- Minot
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Minot is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minot
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,595 people
- Littlefield Corner
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Littlefield Corner is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littlefield Corner
- Danville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Danville is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
- Rumford Junction
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Rumford Junction is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rumford Junction
- West Auburn
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- West Auburn is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Auburn
- North Auburn
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- North Auburn is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Auburn
- Oxford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bridgton, with the one closest to Bridgton listed first.
- East Denmark
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- East Denmark is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Denmark
- Spurrs Corner
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Spurrs Corner is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spurrs Corner
- South Waterford
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Sweden
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Sweden is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 413 people
- Denmark
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- East Fryeburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- East Fryeburg is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Fryeburg
- Waterford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Waterford is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,602 people
- Waterford has also been known as:
- Sweats Island
- Sweet Island
- Swetts Island
- Waterford Flat
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Waterford <1>
- East Otisfield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- East Otisfield is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Otisfield
- Lovell
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- East Brownfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- East Brownfield is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Brownfield
- Fryeburg Center
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Fryeburg Center is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fryeburg Center
- Brownfield
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- York County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bridgton, with the one closest to Bridgton listed first.
- Cornish
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- North Limington
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- North Limington is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Limington
- East Limington
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- East Limington is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Limington
- Limington
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- East Parsonsfield
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- East Parsonsfield is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Parsonsfield
- South Limington
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- South Limington is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Limington
- North Parsonsfield
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- North Parsonsfield is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Parsonsfield
- Chicopee
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Chicopee is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chicopee
- Limerick
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Parsonsfield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Kimbles Corner
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Kimbles Corner is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimbles Corner
- Lake Arrowhead
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Lake Arrowhead is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Arrowhead
- Carroll County (NH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bridgton, with the one closest to Bridgton listed first.
- South Chatham
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- South Chatham is located in Carroll County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Chatham
- Chatham
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Center Conway
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Eaton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Conway
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Kearsarge
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Kearsarge is located in Carroll County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kearsarge
- North Conway
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Intervale
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Intervale is located in Carroll County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Intervale
- Hale's Location
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Hale's Location is located in Carroll County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hale's Location
- Population from the 2020 Census: 130 people
- East Madison
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- East Madison is located in Carroll County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Madison
- Freedom
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Effingham
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Coos County (NH)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bridgton, with the one closest to Bridgton listed first.
- Beans Purchase
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Beans Purchase is located in Coos County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beans Purchase
- Shelburne
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Glen House
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Glen House is located in Coos County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen House
- Greens Grant
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Greens Grant is located in Coos County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greens Grant
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1 people
- Pinkhams Grant
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Pinkhams Grant is located in Coos County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinkhams Grant
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9 people
- Sargents Purchase
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Sargents Purchase is located in Coos County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sargents Purchase
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bridgton, see our County-by-County Page for Bridgton.
Cemeteries Near Bridgton ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bridgton.
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 Bridgton - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bridgton covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bridgton, with the one closest to Bridgton listed first.
- Forest Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Burnham Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Ridge Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Strout Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Stone Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Deering Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lewis Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Johnson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Trafton Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Finnish Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Center Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Emerson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (413 more) ...
- Hio Ridge Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Lowell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hilton Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 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 Bridgton had a population of 1,520 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Bridgton had a population of 5,509 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bridgton, with the one closest to Bridgton listed first.
- Sandy Creek
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Sandy Creek is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandy Creek
- North Bridgton
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- South Bridgton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- South Bridgton is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Bridgton
- Harrison
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- East Denmark
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- East Denmark is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Denmark
- West Bridgton
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- West Bridgton is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bridgton
- Denmark
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- South Waterford
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Naples
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bolsters Mills
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Bolsters Mills is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolsters Mills
- Sweden
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Sweden is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweden
- Population from the 2020 Census: 413 people
- East Fryeburg
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- East Fryeburg is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Fryeburg
- Continue List (21 more) ...
- Waterford
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Waterford is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterford
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,602 people
- Waterford has also been known as:
- Sweats Island
- Sweet Island
- Swetts Island
- Waterford Flat
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Waterford <1>
- West Denmark
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- West Denmark is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Denmark
- Edes Falls
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Edes Falls is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edes Falls
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bridgton. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bridgton.
Newspapers Published in Bridgton ...
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 Bridgton.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bridgton, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bridgton.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we 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 Bridgton:
- Websites specific to Maine
- Pages specific to Cumberland County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Androscoggin County
- Oxford County
- York County
- Carroll County
- Coos 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 Bridgton, 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- Bridgton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |