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 Canaan (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 Canaan. 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 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.
Canaan is located in Somerset 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 Somerset County: Franklin, Kennebec, Penobscot, Piscataquis & Waldo.
Below are the counties that are near Canaan. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Canaan:
- Somerset County (The home county of Canaan)
- The following are listed by their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
- Hinckley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hinckley is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinckley
- Cornville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cornville is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,389 people
- Nyes Corner
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Nyes Corner is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nyes Corner
- Skowhegan
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Pittsfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- West Palmyra
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- West Palmyra is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Palmyra
- Shawmut
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Shawmut is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawmut
- Dogtown
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Dogtown is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogtown
- Hartland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Houston Corner
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Houston Corner is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houston Corner
- Cass Corner
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Cass Corner is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cass Corner
- East Madison
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- East Madison is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Madison
- Norridgewock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
- New Sharon
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Industry
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Industry is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Industry
- Population from the 2020 Census: 927 people
- Farmington Falls
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- New Vineyard
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- New Vineyard is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Vineyard
- Population from the 2020 Census: 777 people
- Chesterville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Chesterville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chesterville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,348 people
- North Chesterville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- North Chesterville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Chesterville
- Fairbanks
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Fairbanks is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairbanks
- Farmington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- West Farmington
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- West Farmington is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Farmington
- Kennebec County
- The following are listed by their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
- Morrison Corner
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Morrison Corner is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrison Corner
- Clinton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Benton Station
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Benton Station is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton Station
- Benton Falls
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Benton Falls is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton Falls
- Benton
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Benton is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,720 people
- Waterville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Winslow
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Albion
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Oakland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- China
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- North Vassalboro
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- North Vassalboro is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Vassalboro
- Rome
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- North Belgrade
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- North Belgrade is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Belgrade
- Penobscot County
- The following are listed by their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
- Newport
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- East Newport
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- East Newport is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Newport
- Plymouth
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Corinna
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- North Newport
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- North Newport is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Newport
- 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
- Etna
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Etna is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,194 people
- Dexter
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Stetson
(22 miles [35.4 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
- Russell Corner
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Russell Corner is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell Corner
- 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
- Carmel
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Exeter
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Exeter is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Exeter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,098 people
- Piscataquis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
- Wellington
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Wellington is located in Piscataquis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 248 people
- Kingsbury
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Kingsbury is located in Piscataquis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsbury
- Kingsbury Plantation
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Kingsbury Plantation is located in Piscataquis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsbury Plantation
- Population from the 2020 Census: 27 people
- Parkman
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Abbot
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Guilford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Sangerville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Dover South Mills
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Dover South Mills is located in Piscataquis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover South Mills
- East Sangerville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- East Sangerville is located in Piscataquis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sangerville
- Howard Corner
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Howard Corner is located in Piscataquis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howard Corner
- Waldo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
- Burnham
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Burnham is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,243 people
- Winnecook
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Winnecook is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winnecook
- Unity
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Troy
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Thorndike
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Freedom
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- North Palermo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- North Palermo is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Palermo
- Knox Ledge Corner
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Knox Ledge Corner is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox Ledge Corner
- Jackson
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Jackson is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 588 people
- Palermo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Knox
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Knox is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox
- Population from the 2020 Census: 791 people
- Brooks
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Montville
(26 miles [41.8 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
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Canaan, see our County-by-County Page for Canaan.
Cemeteries Near Canaan ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Canaan.
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 Canaan - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Canaan covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
- Fairview Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Pooler Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Saul Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Joy Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- West Pittsfield Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Slab City Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Blunt Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Richards Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Nevins Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Nobels Ferry Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Fuller Corner Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- East Ridge Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (260 more) ...
- North Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- South Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Covell Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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 Canaan had a population of 416 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Canaan had a population of 2,168 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Canaan, with the one closest to Canaan listed first.
- Morrison Corner
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Morrison Corner is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrison Corner
- Cornville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Cornville is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,389 people
- Skowhegan
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Clinton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Pittsfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- West Palmyra
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- West Palmyra is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Palmyra
- Larone
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Larone is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larone
- North Fairfield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- North Fairfield is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Fairfield
- Shawmut
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Shawmut is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawmut
- Hartland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Norridgewock
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Fairfield Center
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Fairfield Center is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield Center
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Winnecook
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Winnecook is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winnecook
- Palmyra
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- East Madison
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- East Madison is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Madison
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Canaan. See our List of 1890's Communities around Canaan.
Newspapers Published in Canaan ...
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 69 newspapers that have been published in the area around Canaan.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Canaan, 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 Canaan.
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 professional and volunteer 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 Canaan:
- Websites specific to Maine
- Pages specific to Somerset County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Franklin County
- Kennebec County
- Penobscot County
- Piscataquis 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 Canaan, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Canaan) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |