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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 Caratunk (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 Caratunk. 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.

Caratunk is located in Somerset 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 Somerset County: Franklin, Kennebec, Penobscot, Piscataquis & Waldo.

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

  • Somerset County     (The home county of Caratunk)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Caratunk, with the one closest to Caratunk listed first.
    • The Forks
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Pleasant Ridge Plantation
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pleasant Ridge Plantation have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Ridge Plantation
      • Pleasant Ridge Plantation is located in Somerset County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 89 people
    • Highland Plantation
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Highland Plantation have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland Plantation
      • Highland Plantation is located in Somerset County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
    • West Forks Plantation
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Forks Plantation have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Forks Plantation
      • West Forks Plantation is located in Somerset County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 58 people
    • West Forks
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Forks have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Forks
      • West Forks is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for West Forks <1>
    • Moscow
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Bingham
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Mayfield Corner
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Brighton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Solon
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Solon have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solon
      • Solon is located in Somerset County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,078 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Solon <1>
    • East New Portland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Embden
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Embden have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Embden
      • Embden is located in Somerset County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 956 people
  • Franklin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Caratunk, with the one closest to Caratunk listed first.
    • Carrabassett Valley
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Carrabassett Valley have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrabassett Valley
      • Carrabassett Valley is located in Franklin County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 788 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Carrabassett Valley <1>
    • Bigelow
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Kingfield
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Eustis
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Stratton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Stratton have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stratton
      • Stratton is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Stratton <1>
    • Coplin Plantation
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Coplin Plantation have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coplin Plantation
      • Coplin Plantation is located in Franklin County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 158 people
    • East Madrid
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • New Vineyard
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Piscataquis County

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

Cemeteries Near Caratunk ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Caratunk.

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 Caratunk covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

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

  • Flagstaff Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Flagstaff Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Flagstaff Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Union Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Union Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Union Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Baker Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Bingham Village Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Pierce Cemetery
    (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Pierce Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Pierce Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Foss Hill Cemetery
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Foss Hill Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Foss Hill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Shirley Mills Cemetery
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Shirley Mills Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Shirley Mills Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
  • Evergreens Cemetery
    (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Evergreens Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Evergreens Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Taylor Cemetery
    (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Taylor Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Taylor Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Eustis Cemetery
    (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Eustis Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Eustis Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Flagstaff Cemetery
    (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Flagstaff Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Flagstaff Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (31 more) ...
    • Dore Hill Cemetery
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Dore Hill Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Dore Hill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Klondike Cemetery
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Klondike Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Klondike Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Hillside Cemetery
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Hillside Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Hillside 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.<6>

While we didn't find Caratunk in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Caratunk.

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

  • The Forks
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • West Forks
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Forks have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Forks
    • West Forks is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for West Forks <1>
  • Bingham
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Lexington
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lexington have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lexington
    • Lexington is located in Somerset County
  • Kingsbury
    (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Kingsbury have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsbury
    • Kingsbury is located in Piscataquis County
  • Brighton
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
  • Blanchard
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Blanchard have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanchard
    • Blanchard is located in Piscataquis County
  • Shirley
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Shirley have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shirley
    • Shirley is located in Piscataquis County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
  • Kingfield
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
  • Solon
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Solon have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Solon
    • Solon is located in Somerset County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,078 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Solon <1>
  • Shirley Mills
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
  • North New Portland
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for North New Portland have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North New Portland
    • North New Portland is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for North New Portland <1>
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Eustis
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Stratton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Stratton have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stratton
      • Stratton is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Stratton <1>
    • East New Portland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)

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

Newspapers Published in Caratunk ...

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 18 newspapers that have been published in the area around Caratunk.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Caratunk, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Caratunk.

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 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 Caratunk:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Caratunk. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

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>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 from Point A (ie- Caratunk) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Caratunk. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 45.2339, Longitude: -69.9917    
<5>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.
<6>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 Caratunk, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025