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 China (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 China. 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 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.
China 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 China. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to China:
- Kennebec County (The home county of China)
- The following are listed by their distance from China, with the one closest to China listed first.
- East Vassalboro
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- East Vassalboro is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Vassalboro
- Albion
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Branch Mills
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Branch Mills is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branch Mills
- North Vassalboro
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- North Vassalboro is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Vassalboro
- Winslow
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- South China
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Benton Falls
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Benton Falls is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton Falls
- Benton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Benton is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,720 people
- Waterville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Benton Station
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Benton Station is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton Station
- Vassalboro
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- North Windsor
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- North Windsor is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Windsor
- Oakland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from China, with the one closest to China listed first.
- New Sharon
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Chesterville
(28 miles [45.1 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
- Farmington Falls
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- North Chesterville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- North Chesterville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Chesterville
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from China, with the one closest to China listed first.
- Burkettville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Burkettville is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burkettville
- Razorville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Razorville is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Razorville
- Washington
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- West Appleton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- West Appleton is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Appleton
- Lucas Corner
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lucas Corner is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas Corner
- Stickney Corner
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Stickney Corner is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stickney Corner
- Globe
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Globe is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe
- Appleton
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Union
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hope
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- South Hope
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- South Hope is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Hope
- Lake City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lake City is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
- West Rockport
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lincoln County
- The following are listed by their distance from China, with the one closest to China listed first.
- Somerville
(11 miles [17.7 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
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- North Whitefield
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- North Whitefield is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Whitefield
- Jefferson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Flanders Corner
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Flanders Corner is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flanders Corner
- Whitefield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Davis Corner
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Davis Corner is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis Corner
- Head Tide
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Head Tide is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Head Tide
- Alna
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Dresden
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Nobleboro
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- North Newcastle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- North Newcastle is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Newcastle
- Waldoboro
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Penobscot County
- The following are listed by their distance from China, with the one closest to China listed first.
- Dixmont
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Dixmont is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixmont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,119 people
- East Dixmont
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- East Dixmont is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Dixmont
- Plymouth
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- East Newport
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- East Newport is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Newport
- Newport
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- South Newburgh
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- South Newburgh is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Newburgh
- Newburgh
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Newburgh is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburgh
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,530 people
- Etna
(30 miles [48.3 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 Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Newburgh Village is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburgh Village
- Sagadahoc County
- Richmond
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Somerset County
- The following are listed by their distance from China, with the one closest to China listed first.
- Fairfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Shawmut
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Shawmut is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawmut
- Nyes Corner
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Nyes Corner is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nyes Corner
- Hinckley
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Hinckley is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinckley
- Smithfield
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Canaan
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Pittsfield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Norridgewock
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Skowhegan
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Dogtown
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Dogtown is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogtown
- Houston Corner
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Houston Corner is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houston Corner
- Detroit
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Mercer
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Mercer is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mercer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 637 people
- Waldo County
- The following are listed by their distance from China, with the one closest to China listed first.
- Palermo
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- North Palermo
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- North Palermo is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Palermo
- Freedom
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Montville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Montville is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,093 people
- Unity
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Liberty
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Thorndike
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Winnecook
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Winnecook is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winnecook
- West Searsmont
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- West Searsmont is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Searsmont
- South Montville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- South Montville is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Montville
- Knox Ledge Corner
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Knox Ledge Corner is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox Ledge Corner
- Knox
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Knox is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox
- Population from the 2020 Census: 791 people
- Burnham
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Burnham is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,243 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to China, see our County-by-County Page for China.
Cemeteries Near China ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of China.
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 China - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for China covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from China, with the one closest to China listed first.
- China Village Cemetery Extension
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- China Village Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Lakeview Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Lincoln Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Goddard Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Shaw Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- McClintock Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- China Neck Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Libby Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Friends Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Haskell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Osgood Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Continue List (348 more) ...
- Abbott Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Priest Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Morrell Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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 China had a population of 367 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, China had a population of 4,339 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from China, with the one closest to China listed first.
- South Albion
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- South Albion is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Albion
- Lambs Corner
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lambs Corner is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lambs Corner
- East Vassalboro
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- East Vassalboro is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Vassalboro
- Palermo
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Albion
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- North Vassalboro
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- North Vassalboro is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Vassalboro
- South China
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- North Palermo
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- North Palermo is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Palermo
- Winslow
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Benton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Benton is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,720 people
- Benton Falls
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Benton Falls is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton Falls
- East Benton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- East Benton is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Benton
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Waterville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- South Vassalboro
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- South Vassalboro is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Vassalboro
- Weeks Mills
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Weeks Mills is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weeks Mills
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around China. See our List of 1890's Communities around China.
Newspapers Published in China ...
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 32 newspapers that have been published in the area around China.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of China, 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 China.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These 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 China:
- Websites specific to Maine
- Pages specific to Kennebec County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Franklin County
- Knox County
- Lincoln County
- Penobscot County
- Sagadahoc 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 China, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- China) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |