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 Etna (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 Etna. 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 hospitals and doctors 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.
Etna is located in Penobscot 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 Penobscot County: Aroostook, Hancock, Piscataquis, Somerset, Waldo & Washington.
Below are the counties that are near Etna. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Etna:
- Penobscot County (The home county of Etna)
- The following are listed by their distance from Etna, with the one closest to Etna listed first.
- Carmel
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Stetson
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Stetson is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stetson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,192 people
- East Newport
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- East Newport is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Newport
- North Newport
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- North Newport is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Newport
- Plymouth
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- North Newburgh
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- North Newburgh is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Newburgh
- Newport
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Hermon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Levant
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- East Exeter
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- East Exeter is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Exeter
- Newburgh
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Newburgh is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburgh
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,530 people
- Corinna
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Hancock County
- The following are listed by their distance from Etna, with the one closest to Etna listed first.
- Bucksport Center
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Bucksport Center is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bucksport Center
- Dedham
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Bucksport
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Verona Island
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Verona Island is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verona Island
- Population from the 2020 Census: 555 people
- Former name for Verona Island:
- Verona
- Orland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- East Orland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- West Penobscot
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- West Penobscot is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Penobscot
- North Penobscot
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- North Penobscot is located in Hancock County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Penobscot
- Kennebec County
- The following are listed by their distance from Etna, with the one closest to Etna listed first.
- Clinton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Albion
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Morrison Corner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Morrison Corner is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrison Corner
- Benton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Benton is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,720 people
- Benton Falls
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Benton Falls is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton Falls
- Benton Station
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Benton Station is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton Station
- China
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Piscataquis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Etna, with the one closest to Etna listed first.
- Dover South Mills
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Dover South Mills is located in Piscataquis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dover South Mills
- South Dover
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- South Dover is located in Piscataquis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Dover
- Atkinson Mills
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Atkinson Mills is located in Piscataquis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkinson Mills
- Atkinson
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Atkinson is located in Piscataquis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkinson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 311 people
- East Sangerville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- East Sangerville is located in Piscataquis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sangerville
- Dover - Foxcroft
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Howard Corner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Howard Corner is located in Piscataquis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howard Corner
- Parkman
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Sangerville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Boyd Lake
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Boyd Lake is located in Piscataquis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyd Lake
- Guilford
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Wellington
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Wellington is located in Piscataquis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellington
- Population from the 2020 Census: 248 people
- Somerset County
- The following are listed by their distance from Etna, with the one closest to Etna listed first.
- Detroit
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Houston Corner
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Houston Corner is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houston Corner
- Dogtown
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Dogtown is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dogtown
- Palmyra
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Pittsfield
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- West Palmyra
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- West Palmyra is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Palmyra
- Saint Albans
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Ripley
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Ripley is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ripley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 479 people
- Hartland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Mainstream
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mainstream is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mainstream
- Cambridge
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Canaan
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Waldo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Etna, with the one closest to Etna listed first.
- Troy
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Jackson
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Jackson is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 588 people
- Monroe
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Monroe is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 948 people
- Monroe Center
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Monroe Center is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monroe Center
- North Winterport
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- North Winterport is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Winterport
- Burnham
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Burnham is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,243 people
- Winnecook
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Winnecook is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winnecook
- Brooks
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Knox Ledge Corner
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Knox Ledge Corner is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox Ledge Corner
- Frankfort
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Thorndike
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Unity
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Etna, see our County-by-County Page for Etna.
Cemeteries Near Etna ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Etna.
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 Etna - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Etna covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Etna, with the one closest to Etna listed first.
- Etna Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Coboro Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Palmer Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Highland Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Clark Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Toothaker Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Graveyard Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- North Carmel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Sawyer Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Rug le Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (260 more) ...
- North Ridge Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Simpson Corners Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Etna had a population of 250 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Etna had a population of 1,194 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Etna, with the one closest to Etna listed first.
- Damascus
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Damascus is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Damascus
- Etna Center
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Etna Center is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Etna Center
- Carmel
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Stetson
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Stetson is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stetson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,192 people
- South Levant
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- South Levant is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Levant
- East Newport
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- East Newport is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Newport
- Plymouth
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- North Newport
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- North Newport is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Newport
- North Dixmont
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- North Dixmont is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Dixmont
- West Levant
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- West Levant is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Levant
- Newburgh Center
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Newburgh Center is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newburgh Center
- North Newburgh
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- North Newburgh is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Newburgh
- Continue List (21 more) ...
- Hermon Pond
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Hermon Pond is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hermon Pond
- Newport
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- South Exeter
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- South Exeter is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Exeter
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Etna. See our List of 1890's Communities around Etna.
Newspapers Published in Etna ...
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 101 newspapers that have been published in the area around Etna.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Etna, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Etna.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Etna:
- Websites specific to Maine
- Pages specific to Penobscot County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Hancock County
- Kennebec County
- Piscataquis 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> | 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- Etna) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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 Etna, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |