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The Commemorative Quarter for Maine





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 The Forks (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 The Forks. 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.

Name Variations for The Forks ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might have occurred.

The Forks has also been known as: The Forks Plantation and Plantation of The Forks.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 hospitals and 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.

The Forks 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 The Forks. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to The Forks:

  • Somerset County     (The home county of The Forks)
    • The following are listed by their distance from The Forks, with the one closest to The Forks listed first.
    • West Forks Plantation
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Forks Plantation have been provided by the GNIS.<1> 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
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Forks have been provided by the GNIS.<1> 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 <2>
    • Caratunk
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Pleasant Ridge Plantation
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pleasant Ridge Plantation have been provided by the GNIS.<1> 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
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Highland Plantation have been provided by the GNIS.<1> 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
    • Moscow
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Mackamp
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Mackamp. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mackamp
      • Mackamp is located in Somerset County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Mackamp
      • From The Forks to Mackamp
    • Bingham
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Long Pond
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Somerset Junction
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Mayfield Corner
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Brighton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
  • Franklin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from The Forks, with the one closest to The Forks listed first.
    • Carrabassett Valley
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Carrabassett Valley have been provided by the GNIS.<1> 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 <2>
    • Bigelow
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Eustis
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Stratton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Stratton have been provided by the GNIS.<1> 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 <2>
    • Kingfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Coplin Plantation
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Coplin Plantation have been provided by the GNIS.<1> 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
  • Piscataquis County

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

Cemeteries Near The Forks ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of The Forks.

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

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

  • Flagstaff Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • 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.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Shirley Mills Cemetery
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • 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.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Union Cemetery
    (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • 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.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Baker Cemetery
    (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
  • Bingham Village Cemetery
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
  • Greenville Cemetery
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Greenville Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Greenville Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Foss Hill Cemetery
    (22 miles [35.4 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.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Lake Road Cemetery
    (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Lake Road Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Lake Road Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Hillside Cemetery
    (23 miles [37 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.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Monson Cemetery
    (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Monson Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Monson Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. Josephs Cemetery
    (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Josephs Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Josephs Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. Josephs Cemetery
    (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Josephs Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Josephs Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Eustis Cemetery
      (25 miles [40.2 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.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Pierce Cemetery
      (25 miles [40.2 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.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Taylor Cemetery
      (25 miles [40.2 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.<1> 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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that The Forks had a population of 98 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, The Forks had a population of 35 people.

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

  • West Forks
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for West Forks have been provided by the GNIS.<1> 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 <2>
  • Shirley
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Shirley have been provided by the GNIS.<1> 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
  • Shirley Mills
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
  • Bingham
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
  • 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.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanchard
    • Blanchard is located in Piscataquis County
  • Greenville Junction
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
  • Mackamp
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Mackamp. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mackamp
    • Mackamp is located in Somerset County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Mackamp
    • From The Forks to Mackamp
  • Long Pond
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
  • Greenville
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Greenville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenville
    • Greenville is located in Piscataquis County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,628 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Greenville <2>
  • Moosehead
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Moosehead. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moosehead
    • Moosehead is located in Piscataquis County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Moosehead
    • From The Forks to Moosehead
  • Kingsbury
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Kingsbury have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsbury
    • Kingsbury is located in Piscataquis County
  • Lexington
    (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lexington have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lexington
    • Lexington is located in Somerset County
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Monson
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Brighton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Jackman
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Jackman have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackman
      • Jackman is located in Somerset County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 813 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jackman <2>

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

Newspapers Published in The Forks ...

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 15 newspapers that have been published in the area around The Forks.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of The Forks, 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 The Forks.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 The Forks:

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

The official website for State of Maine: https://www.maine.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>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.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<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 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- The Forks) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in The Forks. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 45.3370, Longitude: -69.9686    
<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 The Forks, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025