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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 Island Falls (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 Island Falls. 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 and doctors 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.

Island Falls is located in Aroostook 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 Aroostook County: Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset & Washington.

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

  • Aroostook County     (The home county of Island Falls)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Island Falls, with the one closest to Island Falls listed first.
    • Crystal
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Crystal have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal
      • Crystal is located in Aroostook County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
    • Dyer Brook
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Oakfield
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Smyrna Mills
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Hersey
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Hersey. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hersey
      • Hersey is located in Aroostook County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 76 people
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Hersey
      • From Island Falls to Hersey
    • Merrill
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Merrill have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrill
      • Merrill is located in Aroostook County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 250 people
    • Sherman Mills
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sherman Mills have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman Mills
      • Sherman Mills is located in Aroostook County
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sherman Mills <2>
    • Moro Plantation
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Moro Plantation have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moro Plantation
      • Moro Plantation is located in Aroostook County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 35 people
    • Sherman
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Sherman. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman
      • Sherman is located in Aroostook County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 773 people
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Sherman
      • From Island Falls to Sherman
    • Smyrna
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Smyrna have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smyrna
      • Smyrna is located in Aroostook County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 419 people
    • Ludlow
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ludlow have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ludlow
      • Ludlow is located in Aroostook County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 366 people
    • Benedicta
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Penobscot County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Island Falls, with the one closest to Island Falls listed first.
    • Patten
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Sherman Station
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sherman Station have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman Station
      • Sherman Station is located in Penobscot County
    • Mount Chase
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mount Chase have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Chase
      • Mount Chase is located in Penobscot County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 192 people
    • Shin Pond
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Stacyville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Drew Plantation
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Drew Plantation have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drew Plantation
      • Drew Plantation is located in Penobscot County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 37 people
    • East Millinocket
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for East Millinocket have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Millinocket
      • East Millinocket is located in Penobscot County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,621 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for East Millinocket <2>
    • Medway
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Medway have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Medway
      • Medway is located in Penobscot County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,312 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Medway <2>
  • Piscataquis County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Island Falls, with the one closest to Island Falls listed first.
    • Old City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Old City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old City
      • Old City is located in Piscataquis County
    • New City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for New City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New City
      • New City is located in Piscataquis County
  • Washington County
    • Danforth
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Danforth have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danforth
      • Danforth is located in Washington County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 584 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Danforth <2>

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

Cemeteries Near Island Falls ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Island Falls.

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

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

  • Village Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Village Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Village Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • St. Agnes Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Agnes Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Agnes Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Golden Ridge Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Golden Ridge Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Golden Ridge Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Crystal Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Crystal Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Crystal Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Dyer Brook Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Dyer Brook Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Dyer Brook Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Bates Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Bates Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Bates Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Oakfield Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Oakfield Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Oakfield Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Barrows Chambers Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Barrows Chambers Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Barrows Chambers Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Tarbell Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Tarbell Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Tarbell Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Oakfield Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Oakfield Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Oakfield Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Merrill Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Merrill Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Merrill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Hersey Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Hersey Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Hersey Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
  • Continue List   (64 more) ...
    • Sherman Mills Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Sherman Mills Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Sherman Mills Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Darling Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Darling Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Darling Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Marley Bradford Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Marley Bradford Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Marley Bradford 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.<4>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Island Falls had a population of 178 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Island Falls had a population of 773 people.

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

  • Crystal
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Crystal have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crystal
    • Crystal is located in Aroostook County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
  • Dyer Brook
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Oakfield
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Patten
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Smyrna Mills
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Hersey
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Hersey. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hersey
    • Hersey is located in Aroostook County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 76 people
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Hersey
    • From Island Falls to Hersey
  • Sherman Mills
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sherman Mills have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman Mills
    • Sherman Mills is located in Aroostook County
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sherman Mills <2>
  • Moro
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Moro have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moro
    • Moro is located in Aroostook County
  • Sherman
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Sherman. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sherman
    • Sherman is located in Aroostook County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 773 people
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Sherman
    • From Island Falls to Sherman
  • Smyrna
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Smyrna have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smyrna
    • Smyrna is located in Aroostook County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 419 people
  • Monarda
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Monarda have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monarda
    • Monarda is located in Aroostook County
  • Stacyville
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...

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

Newspapers Published in Island Falls ...

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 8 newspapers that have been published in the area around Island Falls.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Island Falls, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<5>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Island Falls.

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 Island Falls:

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

The official website for Aroostook County: www.aroostook.me.us/

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>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 Island Falls, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<5>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Island Falls) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Island Falls. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 46.0092, Longitude: -68.2710    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025