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 Oakland (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 Oakland. 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.
Oakland 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 Oakland. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Oakland:
- Kennebec County (The home county of Oakland)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- North Belgrade
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- North Belgrade is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Belgrade
- Waterville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Winslow
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Vassalboro
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- North Vassalboro
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- North Vassalboro is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Vassalboro
- Benton Station
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Benton Station is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton Station
- Rome
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Belgrade
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Benton Falls
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Benton Falls is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton Falls
- Benton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Benton is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,720 people
- East Vassalboro
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- East Vassalboro is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Vassalboro
- Belgrade Lakes
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Androscoggin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- East Livermore
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- East Livermore is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Livermore
- Livermore Falls
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Shy Corner
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Shy Corner is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shy Corner
- North Leeds
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- North Leeds is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Leeds
- Leeds
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Leeds is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leeds
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,320 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Leeds <1>
- North Livermore
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- North Livermore is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Livermore
- Curtis Corner
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Curtis Corner is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curtis Corner
- South Livermore
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- South Livermore is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Livermore
- Howes Corner
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Howes Corner is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howes Corner
- Livermore
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Leeds Junction
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Leeds Junction is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leeds Junction
- North Turner
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- North Turner is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Turner
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- New Sharon
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Chesterville
(17 miles [27.4 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
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- North Chesterville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- North Chesterville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Chesterville
- Farmington
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Industry
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Industry is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Industry
- Population from the 2020 Census: 927 people
- West Farmington
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- West Farmington is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Farmington
- Chisholm
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Chisholm is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chisholm
- East Wilton
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- East Wilton is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Wilton
- Fairbanks
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Fairbanks is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairbanks
- Dryden
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Dryden is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dryden
- Jay
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Jay is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jay
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,598 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jay <1>
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Razorville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Razorville is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Razorville
- Washington
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Burkettville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Burkettville is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burkettville
- Lucas Corner
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lucas Corner is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas Corner
- Stickney Corner
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Stickney Corner is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stickney Corner
- West Appleton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- West Appleton is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Appleton
- Globe
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Globe is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe
- Appleton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lincoln County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Somerville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Somerville is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Somerville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 569 people
- Coopers Mills
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- North Whitefield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- North Whitefield is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Whitefield
- Whitefield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Jefferson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Flanders Corner
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Flanders Corner is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flanders Corner
- Dresden
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Head Tide
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Head Tide is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Head Tide
- Alna
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Oxford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Canton Point
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Canton Point is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canton Point
- Gilbertville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Gilbertville is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilbertville
- Canton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Canton is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,097 people
- Penobscot County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Dixmont
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Dixmont is located in Penobscot County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixmont
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,119 people
- Newport
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Plymouth
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Somerset County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Fairfield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Shawmut
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Shawmut is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shawmut
- Smithfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Nyes Corner
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Nyes Corner is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nyes Corner
- Hinckley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Hinckley is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hinckley
- Norridgewock
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Mercer
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mercer is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mercer
- Population from the 2020 Census: 637 people
- Skowhegan
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Canaan
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Starks
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Starks is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starks
- Population from the 2020 Census: 638 people
- Anson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Madison
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Waldo County
- The following are listed by their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Palermo
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- North Palermo
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- North Palermo is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Palermo
- Burnham
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Burnham is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnham
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,243 people
- Winnecook
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Winnecook is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winnecook
- Unity
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Freedom
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Montville
(22 miles [35.4 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
- Thorndike
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Liberty
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Knox Ledge Corner
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Knox Ledge Corner is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox Ledge Corner
- Knox
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Knox is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knox
- Population from the 2020 Census: 791 people
- South Montville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- South Montville is located in Waldo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Montville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Oakland, see our County-by-County Page for Oakland.
Cemeteries Near Oakland ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Oakland.
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 Oakland - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Oakland covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- Lakeview Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Lewis Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Tiffany Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bowman Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Drummond Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- St. Francis Catholic Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Sawtelle Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Field Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Springer Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Nichols Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Getchell Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (327 more) ...
- Cowan Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Priest Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Tozier Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
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 Oakland had a population of 1,500 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Oakland had a population of 6,341 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Oakland, with the one closest to Oakland listed first.
- North Belgrade
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- North Belgrade is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Belgrade
- Winslow
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Waterville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- North Sidney
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- North Sidney is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Sidney
- Fairfield Center
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Fairfield Center is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairfield Center
- Vassalboro
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- North Vassalboro
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- North Vassalboro is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Vassalboro
- Fairfield
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Belgrade
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- North Fairfield
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- North Fairfield is located in Somerset County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Fairfield
- Rome
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Sidney
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Sidney is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sidney
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,543 people
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- East Vassalboro
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- East Vassalboro is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Vassalboro
- Lambs Corner
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Lambs Corner is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lambs Corner
- Benton Falls
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Benton Falls is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton Falls
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Oakland. See our List of 1890's Communities around Oakland.
Newspapers Published in Oakland ...
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 42 newspapers that have been published in the area around Oakland.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Oakland, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Oakland.
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 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 Oakland:
- Websites specific to Maine
- Pages specific to Kennebec County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Androscoggin County
- Franklin County
- Knox County
- Lincoln County
- Oxford County
- Penobscot 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 Oakland, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Oakland) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |