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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 Solon (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 Solon. 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.

Solon is located in Somerset 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 Somerset County: Franklin, Kennebec, Penobscot, Piscataquis & Waldo.

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

  • Somerset County     (The home county of Solon)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Solon, with the one closest to Solon listed first.
    • Embden
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Embden is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Embden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 956 people
    • North Anson
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Bingham
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Cass Corner
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Cass Corner is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cass Corner
    • Moscow
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Barron Corner
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Barron Corner is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barron Corner
    • East Madison
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • East Madison is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Madison
    • East New Portland
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • East New Portland is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East New Portland
    • Athens
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Athens is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athens
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 976 people
    • Brighton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Brighton is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brighton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
      • Brighton has also been known as:
      • Brighton Plantation
    • Anson
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Anson is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,397 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Anson <1>
    • Madison
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Cornville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Cornville is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,389 people
  • Franklin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Solon, with the one closest to Solon listed first.
    • Kingfield
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Industry
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Industry is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Industry
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 927 people
    • New Vineyard
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • New Vineyard is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Vineyard
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 777 people
    • Strong
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • South Strong
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • South Strong is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Strong
    • Carrabassett Valley
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • New Sharon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Avon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Avon is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 438 people
    • Fairbanks
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Fairbanks is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairbanks
    • Farmington
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Bigelow
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Bigelow is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bigelow
    • West Farmington
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • West Farmington is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Farmington
    • East Madrid
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • East Madrid is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Madrid
  • Kennebec County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Solon, with the one closest to Solon listed first.
    • Morrison Corner
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Morrison Corner is located in Kennebec County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrison Corner
    • Rome
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Rome is located in Kennebec County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rome
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,013 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Rome <1>
    • Clinton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Benton Station
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Benton Station is located in Kennebec County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton Station
    • Belgrade Lakes
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • North Belgrade
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • North Belgrade is located in Kennebec County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Belgrade
    • Oakland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Vienna
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Benton Falls
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Benton Falls is located in Kennebec County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton Falls
    • Benton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Benton is located in Kennebec County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,720 people
    • Waterville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Winslow
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Penobscot County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Solon, with the one closest to Solon listed first.
    • Dexter
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Dexter is located in Penobscot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,702 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dexter <1>
    • Corinna
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Newport
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Russell Corner
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Russell Corner is located in Penobscot County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russell Corner
  • Piscataquis County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Solon, with the one closest to Solon listed first.
    • Wellington
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Wellington is located in Piscataquis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellington
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 248 people
    • Kingsbury
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Kingsbury is located in Piscataquis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsbury
    • Kingsbury Plantation
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Kingsbury Plantation is located in Piscataquis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsbury Plantation
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 27 people
    • Parkman
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Abbot
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Abbot is located in Piscataquis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbot
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 687 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Abbot <1>
    • Monson Junction
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Monson Junction is located in Piscataquis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monson Junction
    • Guilford
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Sangerville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Shirley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Shirley is located in Piscataquis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shirley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 229 people
    • Monson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Monson is located in Piscataquis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 665 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Monson <1>
    • East Sangerville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • East Sangerville is located in Piscataquis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Sangerville
    • Howard Corner
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Howard Corner is located in Piscataquis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howard Corner
    • Lower Shirley Corner
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Lower Shirley Corner is located in Piscataquis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lower Shirley Corner
  • Waldo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Solon, with the one closest to Solon listed first.
    • Burnham
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Burnham is located in Waldo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnham
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,243 people
    • Winnecook
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Winnecook is located in Waldo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winnecook

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

Cemeteries Near Solon ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Solon.

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 Solon - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Solon covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

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

  • Pierce Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Evergreens Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Jewett Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Sunset Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Bingham Village Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Union Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • East Madison Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Kinsman Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Emery Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Baker Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Baker Cemetery is located less than 2 miles<3> to the northeast of Bingham.
    • The Baker Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Sugartown Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2354971 <2>
  • Athens Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (125 more) ...
    • Mt. Rest Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Old Point Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Forest Hill Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)

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 Solon had a population of 415 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Solon had a population of 1,078 people.

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

  • Embden
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Embden is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Embden
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 956 people
  • South Solon
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • South Solon is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Solon
  • North Anson
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • West Athens
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • West Athens is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Athens
  • Bingham
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • North New Portland
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • East New Portland
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • East New Portland is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East New Portland
  • East Madison
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • East Madison is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Madison
  • Athens
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Athens is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athens
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 976 people
  • Anson
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Anson is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anson
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,397 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Anson <1>
  • Madison
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Brighton
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Brighton is located in Somerset County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brighton
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
    • Brighton has also been known as:
    • Brighton Plantation
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Lexington
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Lexington is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lexington
    • Cornville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Cornville is located in Somerset County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,389 people
    • New Portland
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Solon ...

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 74 newspapers that have been published in the area around Solon.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Solon. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Solon and those printed in the larger area surrounding Solon.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<3> of Solon.

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 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 Solon:

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 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Solon) 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 Solon, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.