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 South Durham (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 South Durham. 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 South Durham ...
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.
For example, a typical abbreviation for South Durham: S. Durham
You might be interested in other communities that are also named South Durham. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for South Durham.
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 southwest 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 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.
South Durham is located in Androscoggin 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 Androscoggin County: Cumberland, Franklin, Kennebec, Oxford & Sagadahoc.
Below are the counties that are near South Durham. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to South Durham:
- Androscoggin County (The home county of South Durham)
- The following are listed by their distance from South Durham, with the one closest to South Durham listed first.
- Durham
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lisbon Falls
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Lisbon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Penley Corner
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Penley Corner is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penley Corner
- Drinkwater Corner
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Drinkwater Corner is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drinkwater Corner
- Danville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Danville is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
- Rumford Junction
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rumford Junction is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rumford Junction
- Sabattus
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Lewiston
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Littlefield Corner
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Littlefield Corner is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littlefield Corner
- Auburn
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Nason Beach
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Nason Beach is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nason Beach
- East Poland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- East Poland is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Poland
- Cumberland County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Durham, with the one closest to South Durham listed first.
- Brunswick
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Bunganuc Landing
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Bunganuc Landing is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunganuc Landing
- North Pownal
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- North Pownal is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Pownal
- Freeport
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Pownal
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pennellville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pennellville is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennellville
- Merepoint
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Merepoint is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merepoint
- South Freeport
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Bustins Island
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Bustins Island is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bustins Island
- Harding
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Harding is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harding
- Harpswell Center
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Harpswell Center is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harpswell Center
- Yarmouth Junction
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Yarmouth Junction is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yarmouth Junction
- New Gloucester
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Kennebec County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Durham, with the one closest to South Durham listed first.
- Litchfield Corners
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Litchfield Corners is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Litchfield Corners
- Litchfield
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- South Monmouth
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- South Monmouth is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Monmouth
- Batchelders Crossing
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Batchelders Crossing is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batchelders Crossing
- Monmouth
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Purgatory
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Purgatory is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purgatory
- East Monmouth
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- East Monmouth is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Monmouth
- West Gardiner
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- West Gardiner is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Gardiner
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,376 people
- South Gardiner
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- South Gardiner is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Gardiner
- North Monmouth
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Gardiner
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- East Pittston
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- East Pittston is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Pittston
- Farmingdale
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lincoln County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Durham, with the one closest to South Durham listed first.
- South Dresden
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- South Dresden is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Dresden
- Hatchs Corner
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Hatchs Corner is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatchs Corner
- Westport
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Westport is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westport
- Population from the 2020 Census: 732 people
- Former name for Westport:
- Westport Island
- Trevett
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Wiscasset
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Dresden
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Southport
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Boothbay Harbor
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Boothbay
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Edgecomb
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Mouse Island
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Mouse Island is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mouse Island
- West Boothbay Harbor
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- West Boothbay Harbor is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Boothbay Harbor
- East Edgecomb
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- East Edgecomb is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Edgecomb
- Oxford County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Durham, with the one closest to South Durham listed first.
- Hebron
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Oxford
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- East Otisfield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- East Otisfield is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Otisfield
- Spurrs Corner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Spurrs Corner is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spurrs Corner
- Buckfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Norway
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- South Paris
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Paris
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Paris is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris
- Population from the 2020 Census: 5,162 people
- Sagadahoc County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Durham, with the one closest to South Durham listed first.
- Pejepscot
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Pejepscot is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pejepscot
- Topsham
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Bowdoin Center
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bowdoin Center is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowdoin Center
- Bowdoin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Bowdoin is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowdoin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,222 people
- Bowdoinham
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- West Bath
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bath
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Sabino
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sabino is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sabino
- Days Ferry
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Days Ferry is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Days Ferry
- Woolwich
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Harwards
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Harwards is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harwards
- Richmond Corner
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Richmond Corner is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond Corner
- Phippsburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- York County
- The following are listed by their distance from South Durham, with the one closest to South Durham listed first.
- Chicopee
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Chicopee is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chicopee
- Buxton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Buxton is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buxton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,368 people
- Kimbles Corner
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Kimbles Corner is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimbles Corner
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to South Durham, see our County-by-County Page for South Durham.
Cemeteries Near South Durham ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of South Durham.
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 South Durham - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for South Durham covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from South Durham, with the one closest to South Durham listed first.
- Lunt Memorial Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Friends Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Day Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Fairfield Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Collins Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Jones Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hilltop Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Shiloh Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Gerrish Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sylvester Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Old Friends Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Stetson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (412 more) ...
- North Freeport Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Vining Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Elmlawn Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 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.<2>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that South Durham had a population of 52 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from South Durham, with the one closest to South Durham listed first.
- Durham
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hillside
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hillside is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillside
- West Durham
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- West Durham is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Durham
- Topsham
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Lisbon Falls
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Lisbon Center
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Lisbon Center is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lisbon Center
- Brunswick
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- North Pownal
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- North Pownal is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Pownal
- Pownal
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Lisbon
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Freeport
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Cathance
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Cathance is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cathance
- Continue List (20 more) ...
- West Bowdoin
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- West Bowdoin is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Bowdoin
- West Pownal
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- West Pownal is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Pownal
- South Freeport
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around South Durham. See our List of 1890's Communities around South Durham.
Newspapers Published in South Durham ...
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 53 newspapers that have been published in the area around South Durham.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of South Durham, 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 South Durham.
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 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 South Durham:
- Websites specific to Maine
- Pages specific to Androscoggin County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Cumberland County
- Kennebec County
- Lincoln County
- Oxford County
- Sagadahoc County
- York 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> | 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 South Durham, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- South Durham) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |