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 West Dresden (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 West Dresden. 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 West Dresden ...
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 West Dresden: W. Dresden
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 northeast 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 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 east 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.
West Dresden is located in Lincoln 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 Lincoln County: Kennebec, Knox, Sagadahoc & Waldo.
Below are the counties that are near West Dresden. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Dresden:
- Lincoln County (The home county of West Dresden)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Dresden, with the one closest to West Dresden listed first.
- Dresden
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Hatchs Corner
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Hatchs Corner is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatchs Corner
- South Dresden
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- South Dresden is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Dresden
- Head Tide
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Head Tide is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Head Tide
- Wiscasset
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Alna
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- North Newcastle
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- North Newcastle is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Newcastle
- Whitefield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Westport
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- 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
- Edgecomb
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Damariscotta
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Newcastle
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Androscoggin County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Dresden, with the one closest to West Dresden listed first.
- Wales
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Wales is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wales
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,640 people
- Wales Corner
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Wales Corner is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wales Corner
- Lisbon Falls
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Drinkwater Corner
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Drinkwater Corner is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drinkwater Corner
- Lisbon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Sabattus
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Leeds Junction
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Leeds Junction is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leeds Junction
- Nason Beach
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Nason Beach is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nason Beach
- Durham
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Greene
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Curtis Corner
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Curtis Corner is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curtis Corner
- Greene Corner
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Greene Corner is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greene Corner
- Cumberland County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Dresden, with the one closest to West Dresden listed first.
- Harding
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Harding is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harding
- Brunswick
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- East Harpswell
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- East Harpswell is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Harpswell
- Pennellville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Pennellville is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennellville
- Bunganuc Landing
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Bunganuc Landing is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunganuc Landing
- Cundys Harbor
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Merepoint
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Merepoint is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merepoint
- Freeport
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Harpswell Center
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Harpswell Center is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harpswell Center
- Harpswell
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- North Pownal
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- North Pownal is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Pownal
- Bustins Island
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Bustins Island is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bustins Island
- Kennebec County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Dresden, with the one closest to West Dresden listed first.
- South Gardiner
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- South Gardiner is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Gardiner
- East Pittston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- East Pittston is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Pittston
- Gardiner
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Pittston
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Pittston is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittston
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,819 people
- Litchfield
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Farmingdale
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Randolph
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Batchelders Crossing
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Batchelders Crossing is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Batchelders Crossing
- Litchfield Corners
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Litchfield Corners is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Litchfield Corners
- Chelsea
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Purgatory
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Purgatory is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Purgatory
- West Gardiner
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- West Gardiner is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Gardiner
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,376 people
- Knox County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Dresden, with the one closest to West Dresden listed first.
- Globe
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Globe is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Globe
- Friendship
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Razorville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Razorville is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Razorville
- Stickney Corner
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Stickney Corner is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stickney Corner
- Washington
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Warren Station
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Warren Station is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren Station
- Pleasant Point
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Pleasant Point is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Point
- South Cushing
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- South Cushing is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Cushing
- Lucas Corner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lucas Corner is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas Corner
- Cushing
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Union
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Burkettville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Burkettville is located in Knox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burkettville
- Sagadahoc County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Dresden, with the one closest to West Dresden listed first.
- Richmond
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Harwards
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Harwards is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harwards
- Richmond Corner
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Richmond Corner is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond Corner
- Bowdoinham
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Days Ferry
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Days Ferry is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Days Ferry
- Bowdoin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Bowdoin is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowdoin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,222 people
- Bowdoin Center
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Bowdoin Center is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowdoin Center
- Murphys Corner
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Murphys Corner is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murphys Corner
- Woolwich
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Bath
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Pejepscot
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Pejepscot is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pejepscot
- Topsham
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Waldo County
- Palermo
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Dresden, see our County-by-County Page for West Dresden.
Cemeteries Near West Dresden ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Dresden.
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 West Dresden - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Dresden covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Dresden, with the one closest to West Dresden listed first.
- Forrest Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Gaubert Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Call Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Maple Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Mayers Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Cotton Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Seigars Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lowell Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Herriman Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Reed Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (370 more) ...
- Curtis Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Dinsmore Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Maxwell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
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 in 1895, West Dresden had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Dresden, with the one closest to West Dresden listed first.
- Iceboro
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Iceboro is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iceboro
- Richmond
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- South Dresden
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- South Dresden is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Dresden
- Dresden
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Cedar Grove
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Cedar Grove is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
- Harwards
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Harwards is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harwards
- Richmond Corner
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Richmond Corner is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond Corner
- South Gardiner
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- South Gardiner is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Gardiner
- Wiscasset
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Head Tide
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Head Tide is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Head Tide
- East Pittston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- East Pittston is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Pittston
- Bowdoinham
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Montsweag
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Montsweag is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montsweag
- Alna
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Litchfield Plains
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Litchfield Plains is located in Kennebec County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Litchfield Plains
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Dresden. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Dresden.
Newspapers Published in West Dresden ...
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 55 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Dresden.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Dresden, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for West Dresden.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 West Dresden:
- Websites specific to Maine
- Pages specific to Lincoln County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Androscoggin County
- Cumberland County
- Kennebec County
- Knox County
- Sagadahoc 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 West Dresden, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- West Dresden) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |