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 Gorham (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 Gorham. 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 Gorham ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for West Gorham: W. Gorham
You might be interested in other communities that are also named West Gorham. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for West Gorham.
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 doctors and hospitals 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 Gorham is located in Cumberland 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 Cumberland County: Androscoggin, Oxford, Sagadahoc & York.
Below are the counties that are near West Gorham. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Gorham:
- Cumberland County (The home county of West Gorham)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Gorham, with the one closest to West Gorham listed first.
- Gorham
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Sebago Lake
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Sebago Lake is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sebago Lake
- South Windham
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- South Windham is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Windham
- Standish
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Newhall
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Newhall is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newhall
- North Scarborough
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- North Scarborough is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Scarborough
- Westbrook
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- North Gorham
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- North Gorham is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Gorham
- Sagamore Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Sagamore Village is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sagamore Village
- Windham
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Ireland Corner
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ireland Corner is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ireland Corner
- Lone Creek Village ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lone Creek Village is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Creek Village
- Androscoggin County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Gorham, with the one closest to West Gorham listed first.
- West Poland
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Poland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Danville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Danville is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Danville
- Durham
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- East Poland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- East Poland is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Poland
- Moussam
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Moussam is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moussam
- Littlefield Corner
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Littlefield Corner is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littlefield Corner
- Rumford Junction
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Rumford Junction is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rumford Junction
- Minot
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Minot is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minot
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,595 people
- Penley Corner
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Penley Corner is located in Androscoggin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Penley Corner
- Mechanic Falls
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Auburn
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Oxford County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Gorham, with the one closest to West Gorham listed first.
- Durgintown
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Durgintown is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Durgintown
- Rankins Mill
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Rankins Mill is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rankins Mill
- East Hiram
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- East Hiram is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Hiram
- Hiram
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Kezar Falls
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Kezar Falls is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kezar Falls
- Porter
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Porter is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,525 people
- Denmark
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- East Denmark
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- East Denmark is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Denmark
- Spurrs Corner
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Spurrs Corner is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spurrs Corner
- Brownfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- East Brownfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- East Brownfield is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Brownfield
- East Otisfield
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- East Otisfield is located in Oxford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Otisfield
- Sagadahoc County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Gorham, with the one closest to West Gorham listed first.
- Pejepscot
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pejepscot is located in Sagadahoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pejepscot
- Topsham
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- York County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Gorham, with the one closest to West Gorham listed first.
- Chicopee
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Chicopee is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chicopee
- Kimbles Corner
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Kimbles Corner is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kimbles Corner
- Buxton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Buxton is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buxton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 8,368 people
- Bar Mills
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hollis Center
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Hollis
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Hollis is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollis
- Population from the 2020 Census: 4,807 people
- East Limington
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- East Limington is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Limington
- Clarks Mills
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Clarks Mills is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarks Mills
- Dayton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- North Limington
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- North Limington is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Limington
- South Limington
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- South Limington is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Limington
- Limington
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Carroll County (NH)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Gorham, with the one closest to West Gorham listed first.
- South Effingham
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Woodman
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Woodman is located in Carroll County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodman
- Effingham
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- East Wakefield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Wakefield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Freedom
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Brookfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Brookfield is located in Carroll County (NH)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 688 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Gorham, see our County-by-County Page for West Gorham.
Cemeteries Near West Gorham ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Gorham.
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 Gorham - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Gorham covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Gorham, with the one closest to West Gorham listed first.
- Ft. Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Highland Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- South Street Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- North Street Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Shaws Mill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Eastern Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Hillside Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Flanders Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Smith - Anderson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Browns Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Old Anderson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (353 more) ...
- Sapling Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- South Gorham Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Nonesuch Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
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 in 1895, West Gorham had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Gorham, with the one closest to West Gorham listed first.
- Groveville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Groveville is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Groveville
- Gorham
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Buxton Center
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Buxton Center is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buxton Center
- Chicopee
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Chicopee is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chicopee
- Sebago Lake
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Sebago Lake is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sebago Lake
- South Windham
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- South Windham is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Windham
- White Rock
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- White Rock is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Rock
- Standish
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- West Buxton
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- South Buxton
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- South Buxton is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Buxton
- North Scarborough
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- North Scarborough is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Scarborough
- Newhall
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Newhall is located in Cumberland County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newhall
- Continue List (19 more) ...
- Bar Mills
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Westbrook
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Bonny Eagle
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Bonny Eagle is located in York County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonny Eagle
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Gorham. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Gorham.
Newspapers Published in West Gorham ...
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 285 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Gorham.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Gorham, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for West Gorham.
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 West Gorham:
- Websites specific to Maine
- Pages specific to Cumberland County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Androscoggin County
- Oxford County
- Sagadahoc County
- York County
- Carroll 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 West Gorham, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- West Gorham) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |