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 Gilford (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 Gilford. 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 Gilford ...
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.
In past government published Postal Guides, Gilford was referred to as Gilford Courthouse.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Gilford. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Gilford.
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.
For more information about how community names might have been affected by the Board of Geographic Names (BGN), see our page about Placename Rules.
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 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.
Gilford is located in Belknap County.
To see how the shape of New Hampshire's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Belknap County: Carroll, Grafton, Merrimack & Strafford.
Below are the counties that are near Gilford. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Gilford:
- Belknap County (The home county of Gilford)
- The following are listed by their distance from Gilford, with the one closest to Gilford listed first.
- Glendale
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Glendale is located in Belknap County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glendale
- Samoset
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Samoset is located in Belknap County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Samoset
- Laconia
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Haven
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Spring Haven is located in Belknap County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Haven
- West Alton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- West Alton is located in Belknap County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Alton
- Interlaken Park
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Interlaken Park is located in Belknap County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Interlaken Park
- Wildwood Village
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Wildwood Village is located in Belknap County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood Village
- Winnisquam
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Belmont
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Meredith
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Gilmanton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Gardners Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Gardners Grove is located in Belknap County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gardners Grove
- Allens Mills
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Allens Mills is located in Belknap County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allens Mills
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gilford, with the one closest to Gilford listed first.
- Wolfeboro Falls
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Wolfeboro
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- South Wolfeboro
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- South Wolfeboro is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Wolfeboro
- Federal Corner
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Federal Corner is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Federal Corner
- Melvin Village
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Stockbridge Corner
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Stockbridge Corner is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stockbridge Corner
- Tuftonboro
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Fernald
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Fernald is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fernald
- Wolfeboro Center
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Wolfeboro Center is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wolfeboro Center
- Moultonborough
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Water Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Water Village is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Water Village
- North Wolfeboro
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- North Wolfeboro is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Wolfeboro
- Big Rock Corner
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Big Rock Corner is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Rock Corner
- Grafton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gilford, with the one closest to Gilford listed first.
- Ashland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Holderness
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Bristol
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Bridgewater
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Alexandria
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- South Alexandria
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- South Alexandria is located in Grafton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Alexandria
- Plymouth
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Campton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Hebron
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Groton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Campton Lower Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Campton Upper Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Quincy
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Quincy is located in Grafton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
- Merrimack County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gilford, with the one closest to Gilford listed first.
- Northfield
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Shaker Village
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Shaker Village is located in Merrimack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaker Village
- Franklin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Loudon Center
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Loudon Center is located in Merrimack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loudon Center
- Hill
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Hill is located in Merrimack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,115 people
- Canterbury
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hill Center
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Hill Center is located in Merrimack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hill Center
- Pittsfield
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Loudon
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Websters Mill
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Websters Mill is located in Merrimack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Websters Mill
- East Andover
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- East Andover is located in Merrimack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Andover
- Boscawen
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Boyce
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Boyce is located in Merrimack County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyce
- Rockingham County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gilford, with the one closest to Gilford listed first.
- Northwood Ridge
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Northwood Ridge is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northwood Ridge
- Northwood
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Deerfield Center
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Deerfield Center is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerfield Center
- Deerfield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- James City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- James City is located in Rockingham County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for James City
- Strafford County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gilford, with the one closest to Gilford listed first.
- New Durham
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Davis
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Davis is located in Strafford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
- Middleton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Middleton is located in Strafford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middleton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,832 people
- Dexter Corner
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Dexter Corner is located in Strafford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dexter Corner
- Strafford
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Farmington
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Milton
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Place
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Place is located in Strafford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Place
- Bow Lake Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Bow Lake Village is located in Strafford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bow Lake Village
- Bow Lake Village has also been known as:
- Bow Lake
- North Rochester
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- North Rochester is located in Strafford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Rochester
- Strafford Corner
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Strafford Corner is located in Strafford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Strafford Corner
- East Rochester
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- East Rochester is located in Strafford County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Rochester
- Rochester
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Oxford County (ME)
- Porter
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Porter is located in Oxford County (ME)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porter
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,525 people
- York County (ME)
- The following are listed by their distance from Gilford, with the one closest to Gilford listed first.
- Mee Corners
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Mee Corners is located in York County (ME)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mee Corners
- Stevens Corner
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Stevens Corner is located in York County (ME)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stevens Corner
- South Effingham
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- South Effingham is located in York County (ME)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Effingham
- Acton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- West Newfield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- North Shapleigh
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- North Shapleigh is located in York County (ME)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Shapleigh
- Parsonsfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Shapleigh
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Newfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Sprague City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Sprague City is located in York County (ME)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sprague City
- North Parsonsfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- North Parsonsfield is located in York County (ME)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Parsonsfield
- Lebanon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- East Parsonsfield
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- East Parsonsfield is located in York County (ME)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Parsonsfield
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Gilford, see our County-by-County Page for Gilford.
Cemeteries Near Gilford ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Gilford.
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 Gilford - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Gilford covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Gilford, with the one closest to Gilford listed first.
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- McCoy Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Bayside Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Hillside Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Union Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Sacred Heart Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- St. Lambert Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Union Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- St. Lamberts Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lamprey Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Mead Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Round Bay Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Continue List (244 more) ...
- West Alton Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Doe Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Old Town Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
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 in 1895, Gilford had railroad service and no post office. In 2020, Gilford had a population of 7,278 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Gilford, with the one closest to Gilford listed first.
- Laconia
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Lake Shore Park
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Shore Park is located in Belknap County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Shore Park
- West Alton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- West Alton is located in Belknap County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Alton
- Spring Haven
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Spring Haven is located in Belknap County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Haven
- Belmont
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Major
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Mount Major is located in Belknap County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Major
- East Tilton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- East Tilton is located in Belknap County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Tilton
- Gardners Grove
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Gardners Grove is located in Belknap County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gardners Grove
- Gilmanton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Mirror Lake
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Meredith
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Gaza
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Gaza is located in Belknap County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaza
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Sanbornton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Tilton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Gilmanton Iron Works, Gilmanton Iw
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Gilford. See our List of 1890's Communities around Gilford.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Gilford ...
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 89 newspapers that have been published in the area around Gilford.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Gilford. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Gilford and those printed in the larger area surrounding Gilford.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<3> of Gilford.
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 Gilford:
- Websites specific to New Hampshire
- Pages specific to Belknap County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Carroll County
- Grafton County
- Merrimack County
- Rockingham County
- Strafford County
- Oxford County
- York County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for New Hampshire
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 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Gilford) 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 Gilford, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |