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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

So far, we found very little information about Alton. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>

We've added Alton to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Alton, please Contact Us.

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 Alton (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 Alton. 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 Parishes/Counties ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring parishes/counties.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northeast corner of their home parish. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next parish to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the parish to the north.

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring parishes/counties instead of the parish in which they lived:  their home parish contained property and probate records; the parish to the east contained birth and death records; the parish to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring parishes/counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Although our information shows that the community of Alton is historic, it would have been located within present day Concordia Parish.

To see how the shape of Louisiana's parishes may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following parishes adjoin and form the boundaries of Concordia Parish: Avoyelles, Catahoula, Pointe Coupee, Tensas, West Feliciana, Adams (MS) & Wilkinson (MS).

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

  • Concordia Parish     (The home parish of Alton)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alton, with the one closest to Alton listed first.
    • Armagh
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Armagh is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armagh
    • Monterey
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Monterey is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
    • Acme
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Athlone
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Athlone is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athlone
    • Wildsville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Chevey Chase
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Chevey Chase is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chevey Chase
    • Bougere
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Bougere is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bougere
    • Fairview
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Fairview is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
    • Ferriday
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Ridgecrest
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Ridgecrest is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgecrest
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 585 people
    • West Ferriday
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • West Ferriday is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Ferriday
    • Sycamore
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Sycamore is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
  • Avoyelles Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alton, with the one closest to Alton listed first.
    • North Point
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • North Point is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Point
    • Vick
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Vick is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vick
    • Bordelonville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Moncla
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Moncla is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moncla
    • Effie
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Marksville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Center Point
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Hamburg
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Moreauville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
    • Egg Bend
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Egg Bend is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egg Bend
    • Mansura
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Catahoula Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alton, with the one closest to Alton listed first.
    • Parhams
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Parhams is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parhams
    • Utility
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Utility is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utility
    • Jonesville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Trinity
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Trinity is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trinity
    • Rhinehart
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Harrisonburg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Aimwell
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Greenville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Greenville is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenville
    • Wildwood
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Wildwood is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood
    • Sicily Island
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Sicily Island is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sicily Island
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 438 people
  • La Salle Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alton, with the one closest to Alton listed first.
    • Sharp Town
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Sharp Town is located in La Salle Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharp Town
    • Jena
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Jena is located in La Salle Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jena
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,430 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jena <2>
    • Midway
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Midway is located in La Salle Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
    • Trout
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Summerville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Summerville is located in La Salle Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerville
  • Rapides Parish
  • Adams County (MS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Alton, with the one closest to Alton listed first.
    • Carthage
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Carthage is located in Adams County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carthage
    • Cloverdale
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Cloverdale is located in Adams County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
    • Natchez
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Natchez is located in Adams County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natchez
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,362 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Natchez <2>
  • Wilkinson County (MS)
    • Artonish
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Artonish is located in Wilkinson County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artonish

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

Cemeteries Near Alton ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Alton.

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

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

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

  • Pecantly Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Alton Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Lone Pine Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Forman Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Young Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Steele Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Hedrick Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • White Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Calhoun Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Matthew Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Gillespie Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Flowery Mound Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (208 more) ...
    • Parhams Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Palo Alto Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Trisler Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 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.

While we didn't find Alton in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Alton.

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

  • Eva
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Eva is located in Concordia Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eva
  • Parhams
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Parhams is located in Catahoula Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parhams
  • Glade
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Glade is located in Catahoula Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glade
  • New Era
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • New Era is located in Concordia Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Era
  • Monterey
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Monterey is located in Concordia Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
  • Lismore
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Lismore is located in Concordia Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lismore
  • Security
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Security is located in Catahoula Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Security
  • Acme
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Utility
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Utility is located in Catahoula Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utility
  • Jonesville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
  • Frogmore
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Frogmore is located in Concordia Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frogmore
  • Chevey Chase
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Chevey Chase is located in Concordia Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chevey Chase
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Trinity
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Trinity is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trinity
    • Lavacco
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Lavacco is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavacco
    • Bougere
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Bougere is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bougere

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

Newspapers Published in Alton ...

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 127 newspapers that have been published in the area around Alton.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Alton, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Alton.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These 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 Alton:

Footnotes ...

<1>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 Alton, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Alton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.