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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 Altoona (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 Altoona. 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 southwest corner of their home parish. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next parish to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the parish to the south.

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 west contained birth and death records; the parish to the south 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.

Altoona is located in Madison 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 Madison Parish: East Carroll, Franklin, Richland, Tensas & Warren (MS).

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

  • Madison Parish     (The home parish of Altoona)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Altoona, with the one closest to Altoona listed first.
    • Waverly
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Waverly is located in Madison Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
    • Tendal
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Tendal is located in Madison Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tendal
    • Quebec
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Quebec is located in Madison Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quebec
    • Tallulah
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Richmond
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Richmond is located in Madison Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 530 people
    • Omega
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Omega is located in Madison Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
    • Ashly
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Ashly is located in Madison Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashly
    • Barnes
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Barnes is located in Madison Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnes
    • Coleman
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Coleman is located in Madison Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman
    • Thomastown
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Thomastown is located in Madison Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomastown
    • Duck Port ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Duck Port is located in Madison Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duck Port
    • Mound
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Mound is located in Madison Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 15 people
  • East Carroll Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Altoona, with the one closest to Altoona listed first.
    • Sondheimer
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Transylvania
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Lake Providence
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Franklin Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Altoona, with the one closest to Altoona listed first.
    • Baskinton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Baskinton is located in Franklin Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baskinton
    • Crowville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Swampers
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Swampers is located in Franklin Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swampers
    • Baskin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Big Creek
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Big Creek is located in Franklin Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Creek
    • Winnsboro
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Chase
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Gilbert
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Morehouse Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Altoona, with the one closest to Altoona listed first.
    • Oak Ridge
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Windsor
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Windsor is located in Morehouse Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsor
    • Collinston
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Mer Rouge
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Richland Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Altoona, with the one closest to Altoona listed first.
    • Delhi
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Delhi is located in Richland Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delhi
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,753 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Delhi <1>
    • Dunn
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Dunn is located in Richland Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
    • Holly Ridge
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Holly Ridge is located in Richland Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Ridge
    • Rayville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Archibald
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Mangham
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • New Light
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • New Light is located in Richland Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Light
    • Start
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Alto
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Alto is located in Richland Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alto
  • Tensas Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Altoona, with the one closest to Altoona listed first.
    • Newlight
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Newlight is located in Tensas Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newlight
    • Newellton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • West Carroll Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Altoona, with the one closest to Altoona listed first.
    • Epps
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Epps is located in West Carroll Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Epps
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 809 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Epps <1>
    • Darnell
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Darnell is located in West Carroll Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darnell
    • Pioneer
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Forest
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Forest is located in West Carroll Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Forest <1>
    • Oak Grove
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Fiske
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Fiske is located in West Carroll Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fiske
  • Issaquena County (MS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Altoona, with the one closest to Altoona listed first.
    • Chotard
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Chotard is located in Issaquena County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chotard
    • Tallula
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Tallula is located in Issaquena County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallula

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

Cemeteries Near Altoona ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Altoona.

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

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

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

  • Waverly Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Seven Star Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Newton Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Fairview Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Palestine Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Epps Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
  • Sunflower Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Friendship Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
  • McKnight Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Friendship Cemetery
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Bethany Cemetery
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
  • Pleasant Hall Cemetery
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (108 more) ...
    • Masonic Cemetery
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Oakwood Cemetery
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Stevenson Cemetery
      (15 miles [24.1 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.<3>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Altoona had a population of 45 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Waverly
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Waverly is located in Madison Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
  • Delhi
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Delhi is located in Richland Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delhi
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,753 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Delhi <1>
  • Tendal
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Tendal is located in Madison Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tendal
  • Quebec
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Quebec is located in Madison Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quebec
  • Holly Ridge
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Holly Ridge is located in Richland Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Ridge
  • Lamar
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Lamar is located in Franklin Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamar
  • Bee Bayou
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Bee Bayou is located in Richland Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bee Bayou
  • Tallulah
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
  • Floyd
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Floyd is located in West Carroll Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floyd
  • Baskinton
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Baskinton is located in Franklin Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baskinton
  • Crowville
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Lums
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Lums is located in Madison Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lums
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Rayville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Omega
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Omega is located in Madison Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
    • Barnes
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Barnes is located in Madison Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnes

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

Newspapers Published in Altoona ...

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 35 newspapers that have been published in the area around Altoona.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Altoona, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Altoona.

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 websites either 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 Altoona:

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 Altoona, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Altoona) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.