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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 Avondale (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 Avondale. 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 ...

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

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the southeast corner of their home parish. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next parish to the east. 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 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 south contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring parishes, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

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

Avondale is located in Jefferson 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 Jefferson Parish: Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, Saint Charles, Saint John the Baptist, Saint Tammany & Tangipahoa.

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

  • Jefferson Parish     (The home parish of Avondale)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Avondale, with the one closest to Avondale listed first.
    • Waggaman
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Harahan
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Bridge City
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Westwego
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Elmwood
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • River Ridge
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Jefferson
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Metairie
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Marrero
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Harvey
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Kenner
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Kenner is located in Jefferson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 66,288 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kenner <1>
    • Estelle
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Estelle is located in Jefferson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estelle
    • Gretna
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Gretna is located in Jefferson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gretna
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,615 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gretna <1>
  • Lafourche Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Avondale, with the one closest to Avondale listed first.
    • Gheens
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Larose
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Mathews
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Raceland Junction
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Raceland Junction is located in Lafourche Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raceland Junction
    • Cut Off
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Raceland
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Godchaux
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Godchaux is located in Lafourche Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Godchaux
    • Lockport
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Kraemer
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Orleans Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Avondale, with the one closest to Avondale listed first.
    • New Orleans
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Gentilly
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Gentilly is located in Orleans Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gentilly
    • Gentilly Terrace
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Gentilly Terrace is located in Orleans Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gentilly Terrace
    • Milneburg
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Milneburg is located in Orleans Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milneburg
    • Pine Village
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Pine Village is located in Orleans Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Village
  • Plaquemines Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Avondale, with the one closest to Avondale listed first.
    • Belle Chasse
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Cedar Grove
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Cedar Grove is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
    • Stella
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Stella is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stella
    • English Turn
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • English Turn is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English Turn
    • Scarsdale
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Scarsdale is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scarsdale
    • Linwood
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Linwood is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
    • Braithwaite
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Jesuit Bend
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Jesuit Bend is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jesuit Bend
    • Carlisle
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Monsecour
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Monsecour is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monsecour
    • Myrtle Grove
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Myrtle Grove is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle Grove
  • Saint Bernard Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Avondale, with the one closest to Avondale listed first.
    • Arabi
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Chalmette
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Versailles
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Versailles is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Versailles
    • Meraux
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Saxonholm
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Saxonholm is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxonholm
    • Story
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Story is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Story
    • Mohawk City
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Mohawk City is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mohawk City
    • Violet
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Poydras
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Poydras is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poydras
    • Saint Bernard
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Sebastopol
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Sebastopol is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sebastopol
    • Toca
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Toca is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toca
    • Verret
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Verret is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verret
  • Saint Charles Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Avondale, with the one closest to Avondale listed first.
    • Ama
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Davis ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Davis is located in Saint Charles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
    • Elkinsville ‑ Historic
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Elkinsville is located in Saint Charles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkinsville
      • Elkinsville has also been known as:
      • Freetown
    • Saint Rose
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Lone Star
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Lone Star is located in Saint Charles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Star
    • Destrehan
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Luling
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Mimosa Park
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Mimosa Park is located in Saint Charles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mimosa Park
    • Boutte
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • New Sarpy
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Norco
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Hahnville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Paradis
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
  • Saint James Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Avondale, with the one closest to Avondale listed first.
    • South Vacherie
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • South Vacherie is located in Saint James Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Vacherie
    • Gramercy
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • Lutcher
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Lutcher is located in Saint James Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lutcher
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,127 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lutcher <1>
    • North Vacherie
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • North Vacherie is located in Saint James Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Vacherie
  • Saint John the Baptist Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Avondale, with the one closest to Avondale listed first.
    • Frenier
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Frenier is located in Saint John the Baptist Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenier
    • Laplace
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Reserve
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Edgard
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Garyville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Mount Airy
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Wallace
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Wallace is located in Saint John the Baptist Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallace
  • Saint Tammany Parish
    • North Shore Beach
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • North Shore Beach is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Shore Beach
  • Tangipahoa Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Avondale, with the one closest to Avondale listed first.
    • Akers
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Manchac
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Manchac is located in Tangipahoa Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manchac

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

Cemeteries Near Avondale ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Avondale.

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

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

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

  • Waggaman Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Restlawn Park Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Woodlawn Park Memorial Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Our Lady of Prompt Succor Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Providence Memorial Park
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Garden of Memories
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Jewish Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Valence Street Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Valient Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • St. Vincent Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Carrollton Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Mary Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (75 more) ...
    • Lafayette Cemetery #2
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Evening Star Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Lafayette Cemetery #1
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)

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>

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

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

  • Waggaman
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Westwego
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Jefferson
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Ama
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Kenner
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Kenner is located in Jefferson Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 66,288 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kenner <1>
  • Harvey
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • New Orleans
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Elkinsville ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Elkinsville is located in Saint Charles Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkinsville
    • Elkinsville has also been known as:
    • Freetown
  • Davis ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Davis is located in Saint Charles Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
  • Gretna
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Gretna is located in Jefferson Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gretna
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,615 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gretna <1>
  • Algiers
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Algiers is located in Orleans Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Algiers
  • Luling
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Gentilly
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Gentilly is located in Orleans Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gentilly
    • Boutte
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Milneburg
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Milneburg is located in Orleans Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milneburg

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

Newspapers Published in Avondale ...

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 555 newspapers that have been published in the area around Avondale.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Avondale, there are papers which were published within 15 miles [24.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Avondale.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Avondale:

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 Avondale, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>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 from Point A (ie- Avondale) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.