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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 Ballina (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 Ballina. 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 northwest corner of their home parish. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next parish to the west. 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 west 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.

Ballina is located in 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 Ballina. For each of these parishes/counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Ballina:

  • Concordia Parish     (The home parish of Ballina)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ballina, with the one closest to Ballina listed first.
    • Dunbarton
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Dunbarton is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunbarton
    • Athlone
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Athlone is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athlone
    • Chevey Chase
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Chevey Chase is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chevey Chase
    • West Ferriday
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • West Ferriday is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Ferriday
    • Ferriday
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Wildsville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Clayton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Ridgecrest
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Ridgecrest is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgecrest
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 585 people
    • Sycamore
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Sycamore is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
    • Monterey
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Monterey is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
    • Armagh
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Armagh is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armagh
    • Vidalia
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Fairview
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Fairview is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
  • Caldwell Parish
    • Fredericksburg ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Fredericksburg is located in Caldwell Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredericksburg
  • Catahoula Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ballina, with the one closest to Ballina listed first.
    • Trinity
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Trinity is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trinity
    • Jonesville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Greenville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Greenville is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenville
    • Wildwood
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Wildwood is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood
    • Harrisonburg
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Sicily Island
      (12 miles [19.3 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
    • Utility
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Utility is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utility
    • Parhams
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Parhams is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parhams
    • Rhinehart
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Aimwell
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Enterprise
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Enterprise is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
    • Rosefield
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Rosefield is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosefield
  • Franklin Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ballina, with the one closest to Ballina listed first.
    • Elam
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Elam is located in Franklin Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elam
    • Wisner
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Extension
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Extension is located in Franklin Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Extension
    • Jigger
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Gilbert
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Fort Necessity
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Chase
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • La Salle Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ballina, with the one closest to Ballina listed first.
    • Jena
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • 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 <1>
    • Sharp Town
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Sharp Town is located in La Salle Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharp Town
    • Midway
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Midway is located in La Salle Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
    • Summerville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Summerville is located in La Salle Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerville
    • Trout
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Tensas Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ballina, with the one closest to Ballina listed first.
    • Highland
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Highland is located in Tensas Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
    • Waterproof
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
  • Adams County (MS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ballina, with the one closest to Ballina listed first.
    • Carthage
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Carthage is located in Adams County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carthage
    • Natchez
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • 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 <1>
    • Cloverdale
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Cloverdale is located in Adams County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
    • Washington
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Washington is located in Adams County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washington
    • Selma
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Selma is located in Adams County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selma
    • Jeannette
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Jeannette is located in Adams County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeannette

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

Cemeteries Near Ballina ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ballina.

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

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

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

  • Eva Dale Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Cypress Grove Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Athlone Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Mt. Moriah Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Turner Acres Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Rogers Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Trinity Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Trinity Community Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Ferriday Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Wilkerson Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Griffin Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Wilson Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (228 more) ...
    • Omega Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • McFarlen Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • St. Mary Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)

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>

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

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

  • Frogmore
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Frogmore is located in Concordia Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frogmore
  • Chevey Chase
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Chevey Chase is located in Concordia Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chevey Chase
  • Turtle Lake ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Turtle Lake is located in Concordia Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turtle Lake
  • Trinity
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Trinity is located in Catahoula Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trinity
  • Jonesville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Sycamore
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Sycamore is located in Concordia Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
  • Clayton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Wildwood
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Wildwood is located in Catahoula Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood
  • Greenville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Greenville is located in Catahoula Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenville
  • Leland
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Leland is located in Catahoula Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland
  • Lismore
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Lismore is located in Concordia Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lismore
  • Harrisonburg
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Security
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Security is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Security
    • Sicily Island
      (12 miles [19.3 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
    • Utility
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Utility is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utility

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

Newspapers Published in Ballina ...

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 112 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ballina.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ballina, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ballina.

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 Ballina:

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 Ballina, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Ballina) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.