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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

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

We've added Basel to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Basel, 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 Basel (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 Basel. 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 doctors 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.

Although our information shows that the community of Basel is historic, it would have been located within present day West Feliciana 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 West Feliciana Parish: Avoyelles, Concordia, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Pointe Coupee, West Baton Rouge & Wilkinson (MS).

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

  • West Feliciana Parish     (The home parish of Basel)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Basel, with the one closest to Basel listed first.
    • Saint Francisville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Bains
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Bains is located in West Feliciana Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bains
    • Converse ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Converse is located in West Feliciana Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Converse
    • Wakefield
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Rogillioville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Rogillioville is located in West Feliciana Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogillioville
    • Weyanoke
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Tunica
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Angola
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
  • Avoyelles Parish
    • Odenburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Odenburg is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odenburg
  • East Baton Rouge Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Basel, with the one closest to Basel listed first.
    • Port Hudson
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Port Hudson is located in East Baton Rouge Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Hudson
    • Zachary
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Zachary is located in East Baton Rouge Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zachary
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 18,417 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Zachary <2>
    • Baker
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Baker is located in East Baton Rouge Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,999 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Baker <2>
    • Tristian Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Tristian Village is located in East Baton Rouge Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tristian Village
    • Brownfields
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Brownfields is located in East Baton Rouge Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownfields
    • Zion City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Zion City is located in East Baton Rouge Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zion City
    • Pride
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Boganvilla
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Boganvilla is located in East Baton Rouge Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boganvilla
    • Maribel Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Maribel Village is located in East Baton Rouge Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maribel Village
    • Merrydale
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Merrydale is located in East Baton Rouge Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Merrydale
    • Baton Rouge
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Beauregard Town
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Beauregard Town is located in East Baton Rouge Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beauregard Town
  • East Feliciana Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Basel, with the one closest to Basel listed first.
    • Lindsay
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Lindsay is located in East Feliciana Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lindsay
    • Bells Store ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Bells Store is located in East Feliciana Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bells Store
    • Jackson
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Jackson is located in East Feliciana Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,707 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jackson <2>
    • Slaughter
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Ethel
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Wilson
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Wilson is located in East Feliciana Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 546 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Wilson <2>
    • Clinton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Clinton is located in East Feliciana Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clinton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,486 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Clinton <2>
    • Norwood
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Norwood is located in East Feliciana Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 281 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Norwood <2>
    • Blairstown
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Blairstown is located in East Feliciana Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairstown
    • Woodland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Woodland is located in East Feliciana Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
  • Iberville Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Basel, with the one closest to Basel listed first.
    • Maringouin
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Rosedale
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Grosse Tete
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Morrisonville ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Morrisonville is located in Iberville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morrisonville
  • Livingston Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Basel, with the one closest to Basel listed first.
    • Watson
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Denham Springs
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Denham Springs is located in Livingston Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denham Springs
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,842 people
      • Former names for Denham Springs:
      • Amite Springs
      • Hill's Springs
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Denham Springs <2>
    • Oldfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Oldfield is located in Livingston Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oldfield
  • Pointe Coupee Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Basel, with the one closest to Basel listed first.
    • Patin
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Patin is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patin
    • New Roads
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Ventress
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Hermitage
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Hermitage is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hermitage
    • Glynn
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Lakeland
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Rougon
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Dupont
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Jarreau
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Oscar
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Morganza
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Livonia
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Livonia is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Livonia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,399 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Livonia <2>
  • Saint Helena Parish
    • Grangeville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Grangeville is located in Saint Helena Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grangeville
  • Saint Landry Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Basel, with the one closest to Basel listed first.
    • Melville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Elba
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Elba is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
    • Krotz Springs
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Half Moon
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Half Moon is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Half Moon
    • Swayze Lake
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Swayze Lake is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swayze Lake
  • West Baton Rouge Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Basel, with the one closest to Basel listed first.
    • Arbroth
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Arbroth is located in West Baton Rouge Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbroth
    • Erwinville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Devalls
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Devalls is located in West Baton Rouge Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Devalls
    • Carey
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Carey is located in West Baton Rouge Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carey
    • Lobdell
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Lobdell is located in West Baton Rouge Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lobdell
    • Wilbert ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Wilbert is located in West Baton Rouge Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilbert
    • Port Allen
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Brusly
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Brusly is located in West Baton Rouge Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brusly
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,580 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Brusly <2>
    • Addis
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Addis is located in West Baton Rouge Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Addis
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,464 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Addis <2>
  • Wilkinson County (MS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Basel, with the one closest to Basel listed first.
    • Turnbull
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Turnbull is located in Wilkinson County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnbull
    • Whitaker
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Whitaker is located in Wilkinson County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitaker
    • Woodville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Centreville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Basel ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Basel.

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

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

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

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 Basel in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Basel.

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

  • Waterloo
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Waterloo is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waterloo
  • Anchor
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Anchor is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anchor
  • New Roads
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Ventress
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Pointe Coupee
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Pointe Coupee is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pointe Coupee
  • Port Hudson
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Port Hudson is located in East Baton Rouge Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Hudson
  • Lindsay
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Lindsay is located in East Feliciana Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lindsay
  • Arbroth
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Arbroth is located in West Baton Rouge Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbroth
  • Lakeland
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Bells Store ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Bells Store is located in East Feliciana Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bells Store
  • Jackson
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Jackson is located in East Feliciana Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jackson
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,707 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jackson <2>
  • Converse ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Converse is located in West Feliciana Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Converse
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Irene
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Irene is located in East Baton Rouge Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irene
    • Zachary
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Zachary is located in East Baton Rouge Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zachary
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 18,417 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Zachary <2>
    • Slaughter
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)

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

Newspapers Published in Basel ...

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 42 newspapers that have been published in the area around Basel.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Basel, 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 Basel.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Basel:

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