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 Bedford (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 Bedford. 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 and doctors 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.
Bedford 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 Bedford. For each of these parishes/counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bedford:
- Madison Parish (The home parish of Bedford)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Mound
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Mound is located in Madison Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15 people
- Delta
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Coleman
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Coleman is located in Madison Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman
- Thomastown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Thomastown is located in Madison Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomastown
- Duck Port ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Duck Port is located in Madison Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duck Port
- Barnes
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Barnes is located in Madison Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnes
- Richmond
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Richmond is located in Madison Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Population from the 2020 Census: 530 people
- Ashly
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Ashly is located in Madison Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashly
- Tallulah
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Omega
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Omega is located in Madison Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Omega
- Quebec
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Quebec is located in Madison Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quebec
- Tendal
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Tendal is located in Madison Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tendal
- East Carroll Parish
- Sondheimer
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Tensas Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Yucatan Landing
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Yucatan Landing is located in Tensas Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yucatan Landing
- Newellton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Saint Joseph
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Newlight
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Newlight is located in Tensas Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newlight
- Claiborne County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Grand Gulf
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Grand Gulf is located in Claiborne County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand Gulf
- Ingleside
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Ingleside is located in Claiborne County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingleside
- Rocky Springs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Rocky Springs is located in Claiborne County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rocky Springs
- Willows
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Willows is located in Claiborne County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willows
- Port Gibson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Saint Elmo
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Saint Elmo is located in Claiborne County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Elmo
- Carlisle
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Carlisle is located in Claiborne County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlisle
- Westside
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Westside is located in Claiborne County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westside
- Copiah County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Myles
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Myles is located in Copiah County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myles
- Carpenter
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Carpenter is located in Copiah County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carpenter
- Hinds County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Newman
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Newman is located in Hinds County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newman
- Cayuga
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Cayuga is located in Hinds County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cayuga
- Edwards
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Utica
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Adams
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Adams is located in Hinds County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Learned
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Oakley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Oakley is located in Hinds County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakley
- Issaquena County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Chotard
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Chotard is located in Issaquena County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chotard
- Valley Park
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Valley Park is located in Issaquena County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Valley Park
- Jefferson County (MS)
- Rodney
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Rodney is located in Jefferson County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodney
- Warren County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Stout
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Stout is located in Warren County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stout
- Vicksburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Newmans
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Newmans is located in Warren County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newmans
- Villanova
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Villanova is located in Warren County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villanova
- Redwood
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Redwood is located in Warren County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redwood
- Haynes Bluff
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Haynes Bluff is located in Warren County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes Bluff
- Russellville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Russellville is located in Warren County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Russellville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bedford, see our Parish-by-Parish Page for Bedford.
Cemeteries Near Bedford ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bedford.
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 Bedford - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bedford covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Crystal Springs Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Hodges Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Glass Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Giving Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Cedars Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Beard Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- St. John Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Thomastown Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Mound Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Brierfield Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Wright Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Snyder Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Continue List (148 more) ...
- Old Savoy Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sadler Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Tates Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
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 Bedford in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bedford.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bedford, with the one closest to Bedford listed first.
- Warrenton
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Warrenton is located in Warren County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warrenton
- New Carthage ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- New Carthage is located in Tensas Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Carthage
- Yokena
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Yokena is located in Warren County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yokena
- Mound
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Mound is located in Madison Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound
- Population from the 2020 Census: 15 people
- King
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- King is located in Madison Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for King
- Stout
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Stout is located in Warren County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stout
- Delta
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Thomastown
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Thomastown is located in Madison Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomastown
- Vicksburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Duck Port ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Duck Port is located in Madison Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duck Port
- Barnes
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Barnes is located in Madison Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnes
- Lums
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Lums is located in Madison Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lums
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Grand Gulf
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Grand Gulf is located in Claiborne County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand Gulf
- Ingleside
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Ingleside is located in Claiborne County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingleside
- Millikens Bend ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Millikens Bend is located in Madison Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millikens Bend
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bedford. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bedford.
Newspapers Published in Bedford ...
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 126 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bedford.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bedford, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bedford.
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 helpful 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 Bedford:
- Websites specific to Louisiana
- Pages specific to Madison Parish
- Genealogy information for nearby parishes
- East Carroll Parish
- Tensas Parish
- Claiborne County
- Copiah County
- Hinds County
- Issaquena County
- Jefferson County
- Warren County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Louisiana
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 Bedford, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Bedford) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |