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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 Bellaire (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 Bellaire. 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 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.

Bellaire is located in Bossier 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 Bossier Parish: Lafayette (AR), Miller (AR), Bienville, Caddo, Red River & Webster.

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

  • Bossier Parish     (The home parish of Bellaire)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellaire, with the one closest to Bellaire listed first.
    • Bossier City
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Parkland Village
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Parkland Village is also located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkland Village
    • Bodcau
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Bodcau is also located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bodcau
    • Espanita Village
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Espanita Village is also located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Espanita Village
    • Red Chute
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Red Chute is also located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Chute
    • Eastwood
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Eastwood is also located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastwood
    • Haughton
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Fillmore
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Fillmore is also located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fillmore
    • Princeton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Elm Grove
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Benton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Benton is also located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,092 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Benton <1>
    • Bellevue
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Bellevue is also located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
    • Atkins
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Atkins is also located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkins
  • Bienville Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellaire, with the one closest to Bellaire listed first.
    • Armistead
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Armistead is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armistead
    • Ringgold
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Jamestown
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Caddo Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellaire, with the one closest to Bellaire listed first.
    • Normandy Village
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Normandy Village is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Normandy Village
    • Shreveport
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Ellerbe Woods
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Ellerbe Woods is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellerbe Woods
    • Chateau Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Chateau Village is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chateau Village
    • Silver Pine Village
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Silver Pine Village is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Pine Village
    • Summer Grove
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Summer Grove is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summer Grove
    • Longwood Village
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Longwood Village is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longwood Village
    • Edgewood Village
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Edgewood Village is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewood Village
    • Reisor
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Reisor is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reisor
    • South Towne Heights
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • South Towne Heights is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Towne Heights
    • Western Hills Village
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Blanchard
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Keithville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
  • De Soto Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellaire, with the one closest to Bellaire listed first.
    • Frierson
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Stonewall
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Gloster
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Keachi
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Keachi is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keachi
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 300 people
    • Grand Cane
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Screamerville ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Screamerville was located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Screamerville
  • Red River Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellaire, with the one closest to Bellaire listed first.
    • Westdale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Westdale is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westdale
    • East Point
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • East Point is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Point
    • Abington
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Abington is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abington
    • Hall Summit
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Webster Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellaire, with the one closest to Bellaire listed first.
    • Doyline
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Yellow Pine
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Yellow Pine is located in Webster Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Pine
    • Buckhorn ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Buckhorn was located in Webster Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckhorn
    • Dixie Inn
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Dixie Inn is located in Webster Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixie Inn
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 266 people
    • Sibley
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Heflin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Minden
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Dubberly
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Cotton Valley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Sarepta
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Harrison County (TX)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Bellaire, with the one closest to Bellaire listed first.
    • Waskom
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Waskom is located in Harrison County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waskom
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,150 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Waskom <1>
    • Jonesville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Uncertain
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Elysian Fields
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Panola County (TX)

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

Cemeteries Near Bellaire ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bellaire.

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

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

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

  • Greenwood Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Red River Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Oakland Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Hebrew Rest Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Forest Park East Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Park East Cemetery
    • The Forest Park East Cemetery is a very large cemetery that is located in Shreveport.
    • The Forest Park East Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Forest Park Cemetery East
    • Forest Park Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #67544 <2>
  • Hillcrest Memorial Park
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Hebrew Rest Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • St. Joseph Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Star Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Mayflower Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Fellowship Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Jewella Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (188 more) ...
    • Zion Rest Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Centuries Memorial Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Carver Memorial Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 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.<3>

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

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

  • Curtis
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Curtis is also located in Bossier Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curtis
  • Bossier City
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Shreveport
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Bodcau
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Bodcau is also located in Bossier Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bodcau
  • Brownlee
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Brownlee is also located in Bossier Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownlee
  • Jewella ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Jewella was located in Caddo Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewella
  • La Rosen
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • La Rosen is located in Caddo Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Rosen
  • Robson
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Robson is located in Caddo Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robson
  • Vanceville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Vanceville is also located in Bossier Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vanceville
  • Haughton
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Reisor
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Reisor is located in Caddo Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reisor
  • Flournoy
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Keithville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Benton
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Benton is also located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,092 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Benton <1>
    • Blanchard
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Bellaire ...

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 73 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bellaire.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bellaire, there are papers which were published within 4 miles [6.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bellaire.

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 Bellaire:

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