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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 Brouillette (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 Brouillette. 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 northwest corner of their home parish. During their lives, most hospitals and 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 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, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

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

Brouillette is located in Avoyelles 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 Avoyelles Parish: Catahoula, Concordia, Evangeline, La Salle, Pointe Coupee, Rapides & Saint Landry.

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

  • Avoyelles Parish     (The home parish of Brouillette)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brouillette, with the one closest to Brouillette listed first.
    • Moncla
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Moncla is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moncla
    • Vick
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Vick is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vick
    • Marksville
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Effie
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • North Point
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • North Point is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Point
    • Bordelonville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Mansura
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Egg Bend
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Egg Bend is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egg Bend
    • Center Point
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Moreauville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Hessmer
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Hamburg
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Catahoula Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brouillette, with the one closest to Brouillette listed first.
    • Parhams
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Parhams is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parhams
    • Utility
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Utility is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utility
    • Rhinehart
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Jonesville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Concordia Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brouillette, with the one closest to Brouillette listed first.
    • Acme
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Armagh
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Armagh is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armagh
    • Bougere
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Bougere is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bougere
    • Monterey
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Monterey is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
    • Fairview
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Fairview is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
  • Evangeline Parish
  • Grant Parish
    • Fishville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Fishville is located in Grant Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishville
  • La Salle Parish
    • Sharp Town
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Sharp Town is located in La Salle Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharp Town
  • Pointe Coupee Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brouillette, with the one closest to Brouillette listed first.
    • Legonier
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Legonier is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Legonier
    • Lettsworth
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Smithland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Smithland is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithland
    • Innis
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Williamsport
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Williamsport is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsport
  • Rapides Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brouillette, with the one closest to Brouillette listed first.
    • Deville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Ruby
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Echo
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Kolin
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Whittington
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Whittington is located in Rapides Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittington
    • Libuse
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Cheneyville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Loyd
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Loyd is located in Rapides Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyd
    • Lecompte
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Moreland
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Moreland is located in Rapides Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moreland
    • Alexandria Junction
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Alexandria Junction is located in Rapides Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexandria Junction
    • Anandale
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Anandale is located in Rapides Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anandale
  • Saint Landry Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Brouillette, with the one closest to Brouillette listed first.
    • Bayou Jack
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Bayou Jack is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Jack
    • Morrow
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
  • Wilkinson County (MS)
    • Artonish
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Artonish is located in Wilkinson County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artonish

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

Cemeteries Near Brouillette ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Brouillette.

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

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

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

  • Bordelon Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Old St. Paul Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Ft. Derussy Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Wadill Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Cushman Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Catherine Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Joseph Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • St. John Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Tunica - Biloxi Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Baibry Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Oak Grove Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (205 more) ...
    • St. Joseph Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Woodson Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • French Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)

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

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

  • Marksville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Bordelonville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Mansura
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Egg Bend
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Egg Bend is located in Avoyelles Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egg Bend
  • Moreauville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
  • Acme
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Hamburg
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Poland
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Poland is located in Rapides Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poland
  • Cottonport
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
  • New Era
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • New Era is located in Concordia Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Era
  • Big Bend
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Big Bend is located in Avoyelles Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Bend
  • Red Fish
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Red Fish is located in Avoyelles Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Fish
  • Continue List   (19 more) ...
    • Holloway
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Holloway is located in Rapides Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holloway
    • Evergreen
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Bunkie
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Bunkie is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunkie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,826 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bunkie <1>

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

Newspapers Published in Brouillette ...

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 29 newspapers that have been published in the area around Brouillette.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Brouillette, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Brouillette.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Brouillette:

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 Brouillette, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Brouillette) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.