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 Cecil (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 Cecil. 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 southeast corner of their home parish. During their lives, most doctors were in the next parish to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the parish to the south.
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 south 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.
Cecil is located in Union 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 Union Parish: Ashley (AR), Union (AR), Claiborne, Lincoln, Morehouse & Ouachita.
Below are the parishes/counties that are near Cecil. For each of these parishes/counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Cecil:
- Union Parish (The home parish of Cecil)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cecil, with the one closest to Cecil listed first.
- Marion
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Oakland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Oakland is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Truxno
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Truxno is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truxno
- Haile
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Haile is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haile
- Farmerville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Ouachita City
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Ouachita City is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ouachita City
- Spearsville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Wilhite
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Wilhite is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilhite
- Lillie
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Pisgah
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Pisgah is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
- Downsville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bernice
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Cane Ridge ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Cane Ridge is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Ridge
- Claiborne Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Cecil, with the one closest to Cecil listed first.
- Junction City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Junction City is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 557 people
- Wards Mill ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Wards Mill is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wards Mill
- Weldon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Weldon is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
- Lincoln Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Cecil, with the one closest to Cecil listed first.
- Cedarton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Cedarton is located in Lincoln Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarton
- Sibley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sibley is located in Lincoln Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sibley
- Dubach
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Unionville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Unionville is located in Lincoln Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unionville
- Morehouse Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Cecil, with the one closest to Cecil listed first.
- Bastrop
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Brodnax ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Brodnax is located in Morehouse Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brodnax
- Collinston
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Mer Rouge
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Windsor
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Windsor is located in Morehouse Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsor
- Ouachita Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Cecil, with the one closest to Cecil listed first.
- Sterlington
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fairbanks
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Eureka
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Eureka is located in Ouachita Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
- Northpark Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Northpark Village is located in Ouachita Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northpark Village
- Frost Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Frost Town is located in Ouachita Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frost Town
- Claiborne
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Claiborne is located in Ouachita Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claiborne
- West Monroe
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- West Monroe is located in Ouachita Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Monroe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 12,086 people
- Leisure Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Leisure Village is located in Ouachita Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leisure Village
- Swartz
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Ashley County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cecil, with the one closest to Cecil listed first.
- Meridian
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Meridian is located in Ashley County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridian
- West Crossett
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- West Crossett is located in Ashley County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Crossett
- Crossett
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Elon ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Elon is located in Ashley County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elon
- North Crossett
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- North Crossett is located in Ashley County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Crossett
- Bradley County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cecil, with the one closest to Cecil listed first.
- Blanchton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Blanchton is located in Bradley County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanchton
- Moro Bay
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Moro Bay is located in Bradley County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moro Bay
- Sturgis ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Sturgis is located in Bradley County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sturgis
- Ingalls
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Ingalls is located in Bradley County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingalls
- Union County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Cecil, with the one closest to Cecil listed first.
- Huttig
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Huttig is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huttig
- Population from the 2020 Census: 526 people
- Bolding
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Bolding is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolding
- Felsenthal
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Felsenthal is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felsenthal
- Population from the 2020 Census: 139 people
- Lapile
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Lapile is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lapile
- Strong
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Urbana
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Urbana is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Urbana
- Lawson
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Lawson is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawson
- Blanchard Springs ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Blanchard Springs is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanchard Springs
- Crain City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Crain City is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crain City
- Perdue City
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Perdue City is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perdue City
- Junction City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Junction City is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 520 people
- Calion
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Calion is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calion
- Population from the 2020 Census: 440 people
- El Dorado
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Cecil, see our Parish-by-Parish Page for Cecil.
Cemeteries Near Cecil ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Cecil.
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 Cecil - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Cecil covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Cecil, with the one closest to Cecil listed first.
- St. Pauls Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Union Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Reppond Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Roark Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Harper Springs Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Fairview Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Crow Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Dean Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Huttig Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Antioch Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Old Tennessee Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Batts Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Continue List (220 more) ...
- Abscent Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Abstent Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Reppond Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
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 Cecil in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Cecil.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Cecil, with the one closest to Cecil listed first.
- Marion
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Oakland
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Oakland is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Lapile
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Lapile is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lapile
- Conway
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Conway is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conway
- Cherry Ridge ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Cherry Ridge is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Ridge
- Farmerville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Colsons ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Colsons is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colsons
- New London
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- New London is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New London
- Ouachita City
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Ouachita City is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ouachita City
- Clayton ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Clayton is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton
- Moselys Bluff
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Moselys Bluff is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moselys Bluff
- Hillsboro
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Hillsboro is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsboro
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Point
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Point is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Point
- De Siard
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- De Siard is located in Ouachita Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Siard
- Blanchton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Blanchton is located in Bradley County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanchton
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Cecil. See our List of 1890's Communities around Cecil.
Newspapers Published in Cecil ...
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 20 newspapers that have been published in the area around Cecil.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Cecil, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Cecil.
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 Cecil:
- Websites specific to Louisiana
- Pages specific to Union Parish
- Genealogy information for nearby parishes
- Claiborne Parish
- Lincoln Parish
- Morehouse Parish
- Ouachita Parish
- Ashley County
- Bradley County
- Union 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 Cecil, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Cecil) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |