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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 Center Point (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 Center Point. 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.

Name Variations for Center Point ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

Another variation: Centerpoint.

  • A typical abbreviation for Center Point: Center Pt.

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Center Point. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Center Point.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 southeast 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 south.

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 east contained birth and death records; the parish to the south 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.

Center Point 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 Center Point. For each of these parishes, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Center Point:

  • Avoyelles Parish     (The home parish of Center Point)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center Point, with the one closest to Center Point listed first.
    • Effie
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • North Point
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • North Point is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Point
    • Vick
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Vick is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vick
    • Moncla
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Moncla is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moncla
    • Egg Bend
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Egg Bend is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egg Bend
    • Marksville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Hessmer
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Mansura
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Enterprise
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Enterprise is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
    • Bunkie
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • 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>
    • Bordelonville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Cottonport
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Catahoula Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center Point, with the one closest to Center Point listed first.
    • Parhams
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Parhams is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parhams
    • Rhinehart
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Utility
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Utility is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utility
  • Concordia Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center Point, with the one closest to Center Point listed first.
    • Acme
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Armagh
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Armagh is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armagh
  • Evangeline Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center Point, with the one closest to Center Point listed first.
    • Saint Landry
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Turkey Creek
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Bayou Chicot
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Bayou Chicot is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Chicot
  • Grant Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center Point, with the one closest to Center Point listed first.
    • Creola
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Creola is located in Grant Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Creola
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 216 people
      • Creola has also been known as:
      • Creola village
    • Fishville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Fishville is located in Grant Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishville
    • Pollock
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Stay
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Stay is located in Grant Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stay
    • Antonia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Antonia is located in Grant Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antonia
    • Bentley
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Dry Prong
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Fairmount
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Fairmount is located in Grant Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmount
  • La Salle Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center Point, with the one closest to Center Point listed first.
    • Sharp Town
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Sharp Town is located in La Salle Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharp Town
    • Jena
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Jena is located in La Salle Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jena
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,430 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jena <1>
    • Midway
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Midway is located in La Salle Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
    • Trout
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Pointe Coupee Parish
    • Legonier
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Legonier is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Legonier
  • Rapides Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center Point, with the one closest to Center Point listed first.
    • Ruby
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Kolin
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Deville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Whittington
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Whittington is located in Rapides Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittington
    • Echo
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Libuse
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Moreland
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Moreland is located in Rapides Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moreland
    • Alexandria Junction
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Alexandria Junction is located in Rapides Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alexandria Junction
    • Alexandria
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Anandale
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Anandale is located in Rapides Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anandale
    • Pineville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Lecompte
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Saint Landry Parish

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

Cemeteries Near Center Point ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Center Point.

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 Center Point - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Hopewell Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • French Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Campbell Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Pierce Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Tyler Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Hays Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Wise Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Oak Grove Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Guillory Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Cole Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Slocum Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Woodson Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (201 more) ...
    • Smith Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Czech National Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Hooper Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)

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

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

  • Poland
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Poland is located in Rapides Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poland
  • Egg Bend
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Egg Bend is located in Avoyelles Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egg Bend
  • Holloway
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Holloway is located in Rapides Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holloway
  • Marksville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Moreland
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Moreland is located in Rapides Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moreland
  • Lamourie
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Lamourie is located in Rapides Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamourie
  • Pineville
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
  • Alexandria
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
  • Lecompte
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Loyd
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Loyd is located in Rapides Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyd
  • Mansura
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Cheneyville
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Haas
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Haas is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haas
    • Bunkie
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • 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>
    • Cottonport
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Center Point ...

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 40 newspapers that have been published in the area around Center Point.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Center Point, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Center Point.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Center Point:

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 Center Point, 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- Center Point) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.