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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 Centerville (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 Centerville. 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 northeast 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 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 east 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.

Centerville is located in Evangeline 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 Evangeline Parish: Acadia, Allen, Avoyelles, Jefferson Davis, Rapides & Saint Landry.

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

  • Evangeline Parish     (The home parish of Centerville)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
    • Saint Landry
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Bayou Chicot
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Bayou Chicot is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Chicot
    • Turkey Creek
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Pine Prairie
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Ville Platte
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Reddell
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Mamou
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Mamou is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mamou
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,077 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mamou <1>
    • Chataignier
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Duralde
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Duralde is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duralde
    • Tyrone
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Tyrone is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyrone
    • Unatex
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Unatex is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unatex
  • Allen Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
    • Pawnee
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Pawnee is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pawnee
    • Oakdale
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Bond
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Bond is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bond
    • Ward
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Ward is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ward
    • Mab
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Mab is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mab
    • Canton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Canton is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canton
    • Elizabeth
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Avoyelles Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
    • Eola
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Eola is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eola
    • Gold Dust
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Gold Dust is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gold Dust
    • Milburn
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Milburn is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milburn
    • Bunkie
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • 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>
    • Evergreen
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Enterprise
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Enterprise is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
    • Hessmer
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Cottonport
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Hickory
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Hickory is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory
    • Egg Bend
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Egg Bend is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egg Bend
    • Plaucheville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Mansura
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
  • Pointe Coupee Parish
    • Legonier
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Legonier is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Legonier
  • Rapides Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
    • Cheneyville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Loyd
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Loyd is located in Rapides Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyd
    • Lecompte
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Echo
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Forest Hill
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Longleaf
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Glenmora
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • McNary
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • McNary is located in Rapides Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McNary
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
    • Whittington
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Whittington is located in Rapides Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittington
    • Ruby
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Woodworth
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Moreland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Moreland is located in Rapides Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moreland
  • Saint Landry Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Centerville, with the one closest to Centerville listed first.
    • Morrow
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Boretta
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Boretta is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boretta
    • Bayou Jack
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Bayou Jack is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Jack
    • Rosa
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Rosa is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosa
    • Lebeau
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Immaculata
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Immaculata is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Immaculata
    • Washington
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Lawtell
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Palmetto
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Eunice
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Eunice is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eunice
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,655 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Eunice <1>
    • Opelousas
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Centerville ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Centerville.

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

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

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

  • Johnson Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Chaney Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Keller Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Griffin Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Johnson Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Vanburg Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Clark Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Fogleman Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Fergerson Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Lauther Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Murdock Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • McCormack Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (207 more) ...
    • Campbell Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Pythian Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Booneville Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 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.<3>

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

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

  • Haas
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Haas is located in Avoyelles Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haas
  • Eola
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Eola is located in Avoyelles Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eola
  • Barbreck
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Barbreck is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barbreck
  • Bunkie
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • 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>
  • Cheneyville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Loyd
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Loyd is located in Rapides Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyd
  • Whiteville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Whiteville is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiteville
  • Evergreen
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • Lecompte
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
  • Morrow
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
  • Boretta
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Boretta is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boretta
  • Dubuisson
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Dubuisson is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dubuisson
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Cottonport
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Lamourie
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Lamourie is located in Rapides Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamourie
    • Garland
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Garland is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland

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

Newspapers Published in Centerville ...

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 Centerville.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Centerville, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Centerville.

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 Centerville:

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