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 Clayton (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 Clayton. 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 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/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.
Clayton is located in Concordia 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 Concordia Parish: Avoyelles, Catahoula, Pointe Coupee, Tensas, West Feliciana, Adams (MS) & Wilkinson (MS).
Below are the parishes/counties that are near Clayton. For each of these parishes/counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Clayton:
- Concordia Parish (The home parish of Clayton)
- The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
- Ferriday
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- West Ferriday
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- West Ferriday is located in Concordia Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Ferriday
- Sycamore
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Sycamore is located in Concordia Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Dunbarton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Dunbarton is located in Concordia Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunbarton
- Ridgecrest
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Ridgecrest is located in Concordia Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgecrest
- Population from the 2020 Census: 585 people
- Vidalia
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Athlone
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Athlone is located in Concordia Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athlone
- Chevey Chase
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Chevey Chase is located in Concordia Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chevey Chase
- Wildsville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Monterey
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Monterey is located in Concordia Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
- Armagh
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Armagh is located in Concordia Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armagh
- Fairview
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Fairview is located in Concordia Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Bougere
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Bougere is located in Concordia Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bougere
- Catahoula Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
- Greenville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Greenville is located in Catahoula Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenville
- Wildwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Wildwood is located in Catahoula Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood
- Sicily Island
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Sicily Island is located in Catahoula Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sicily Island
- Population from the 2020 Census: 438 people
- Harrisonburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Trinity
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Trinity is located in Catahoula Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trinity
- Jonesville
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Parhams
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Parhams is located in Catahoula Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parhams
- Utility
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Utility is located in Catahoula Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utility
- Enterprise
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Enterprise is located in Catahoula Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
- Aimwell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Rhinehart
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Rosefield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Rosefield is located in Catahoula Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosefield
- Franklin Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
- Elam
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Elam is located in Franklin Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elam
- Wisner
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Gilbert
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Extension
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Extension is located in Franklin Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Extension
- Jigger
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Chase
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Fort Necessity
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Tensas Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
- Highland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Highland is located in Tensas Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
- Waterproof
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Joseph
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Newlight
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Newlight is located in Tensas Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newlight
- Newellton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Adams County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
- Carthage
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Carthage is located in Adams County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carthage
- Natchez
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cloverdale
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Cloverdale is located in Adams County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
- Selma
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Selma is located in Adams County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selma
- Washington
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Washington is located in Adams County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washington
- Jeannette
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Jeannette is located in Adams County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeannette
- Claiborne County (MS)
- Westside
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Westside is located in Claiborne County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westside
- Franklin County (MS)
- Hamburg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Hamburg is located in Franklin County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamburg
- Jefferson County (MS)
- The following are listed by their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
- Rodney
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Rodney is located in Jefferson County (MS)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodney
- Fayette
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Harriston
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Clayton, see our Parish-by-Parish Page for Clayton.
Cemeteries Near Clayton ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Clayton.
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 Clayton - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Clayton covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
- Calhoun Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Powells Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Loam Land Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- St. Paul Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Rogers Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Ferriday Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- St. Mary Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Greenville Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- New Light Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Turner Acres Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Cypress Grove Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- New Zion Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Continue List (259 more) ...
- Eva Dale Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Winona Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Elder Shade Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Clayton had railroad service and no post office. In 2020, Clayton had a population of 623 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Clayton, with the one closest to Clayton listed first.
- Greenville
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Greenville is located in Catahoula Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenville
- Wildwood
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Wildwood is located in Catahoula Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood
- Sycamore
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Sycamore is located in Concordia Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Bullitt Bayou
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Bullitt Bayou is located in Concordia Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bullitt Bayou
- Gibson Landing
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Gibson Landing is located in Concordia Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson Landing
- Highland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Highland is located in Tensas Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
- Turtle Lake ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Turtle Lake is located in Concordia Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turtle Lake
- Taconey
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Taconey is located in Concordia Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taconey
- Waterproof
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Frogmore
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Frogmore is located in Concordia Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frogmore
- Goldman
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Goldman is located in Tensas Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goldman
- Sicily Island
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Sicily Island is located in Catahoula Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sicily Island
- Population from the 2020 Census: 438 people
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Vidalia
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Leland
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Leland is located in Catahoula Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland
- Chevey Chase
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Chevey Chase is located in Concordia Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chevey Chase
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Clayton. See our List of 1890's Communities around Clayton.
Newspapers Published in Clayton ...
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 126 newspapers that have been published in the area around Clayton.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Clayton, 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 Clayton.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Clayton:
- Websites specific to Louisiana
- Pages specific to Concordia Parish
- Genealogy information for nearby parishes
- Catahoula Parish
- Franklin Parish
- Tensas Parish
- Adams County
- Claiborne County
- Franklin County
- Jefferson 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 Clayton, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Clayton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |