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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 Danks (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 Danks. 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 southwest 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 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 west 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.

Danks is located in Saint Landry 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 Saint Landry Parish: Acadia, Avoyelles, Evangeline, Lafayette, Pointe Coupee & Saint Martin.

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

  • Saint Landry Parish     (The home parish of Danks)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Danks, with the one closest to Danks listed first.
    • Palmetto
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Immaculata
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Immaculata is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Immaculata
    • Lebeau
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Half Moon
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Half Moon is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Half Moon
    • Swayze Lake
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Swayze Lake is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swayze Lake
    • Elba
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Elba is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
    • Rosa
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Rosa is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosa
    • Melville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Bayou Jack
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Bayou Jack is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Jack
    • Port Barre
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Washington
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Boretta
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Boretta is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boretta
  • Acadia Parish
    • Church Point
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Avoyelles Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Danks, with the one closest to Danks listed first.
    • Odenburg
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Odenburg is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odenburg
    • Dupont
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Dupont is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dupont
    • Plaucheville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Simmesport
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Hickory
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Hickory is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory
    • Hamburg
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Cottonport
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Evergreen
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Gold Dust
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Gold Dust is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gold Dust
    • Moreauville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Enterprise
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Enterprise is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
    • Milburn
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Milburn is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milburn
  • Evangeline Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Danks, with the one closest to Danks listed first.
    • Ville Platte
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Saint Landry
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Chataignier
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Bayou Chicot
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Bayou Chicot is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Chicot
  • Iberville Parish
    • Maringouin
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Lafayette Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Danks, with the one closest to Danks listed first.
    • Stekey
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Stekey is located in Lafayette Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stekey
    • Carencro
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Pointe Coupee Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Danks, with the one closest to Danks listed first.
    • Ravenswood
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Ravenswood is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravenswood
    • East Krotz Springs
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • East Krotz Springs is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Krotz Springs
    • Batchelor
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Morganza
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Innis
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Elliot City ‑ Historic
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Elliot City is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliot City
    • Lettsworth
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Williamsport
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Williamsport is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsport
    • Fordoche
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Lottie
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Legonier
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Legonier is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Legonier
    • Smithland
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Smithland is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithland
  • Saint Martin Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Danks, with the one closest to Danks listed first.
    • Cecilia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Henderson
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Breaux Bridge
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • West Feliciana Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Danks, with the one closest to Danks listed first.
    • Angola
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Tunica
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Weyanoke
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Bains
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Bains is located in West Feliciana Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bains
    • Saint Francisville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)

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

Cemeteries Near Danks ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Danks.

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

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

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

  • Goudeau Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • McBride Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • New Light Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Atchafalaya Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Morning Star Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Mt. Olive Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Cason Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Saquette Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Macedonia Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Midway Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Lower Latenache Church Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (158 more) ...
    • Apostolic Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Mt. Salem Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • St. James Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 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 Danks in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Danks.

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

  • Palmetto
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Elba
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Elba is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
  • Bayou Current
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Bayou Current is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Current
  • Rosa
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Rosa is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosa
  • Melville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Beggs
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Beggs is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beggs
  • Big Cane
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Big Cane is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Cane
  • Port Barre
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Ravenswood
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Ravenswood is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravenswood
  • Garland
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Garland is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland
  • Washington
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Dubuisson
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Dubuisson is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dubuisson
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Viva
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Viva is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Viva
    • Odenburg
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Odenburg is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odenburg
    • Morrow
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Danks ...

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 33 newspapers that have been published in the area around Danks.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Danks, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Danks.

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 either 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 Danks:

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 Danks, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Danks) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.