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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 Donner (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 Donner. 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 southeast corner of their home parish. During their lives, most doctors and 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.

Donner is located in Terrebonne 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 Terrebonne Parish: Assumption, Lafourche, Saint Martin & Saint Mary.

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

  • Terrebonne Parish     (The home parish of Donner)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donner, with the one closest to Donner listed first.
    • Chacahoula
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Chacahoula is located in Terrebonne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chacahoula
    • Gibson
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Magnolia Plantation
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Magnolia Plantation is located in Terrebonne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia Plantation
    • Minerva Plantation
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Minerva Plantation is located in Terrebonne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minerva Plantation
    • Schriever
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Ardoyne
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Ardoyne is located in Terrebonne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ardoyne
    • Gray
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Broadmoor
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Broadmoor is located in Terrebonne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadmoor
    • Bayou Cane
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Bayou Cane is located in Terrebonne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Cane
    • Houma
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Houma is located in Terrebonne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houma
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 32,467 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Houma <1>
    • Theriot
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Theriot is located in Terrebonne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Theriot
    • Bourg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Ascension Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donner, with the one closest to Donner listed first.
    • Barton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Barton is located in Ascension Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barton
    • Donaldsonville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Aben
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Aben is located in Ascension Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aben
      • Aben has also been known as:
      • Abend
    • Cofield
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Cofield is located in Ascension Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cofield
    • Darrow
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Burnside
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Assumption Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donner, with the one closest to Donner listed first.
    • Ursa
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Ursa is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ursa
    • Brule
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Brule is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brule
    • Labadieville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Chula
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Chula is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chula
    • Georgia
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Georgia is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgia
    • Cedar Grove Plantation
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Himalaya
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Himalaya is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Himalaya
    • Leche
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Leche is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leche
    • Supreme
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Supreme is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Supreme
    • Lower Texas
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Lower Texas is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lower Texas
    • Oakley
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Oakley is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakley
    • Dwight Fields
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Dwight Fields is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dwight Fields
  • Lafourche Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donner, with the one closest to Donner listed first.
    • Acadia
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Acadia is located in Lafourche Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acadia
    • Thibodaux
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Bayou Blue
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Bayou Blue is located in Lafourche Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Blue
    • Chackbay
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Chackbay is located in Lafourche Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chackbay
    • Kraemer
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Godchaux
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Godchaux is located in Lafourche Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Godchaux
    • Raceland
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Raceland Junction
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Raceland Junction is located in Lafourche Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raceland Junction
    • Mathews
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Lockport
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Gheens
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
  • Saint Charles Parish
  • Saint James Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donner, with the one closest to Donner listed first.
    • Lagan
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Lagan is located in Saint James Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lagan
    • Saint James
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • South Vacherie
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • South Vacherie is located in Saint James Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Vacherie
    • Burton Lane
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Burton Lane is located in Saint James Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burton Lane
    • Convent
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Chatman Town
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Chatman Town is located in Saint James Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatman Town
    • Free Town
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Free Town is located in Saint James Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Free Town
    • Uncle Sam
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Hester
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Hester is located in Saint James Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hester
    • North Vacherie
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • North Vacherie is located in Saint James Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Vacherie
    • Vacherie
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Paulina
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Saint John the Baptist Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donner, with the one closest to Donner listed first.
    • Wallace
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Wallace is located in Saint John the Baptist Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallace
    • Mount Airy
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Saint Martin Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donner, with the one closest to Donner listed first.
    • Bayou Geneve
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Bayou Geneve is located in Saint Martin Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Geneve
    • Stephenville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Stephenville is located in Saint Martin Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stephenville
  • Saint Mary Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Donner, with the one closest to Donner listed first.
    • Amelia
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Morgan City Beach
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Morgan City Beach is located in Saint Mary Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan City Beach
    • Morgan City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Berwick
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Fairville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Fairville is located in Saint Mary Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairville
    • Bayou Vista
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Patterson
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Wilsons Landing
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Wilsons Landing is located in Saint Mary Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilsons Landing
    • Calumet
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Calumet is located in Saint Mary Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calumet
    • Ricohoc
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Ricohoc is located in Saint Mary Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ricohoc
    • Verdunville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Verdunville is located in Saint Mary Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verdunville
    • Maria
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Maria is located in Saint Mary Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maria

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

Cemeteries Near Donner ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Donner.

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

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

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

  • Magnolia Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Milton Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Halfway Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Garden of Memories Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Philomena Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • St. Andrews Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • St. Joseph Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Francis Cemetery
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Francis Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Francis Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Bayou Cane.
    • The St. Francis Cemetery has also been known as:
    • St. Francis de Sales Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1234261 <2>
  • Morgan City Cemetery
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
  • Mulberry Cemetery
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Bell Cemetery
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (63 more) ...
    • Third Zion Cemetery
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Woodlawn UMC Cemetery
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Pugh Family Cemetery
      (16 miles [25.7 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.<3>

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

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

  • Gibson
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Chacahoula
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Chacahoula is located in Terrebonne Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chacahoula
  • Schriever
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Central
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Central is located in Terrebonne Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central
  • Amelia
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Ellendale
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Ellendale is located in Terrebonne Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellendale
  • Thibodaux Junction
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Thibodaux Junction is located in Lafourche Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thibodaux Junction
  • Labadieville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Crescent
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Crescent is located in Terrebonne Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crescent
  • Thibodaux
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Ramos
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Ramos is located in Saint Mary Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramos
  • Albemarle
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Albemarle is located in Assumption Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albemarle
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Southdown
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Southdown is located in Terrebonne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southdown
    • Houma
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Houma is located in Terrebonne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Houma
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 32,467 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Houma <1>
    • Morgan City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)

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

Newspapers Published in Donner ...

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 72 newspapers that have been published in the area around Donner.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Donner, there are papers which were published within 17 miles [27.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Donner.

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 helpful 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 Donner:

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 Donner, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>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 from Point A (ie- Donner) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.