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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 East Natchitoches (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 East Natchitoches. 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 East Natchitoches ...

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.

For example, a typical abbreviation for East Natchitoches: E. Natchitoches

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 northeast 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 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.

East Natchitoches is located in Natchitoches 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 Natchitoches Parish: Bienville, De Soto, Grant, Rapides, Red River, Sabine, Vernon & Winn.

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

  • Natchitoches Parish     (The home parish of East Natchitoches)
    • The following are listed by their distance from East Natchitoches, with the one closest to East Natchitoches listed first.
    • Natchitoches
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Forest
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Forest is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest
    • Clarence
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Natchez
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Caspari ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Caspari is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caspari
    • Campti
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Campti is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campti
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,033 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Campti <1>
    • Powhatan
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Flora
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Provencal
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Victoria
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Victoria is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victoria
    • Melrose
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Grappes Bluff
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Grappes Bluff is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grappes Bluff
    • Robeline
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
  • Bienville Parish
    • Saline
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
  • De Soto Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from East Natchitoches, with the one closest to East Natchitoches listed first.
    • Butler ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Butler is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butler
    • Pelican
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Grant Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from East Natchitoches, with the one closest to East Natchitoches listed first.
    • Montgomery
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Colfax
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Black Creek ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Black Creek is located in Grant Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Creek
  • Rapides Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from East Natchitoches, with the one closest to East Natchitoches listed first.
    • Mora
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Flatwoods
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Lena
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Rock
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Rock is located in Rapides Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock
  • Red River Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from East Natchitoches, with the one closest to East Natchitoches listed first.
    • Lake End
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Lake End is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake End
    • Hanna
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Hanna is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanna
    • Coushatta
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Martin
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Martin is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 543 people
    • Edgefield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Edgefield is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgefield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 185 people
    • Carroll
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Carroll is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carroll
    • Halfway
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Halfway is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halfway
    • Harmon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Sabine Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from East Natchitoches, with the one closest to East Natchitoches listed first.
    • Corleyville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Corleyville is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corleyville
    • Belmont
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Pleasant Hill
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Many
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Many is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Many
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,667 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Many <1>
    • Fisher
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Bayou Scie
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Bayou Scie is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Scie
    • Hamlin ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Hamlin is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlin
    • Florien
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Vernon Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from East Natchitoches, with the one closest to East Natchitoches listed first.
    • Alco
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Alco is located in Vernon Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alco
    • Kurthwood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
  • Winn Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from East Natchitoches, with the one closest to East Natchitoches listed first.
    • Saint Maurice
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Couley
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Couley is located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Couley
    • Atlanta
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Coldwater
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Coldwater is located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coldwater
    • Whitford
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Whitford is located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitford
    • Calvin
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Bethlehem
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Bethlehem is located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
    • Pine Ridge
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Pine Ridge is located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Ridge
    • Winnfield
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near East Natchitoches ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of East Natchitoches.

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 East Natchitoches - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • American Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Catholic Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Fern Park Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Memory Lawn Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Smith Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Smith Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Russell Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Russell Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Lee Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Tucker Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • De Blieux Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (137 more) ...
    • Tucker Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Martin Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Vascocu Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)

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

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

  • Natchitoches
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Clarence
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Saint Maurice
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Trichell
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Trichell is located in Natchitoches Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trichell
  • Bermuda
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Bermuda is located in Natchitoches Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bermuda
  • Campti
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Campti is located in Natchitoches Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campti
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,033 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Campti <1>
  • Victoria
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Victoria is located in Natchitoches Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victoria
  • Provencal
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Cypress
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Cypress is located in Natchitoches Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress
  • Melrose
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Timon
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Timon is located in Natchitoches Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timon
  • Robeline
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Montgomery
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Mount Zion
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Mount Zion is located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Zion
    • Grappes Bluff
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Grappes Bluff is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grappes Bluff

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

Newspapers Published in East Natchitoches ...

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 30 newspapers that have been published in the area around East Natchitoches.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of East Natchitoches, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for East Natchitoches.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to 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 East Natchitoches:

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