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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

Although we found mention of Florence during our research, we have little information about it.<1> Given the context of how Florence was mentioned, we believe that it was a community rather than a locale or some type of landmark. We have done a cursory search and if it was a community, we haven't been able to find any evidence that it still exists..

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 Florence (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 Florence. 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 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.

Florence is located in Saint Mary Parish.

To see how the shape of Louisiana's parishes have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following parishes adjoin and form the boundaries of Saint Mary Parish: Iberia, Saint Martin & Terrebonne.

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

  • Saint Mary Parish     (The home parish of Florence)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
    • Glencoe
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Glencoe have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glencoe
      • Glencoe is located in Saint Mary Parish
    • Cote Blanche Landing
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cote Blanche Landing have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cote Blanche Landing
      • Cote Blanche Landing is located in Saint Mary Parish
    • Cypremort
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cypremort have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypremort
      • Cypremort is located in Saint Mary Parish
    • Ashton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ashton have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashton
      • Ashton is located in Saint Mary Parish
    • Bodin
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bodin have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bodin
      • Bodin is located in Saint Mary Parish
    • Caneland
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Caneland have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caneland
      • Caneland is located in Saint Mary Parish
    • Baldwin
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Baldwin have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin
      • Baldwin is located in Saint Mary Parish
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,150 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Baldwin <3>
    • Cypremort Point
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cypremort Point have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypremort Point
      • Cypremort Point is located in Saint Mary Parish
    • Franklin
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Katy
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Katy have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Katy
      • Katy is located in Saint Mary Parish
    • Charenton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Caffery
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Caffery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caffery
      • Caffery is located in Saint Mary Parish
  • Iberia Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
    • Patoutville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Patoutville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patoutville
      • Patoutville is located in Iberia Parish
    • Jeanerette
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Lydia
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Avery Island
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • New Iberia
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Derouen
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derouen
      • Derouen is located in Iberia Parish
    • Loreauville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Loreauville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loreauville
      • Loreauville is located in Iberia Parish
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 835 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Loreauville <3>
  • Lafayette Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
    • Youngsville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Youngsville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngsville
      • Youngsville is located in Lafayette Parish
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 15,262 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Youngsville <3>
    • Billeaud
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Billeaud
      • Billeaud is located in Lafayette Parish
    • Broussard
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Milton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Milton have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milton
      • Milton is located in Lafayette Parish
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Milton <3>
  • Saint Martin Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
    • Keystone
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Keystone have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keystone
      • Keystone is located in Saint Martin Parish
    • Delacroix
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Delacroix have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delacroix
      • Delacroix is located in Saint Martin Parish
    • Coteau Holmes
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Coteau Holmes have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coteau Holmes
      • Coteau Holmes is located in Saint Martin Parish
    • Cade
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cade have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cade
      • Cade is located in Saint Martin Parish
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cade <3>
    • Banker Plantation
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Banker Plantation have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banker Plantation
      • Banker Plantation is located in Saint Martin Parish
    • Bankers
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bankers have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bankers
      • Bankers is located in Saint Martin Parish
    • Saint Martinville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Duchamp
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Duchamp have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duchamp
      • Duchamp is located in Saint Martin Parish
    • Isle Labbe
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Isle Labbe have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isle Labbe
      • Isle Labbe is located in Saint Martin Parish
    • Levert
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Levert have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levert
      • Levert is located in Saint Martin Parish
    • Saint John
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Saint John have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint John
      • Saint John is located in Saint Martin Parish
    • Bayou Chene
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bayou Chene have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Chene
      • Bayou Chene is located in Saint Martin Parish
  • Vermilion Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Florence, with the one closest to Florence listed first.
    • Delcambre
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Delcambre have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delcambre
      • Delcambre is located in Vermilion Parish
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,837 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Delcambre <3>
    • Erath
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erath
      • Erath is located in Vermilion Parish
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,030 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Erath <3>
    • Intracoastal City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Intracoastal City have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Intracoastal City
      • Intracoastal City is located in Vermilion Parish
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Intracoastal City <3>
    • Youngs
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngs
      • Youngs is located in Vermilion Parish
    • Abbeville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Perry
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Perry have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perry
      • Perry is located in Vermilion Parish
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Perry <3>

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

Newspapers Published in Florence ...

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 7 newspapers that have been published in the area around Florence.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Florence, there are papers which were published within 13 miles [20.9 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Florence.

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 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 Florence:

Cemeteries Near Florence ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Florence.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

  • St. Helens Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Helens Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Helens Cemetery
  • Ewing Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Ewing Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Ewing Cemetery
  • Mt. Calvary Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mt. Calvary Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mt. Calvary Cemetery
  • Joseph Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Joseph Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Joseph Cemetery
  • Crossroads Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Sorrel Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
  • McGowen Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the McGowen Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the McGowen Cemetery
  • St. Johns Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Johns Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Johns Cemetery
  • St. Joseph Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the St. Joseph Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the St. Joseph Cemetery
  • Special Providence Baptist Church Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Sacred Heart Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Bayside Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Bayside Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Bayside Cemetery
  • Continue List   (49 more) ...
    • Boynton Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Boynton Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Boynton Cemetery
    • Trinity UMC Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 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.<6>

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

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

  • Cypremort
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cypremort have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypremort
    • Cypremort is located in Saint Mary Parish
  • Glencoe
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Glencoe have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glencoe
    • Glencoe is located in Saint Mary Parish
  • Patoutville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Patoutville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patoutville
    • Patoutville is located in Iberia Parish
  • Sorrel
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Sorrel have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sorrel
    • Sorrel is located in Saint Mary Parish
  • Jeanerette
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Baldwin
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Baldwin have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baldwin
    • Baldwin is located in Saint Mary Parish
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,150 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Baldwin <3>
  • Franklin
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
  • Charenton
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
  • New Iberia
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
  • Irish Bend
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Irish Bend have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irish Bend
    • Irish Bend is located in Saint Mary Parish
  • Derouen
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derouen
    • Derouen is located in Iberia Parish
  • Bayou Sale
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bayou Sale have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Sale
    • Bayou Sale is located in Saint Mary Parish
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Loreauville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Loreauville have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loreauville
      • Loreauville is located in Iberia Parish
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 835 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Loreauville <3>
    • Segura
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Segura have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Segura
      • Segura is located in Iberia Parish
    • Ricohoc
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Ricohoc have been provided by the GNIS.<2> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ricohoc
      • Ricohoc is located in Saint Mary Parish

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

The official website for State of Louisiana: louisiana.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>If we encounter the name of what might be a community, our methodology is to add that name to our Gazetteer. For example, we might find a sentence like "He went south past Florence and then turned west". While Florence could be some kind of landmark, we think that it's more likely to be a community. We've added Florence as a placeholder with the hope that we'll be able to add more information in the future.

Just as a reminder: Our definition of a community is rather broad and includes those places (or areas) where several families lived and had a name which identified that place. For example, you might hear somebody say that they are going over to Mile's to see Pete ... Mile's is just a gas station and a couple of homes at the crossroads. While it might not be on the map, everybody in the area knows it by that name.

Places of interest include buildings at a crossroad, several families clustered in a hollow or maybe the location of a way station. It also includes places like mines, lumber camps, ferry crossings, etc. The community might still exist, is now gone or only existed for just a short period of time.

Also keep in mind that Florence could have been on the original document by mistake, misspelled, the original/alternate name of a community that we've listed elsewhere or was placed in the wrong parish. Sometimes a post office or train station would have a different name than the community where it's located, so two names might be referring to the same community - we're working to straighten it all out.

Just in case there has been confusion between parishes, we found that there are two Louisiana communities named Florence: This one is located in Saint Mary Parish and the other is located in Catahoula Parish. For more information, see our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Florence.
<2>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<3>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Florence) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Florence. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 29.7877, Longitude: -91.7237       In this case, the coordinates for Florence have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<5>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.
<6>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 Florence, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 07 Apr 2024