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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 Forest Isle (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 Forest Isle. 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 doctors 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.

Forest Isle is located in Orleans 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 Orleans Parish: Jefferson, Plaquemines, Saint Bernard & Saint Tammany.

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

  • Orleans Parish     (The home parish of Forest Isle)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest Isle, with the one closest to Forest Isle listed first.
    • New Orleans
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Pine Village
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Pine Village is located in Orleans Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Village
    • Gentilly Terrace
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Gentilly Terrace is located in Orleans Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gentilly Terrace
    • Gentilly
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Gentilly is located in Orleans Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gentilly
    • Milneburg
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Milneburg is located in Orleans Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milneburg
    • Lake Catherine
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Lake Catherine is located in Orleans Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Catherine
  • Jefferson Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest Isle, with the one closest to Forest Isle listed first.
    • Timberlane
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Timberlane is located in Jefferson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberlane
    • Terrytown
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Gretna
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Gretna is located in Jefferson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gretna
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,615 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gretna <1>
    • Harvey
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Woodmere
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Woodmere is located in Jefferson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodmere
    • Marrero
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Estelle
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Estelle is located in Jefferson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estelle
    • Westwego
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Jefferson
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Crown Point
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Bridge City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Metairie
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Plaquemines Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest Isle, with the one closest to Forest Isle listed first.
    • English Turn
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • English Turn is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English Turn
    • Belle Chasse
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Braithwaite
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Scarsdale
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Scarsdale is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scarsdale
    • Stella
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Stella is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stella
    • Cedar Grove
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Cedar Grove is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
    • Linwood
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Linwood is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
    • Jesuit Bend
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Jesuit Bend is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jesuit Bend
    • Carlisle
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Monsecour
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Monsecour is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monsecour
    • Myrtle Grove
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Myrtle Grove is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle Grove
    • Woodland
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Woodland is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
  • Saint Bernard Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest Isle, with the one closest to Forest Isle listed first.
    • Arabi
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Chalmette
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Meraux
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Versailles
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Versailles is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Versailles
    • Saxonholm
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Saxonholm is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxonholm
    • Mohawk City
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Mohawk City is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mohawk City
    • Story
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Story is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Story
    • Violet
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Poydras
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Poydras is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poydras
    • Sebastopol
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Sebastopol is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sebastopol
    • Saint Bernard
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Toca
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Toca is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toca
  • Saint Charles Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest Isle, with the one closest to Forest Isle listed first.
    • Ama
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Davis ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Davis is located in Saint Charles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
    • Elkinsville ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Elkinsville is located in Saint Charles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkinsville
      • Elkinsville has also been known as:
      • Freetown
    • Lone Star
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Lone Star is located in Saint Charles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Star
    • Saint Rose
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Destrehan
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Mimosa Park
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Mimosa Park is located in Saint Charles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mimosa Park
    • Luling
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Chaudiere Casse
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Chaudiere Casse is located in Saint Charles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chaudiere Casse
    • Boutte
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Tabatiere Perdue
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Tabatiere Perdue is located in Saint Charles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabatiere Perdue
    • New Sarpy
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
  • Saint John the Baptist Parish
    • Frenier
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Frenier is located in Saint John the Baptist Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenier
  • Saint Tammany Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest Isle, with the one closest to Forest Isle listed first.
    • North Shore Beach
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • North Shore Beach is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Shore Beach
    • North Shore
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • North Shore is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Shore
    • Eden Isle
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Eden Isle is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden Isle
    • Oak Harbor
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Oak Harbor is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Harbor
    • Lake Shore Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Lake Shore Village is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Shore Village
    • McClane City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • McClane City is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McClane City
    • Huntwyck Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Huntwyck Village is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntwyck Village
    • Lacombe
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Bon Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Bon Village is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bon Village
    • Slidell
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Slidell is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slidell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 27,541 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Slidell <1>
    • Browns Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Browns Village is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browns Village
    • Tanglewood Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Tanglewood Village is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanglewood Village

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

Cemeteries Near Forest Isle ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Forest Isle.

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 Forest Isle - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Westlawn South Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • English Turn Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Chalmette National Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Westlawn Memorial Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Ellen Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Firemens Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • McDonoghville Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Scarsdale Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • St. Bernard Memorial Gardens
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Oliver Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Hughes Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Hook and Ladder Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (93 more) ...
    • Evening Star Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Merrit Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • St. Vincent De Paul Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 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.<3>

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

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

  • Saint Clair
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Saint Clair is located in Plaquemines Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Clair
  • English Turn
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • English Turn is located in Plaquemines Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English Turn
  • Arabi
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Belle Chasse
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Chalmette
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Versailles
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Versailles is located in Saint Bernard Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Versailles
  • Gretna
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Gretna is located in Jefferson Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gretna
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,615 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gretna <1>
  • Scarsdale
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Scarsdale is located in Plaquemines Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scarsdale
  • Saxonholm
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Saxonholm is located in Saint Bernard Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxonholm
  • Algiers
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Algiers is located in Orleans Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Algiers
  • Harvey
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Concession
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Concession is located in Plaquemines Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concession
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Stella
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Stella is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stella
    • Violet
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Story
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Story is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Story

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

Newspapers Published in Forest Isle ...

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 541 newspapers that have been published in the area around Forest Isle.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Forest Isle, there are papers which were published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Forest Isle.

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 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 Forest Isle:

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 Forest Isle, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Forest Isle) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.