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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 (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. 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 hospitals and doctors 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.

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

  • Natchitoches Parish     (The home parish of Forest)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest, with the one closest to Forest listed first.
    • Natchitoches
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Clarence
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Powhatan
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Campti
      (8 miles [12.9 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>
    • Caspari ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Caspari is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caspari
    • Natchez
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Provencal
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Victoria
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Victoria is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victoria
    • Grappes Bluff
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Grappes Bluff is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grappes Bluff
    • Flora
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Robeline
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Marthaville
      (15 miles [24.1 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 Forest, with the one closest to Forest listed first.
    • Butler ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Butler is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butler
    • Pelican
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Oxford
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Oxford is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford
  • Grant Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest, with the one closest to Forest listed first.
    • Montgomery
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Colfax
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Rapides Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest, with the one closest to Forest listed first.
    • Mora
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Flatwoods
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Lena
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Red River Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest, with the one closest to Forest listed first.
    • Lake End
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Lake End is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake End
    • Hanna
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Hanna is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanna
    • Coushatta
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Martin
      (22 miles [35.4 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
      (22 miles [35.4 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
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Carroll is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carroll
    • Halfway
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Halfway is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halfway
    • Harmon
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Hall Summit
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Abington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Abington is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abington
  • Sabine Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest, with the one closest to Forest listed first.
    • Belmont
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Pleasant Hill
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Corleyville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Corleyville is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corleyville
    • Many
      (24 miles [38.6 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>
    • Bayou Scie
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Bayou Scie is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Scie
    • Hamlin ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Hamlin is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlin
    • Fisher
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Florien
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Vernon Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest, with the one closest to Forest listed first.
    • Alco
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Alco is located in Vernon Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alco
    • Kurthwood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Winn Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Forest, with the one closest to Forest listed first.
    • Saint Maurice
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Couley
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Couley is located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Couley
    • Coldwater
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Coldwater is located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coldwater
    • Atlanta
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Whitford
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Whitford is located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitford
    • Calvin
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Bethlehem
      (26 miles [41.8 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
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)

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

Cemeteries Near Forest ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Forest.

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 - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Catholic Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Fern Park Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • American Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Memory Lawn Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Russell Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Russell Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Lukes Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Smith Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Smith Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • De Blieux Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Martin Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (137 more) ...
    • Tucker Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Tucker Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Lee Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)

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

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

  • Natchitoches
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Clarence
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Campti
    (8 miles [12.9 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
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Victoria is located in Natchitoches Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victoria
  • Provencal
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Timon
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Timon is located in Natchitoches Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timon
  • Allen
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Allen is located in Natchitoches Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
  • Grappes Bluff
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Grappes Bluff is located in Natchitoches Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grappes Bluff
  • Saint Maurice
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Trichell
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Trichell is located in Natchitoches Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trichell
  • Robeline
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Bermuda
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Bermuda is located in Natchitoches Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bermuda
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Cypress
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Cypress is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress
    • Lake End
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Lake End is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake End
    • Melrose
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Forest ...

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 37 newspapers that have been published in the area around Forest.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Forest, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Forest.

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 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:

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