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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

So far, we found very little information about Fortson. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>

We've added Fortson to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Fortson, please Contact Us.

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 Fortson (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 Fortson. 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/Counties ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring parishes/counties.

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/counties 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/counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Although our information shows that the community of Fortson is historic, it would have been located within present day De Soto 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 De Soto Parish: Caddo, Natchitoches, Red River, Sabine, Panola (TX) & Shelby (TX).

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

  • De Soto Parish     (The home parish of Fortson)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fortson, with the one closest to Fortson listed first.
    • Butler ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Butler is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butler
    • Oxford
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Oxford is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford
    • Mansfield
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Pelican
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • South Mansfield
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • South Mansfield is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Mansfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 352 people
    • Frierson
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Grand Cane
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Screamerville ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Screamerville is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Screamerville
    • Gloster
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Stanley
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Stanley is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
    • Stonewall
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Keachi
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Keachi is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keachi
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 300 people
    • Longstreet
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
  • Bienville Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fortson, with the one closest to Fortson listed first.
    • Ringgold
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Alberta
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Alberta is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta
    • Castor
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Armistead
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Armistead is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armistead
    • Jamestown
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Burkplace
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Burkplace is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burkplace
    • Saline
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
    • Lucky
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Lucky is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucky
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
  • Bossier Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fortson, with the one closest to Fortson listed first.
    • Atkins
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Atkins is located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkins
    • Elm Grove
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
  • Caddo Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fortson, with the one closest to Fortson listed first.
    • Ellerbe Woods
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Ellerbe Woods is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellerbe Woods
    • Keithville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Summer Grove
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Summer Grove is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summer Grove
  • Natchitoches Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fortson, with the one closest to Fortson listed first.
    • Grappes Bluff
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Grappes Bluff is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grappes Bluff
    • Powhatan
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Marthaville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Ashland
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Ashland is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
    • Campti
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • 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 <2>
    • Chestnut
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Chestnut is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestnut
    • Forest
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Forest is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest
    • Robeline
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Caspari ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Caspari is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caspari
    • Natchitoches
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Victoria
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Victoria is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victoria
  • Red River Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fortson, with the one closest to Fortson listed first.
    • Harmon
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Abington
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Abington is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abington
    • Carroll
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Carroll is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carroll
    • Westdale
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Westdale is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westdale
    • Coushatta
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Edgefield
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Edgefield is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgefield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 185 people
    • East Point
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • East Point is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Point
    • Halfway
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Halfway is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halfway
    • Hanna
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Hanna is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanna
    • Hall Summit
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Lake End
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Lake End is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake End
    • Martin
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Martin is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 543 people
  • Sabine Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fortson, with the one closest to Fortson listed first.
    • Pleasant Hill
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Converse
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Belmont
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Hamlin ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Hamlin is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlin
    • Bayou Scie
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Bayou Scie is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Scie
    • Noble
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Zwolle
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Webster Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Fortson, with the one closest to Fortson listed first.
    • Buckhorn ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Buckhorn is located in Webster Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckhorn
    • Yellow Pine
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Yellow Pine is located in Webster Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Pine
    • Heflin
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Fortson ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Fortson.

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

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

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

  • Wilson Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Wilson Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Taylor Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • New Star Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Bethlehem Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Morrison Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Dill Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Woodvine Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Hand Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Wesley Chapel Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Tanyard Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Truevine Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (132 more) ...
    • St. Pauls Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Flores Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Allen Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)

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.

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

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

  • Coushatta
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • East Point
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • East Point is located in Red River Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Point
  • Carmel
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Carmel is located in De Soto Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carmel
  • Williams
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Williams is located in Red River Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williams
  • Butler ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Butler is located in De Soto Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butler
  • Oxford
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Oxford is located in De Soto Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford
  • Howard
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Howard is located in Red River Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howard
  • Mansfield
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • Pelican
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Lake End
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Lake End is located in Red River Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake End
  • Pleasant Hill
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
  • Kingston
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Kingston is located in De Soto Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Allen
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Allen is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
    • Timon
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Timon is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timon
    • Grappes Bluff
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • 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 Fortson. See our List of 1890's Communities around Fortson.

Newspapers Published in Fortson ...

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 25 newspapers that have been published in the area around Fortson.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Fortson, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Fortson.

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 Fortson:

Footnotes ...

<1>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 Fortson, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>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- Fortson) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.