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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 Gibbs (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 Gibbs. 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 northwest corner of their home parish. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next parish to the west. 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 west 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.

Gibbs is located in Saint Landry 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 Saint Landry Parish: Acadia, Avoyelles, Evangeline, Lafayette, Pointe Coupee & Saint Martin.

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

  • Saint Landry Parish     (The home parish of Gibbs)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gibbs, with the one closest to Gibbs listed first.
    • Port Barre
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Leonville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Opelousas
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Washington
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Frozard
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Frozard is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frozard
    • Grand Coteau
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Arnaudville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Sunset
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Sunset is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,962 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sunset <1>
    • Swayze Lake
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Swayze Lake is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swayze Lake
    • Portage
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Portage is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Portage
    • Lawtell
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Immaculata
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Immaculata is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Immaculata
    • Lewisburg
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Lewisburg is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisburg
  • Acadia Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gibbs, with the one closest to Gibbs listed first.
    • Church Point
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Higginbotham
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Higginbotham is located in Acadia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Higginbotham
    • Branch
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Castille
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Castille is located in Acadia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castille
    • Rayne
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Ellis
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Ellis is located in Acadia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellis
  • Avoyelles Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gibbs, with the one closest to Gibbs listed first.
    • Gold Dust
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Gold Dust is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gold Dust
    • Milburn
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Milburn is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milburn
    • Dupont
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Dupont is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dupont
    • Hickory
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Hickory is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory
    • Odenburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Odenburg is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odenburg
    • Eola
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Eola is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eola
    • Evergreen
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Plaucheville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Bunkie
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Bunkie is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunkie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,826 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bunkie <1>
    • Cottonport
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Enterprise
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Enterprise is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
  • Evangeline Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gibbs, with the one closest to Gibbs listed first.
    • Ville Platte
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Chataignier
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Saint Landry
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Mamou
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Mamou is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mamou
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,077 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mamou <1>
    • Reddell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Bayou Chicot
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Bayou Chicot is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Chicot
    • Pine Prairie
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Iberville Parish
    • Maringouin
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
  • Lafayette Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gibbs, with the one closest to Gibbs listed first.
    • Carencro
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Stekey
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Stekey is located in Lafayette Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stekey
    • Ossun
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Ossun is located in Lafayette Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ossun
    • Lafayette
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Scott
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Scott is located in Lafayette Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,787 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Scott <1>
    • Duson
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Duson is located in Lafayette Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,761 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Duson <1>
    • Broussard
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Billeaud
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Billeaud is located in Lafayette Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Billeaud
    • Ridge
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Ridge is located in Lafayette Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridge
    • Milton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Youngsville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Pointe Coupee Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gibbs, with the one closest to Gibbs listed first.
    • East Krotz Springs
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • East Krotz Springs is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Krotz Springs
    • Elliot City ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Elliot City is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliot City
    • Lottie
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Ravenswood
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Ravenswood is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravenswood
    • Fordoche
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Livonia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Livonia is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Livonia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,399 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Livonia <1>
    • Morganza
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Batchelor
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Innis
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Williamsport
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Williamsport is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsport
  • Saint Martin Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gibbs, with the one closest to Gibbs listed first.
    • Cecilia
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Breaux Bridge
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Henderson
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Parks
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Parks is located in Saint Martin Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parks
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 696 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Parks <1>
    • Levert
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Levert is located in Saint Martin Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Levert
    • Catahoula Cove
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Catahoula Cove is located in Saint Martin Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catahoula Cove
    • Saint John
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Saint John is located in Saint Martin Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint John
    • Isle Labbe
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Isle Labbe is located in Saint Martin Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isle Labbe
    • Duchamp
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Duchamp is located in Saint Martin Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duchamp
    • Saint Martinville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Banker Plantation
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Banker Plantation is located in Saint Martin Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banker Plantation

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

Cemeteries Near Gibbs ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Gibbs.

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

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

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

  • De Viller Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Green Chapel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Saquette Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • St. Landry Catholic Church Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Landry Catholic Church Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Landry Catholic Church Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Opelousas.
    • The St. Landry Catholic Church Cemetery has also been known as:
    • St. Landry Cemetery
    • St. Landry Church Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1924120 <2>
  • Hebrew Rest Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Cedar Hill Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Montgomery - Wilkins Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Bellevue Memorial Park
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the northeast of Grand Coteau.
    • The St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Grand Coteau Cemetery
    • St. Charles Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #68777 <2>
  • Daly Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Francis Regis Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • McBride Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (164 more) ...
    • St. Andrews Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Pitre Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Ring Zion Cemetery
      (12 miles [19.3 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.<4>

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

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

  • Port Barre
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Leonville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Opelousas
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Washington
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Grand Coteau
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Frozard
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Frozard is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frozard
  • Plaisance
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Plaisance is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plaisance
  • Shuteston
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Shuteston is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shuteston
  • Sunset
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Sunset is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,962 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sunset <1>
  • Arnaudville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Beggs
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Beggs is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beggs
  • Garland
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Garland is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Palmetto
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Rosa
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Rosa is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosa
    • Carencro
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)

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

Newspapers Published in Gibbs ...

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 41 newspapers that have been published in the area around Gibbs.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Gibbs, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Gibbs.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Gibbs:

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>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Gibbs) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<4>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 Gibbs, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.