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 Gibsland (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 Gibsland. 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 southwest corner of their home parish. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next parish to the west. 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 west 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.
Gibsland is located in Bienville 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 Bienville Parish: Bossier, Claiborne, Jackson, Lincoln, Natchitoches, Red River, Webster & Winn.
Below are the parishes that are near Gibsland. For each of these parishes, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Gibsland:
- Bienville Parish (The home parish of Gibsland)
- The following are listed by their distance from Gibsland, with the one closest to Gibsland listed first.
- Mount Lebanon
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Mount Lebanon is located in Bienville Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Lebanon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
- Taylor
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Arcadia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Bryceland
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Bryceland is located in Bienville Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryceland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 99 people
- Sparta
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Sparta is located in Bienville Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparta
- Bienville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Liberty Hill
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Liberty Hill is located in Bienville Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Hill
- Jamestown
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Armistead
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Armistead is located in Bienville Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armistead
- Ringgold
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Castor
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Lucky
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- 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 Gibsland, with the one closest to Gibsland listed first.
- Fillmore
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Fillmore is located in Bossier Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fillmore
- Haughton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Princeton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Bellevue
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Bellevue is located in Bossier Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
- Eastwood
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Eastwood is located in Bossier Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastwood
- Claiborne Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Gibsland, with the one closest to Gibsland listed first.
- Darley
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Darley is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darley
- Athens
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Sugar Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Sugar Creek is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Creek
- Holly Springs
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Holly Springs is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Springs
- Homer
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Arizona
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Arizona is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arizona
- Lisbon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Blackburn
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Blackburn is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackburn
- Dykesville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Dykesville is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dykesville
- Summerfield
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Summerfield is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerfield
- Haynesville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Weldon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Weldon is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
- Jackson Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Gibsland, with the one closest to Gibsland listed first.
- Ansley
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Ansley is located in Jackson Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ansley
- Quitman
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- East Hodge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- East Hodge is located in Jackson Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Hodge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 270 people
- Hodge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- North Hodge
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- North Hodge is located in Jackson Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hodge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 372 people
- Jonesboro
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lincoln Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Gibsland, with the one closest to Gibsland listed first.
- Simsboro
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Grambling
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Vining Mills ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Vining Mills is located in Lincoln Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vining Mills
- Ruston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Vienna
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Vienna is located in Lincoln Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vienna
- Population from the 2020 Census: 365 people
- Hico
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hico is located in Lincoln Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hico
- Unionville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Unionville is located in Lincoln Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unionville
- Dubach
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Natchitoches Parish
- Ashland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Ashland is located in Natchitoches Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
- Red River Parish
- Hall Summit
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Union Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Gibsland, with the one closest to Gibsland listed first.
- Cane Ridge ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cane Ridge is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Ridge
- Bernice
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Webster Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Gibsland, with the one closest to Gibsland listed first.
- Dubberly
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Heflin
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Sibley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Minden
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Buckhorn ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Buckhorn is located in Webster Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckhorn
- Dixie Inn
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Dixie Inn is located in Webster Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixie Inn
- Population from the 2020 Census: 266 people
- Yellow Pine
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Yellow Pine is located in Webster Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Pine
- Doyline
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Cotton Valley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Winn Parish
- Pine Ridge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Pine Ridge is located in Winn Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Ridge
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Gibsland, see our Parish-by-Parish Page for Gibsland.
Cemeteries Near Gibsland ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Gibsland.
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 Gibsland - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Gibsland covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Gibsland, with the one closest to Gibsland listed first.
- Whitley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Walker Community African-American Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove Cemetery
- The Oak Grove Cemetery has also been known as:
- Oak Grove United Methodist Cemetery
- Mt. Lebanon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Brice Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Pine Grove African-American Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Piney Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Walker Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Caldwell Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Colbert Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Mt. Gillard Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- St. Duty Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Duty Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Duty Cemetery is located outside and to the west of Arcadia.
- Continue List (261 more) ...
- Old Mt. Calm Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Mt. Calm Cemetery
- The Old Mt. Calm Cemetery has also been known as:
- Davis Family Cemetery
- Mt. Calm Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2290571 <2>
- Moore Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Game Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Gibsland had a population of 400 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Gibsland had a population of 858 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Gibsland, with the one closest to Gibsland listed first.
- Mount Lebanon
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Mount Lebanon is located in Bienville Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Lebanon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
- Taylor
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Darley
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Darley is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darley
- Arcadia
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Athens
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Bear Creek
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bear Creek is located in Bienville Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Creek
- Marsalis
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Marsalis is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marsalis
- Dubberly
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Sparta
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Sparta is located in Bienville Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparta
- Langston
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Langston is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langston
- Bienville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Holly Springs
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Holly Springs is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Springs
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Sugar Creek
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Sugar Creek is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Creek
- Sibley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Aycock
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Aycock is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aycock
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Gibsland. See our List of 1890's Communities around Gibsland.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Gibsland ...
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 54 newspapers that have been published in the area around Gibsland.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Gibsland. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Gibsland and those printed in the larger area surrounding Gibsland.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4> of Gibsland.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Gibsland:
- Websites specific to Louisiana
- Pages specific to Bienville Parish
- Genealogy information for nearby parishes
- Bossier Parish
- Claiborne Parish
- Jackson Parish
- Lincoln Parish
- Natchitoches Parish
- Red River Parish
- Union Parish
- Webster Parish
- Winn Parish
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Louisiana
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 Gibsland, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Gibsland) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |