RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Louisiana >> De Soto Parish >> Holly >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Holly (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 Holly. 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 and hospitals 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.

Holly is located in 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 Holly. For each of these parishes/counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Holly:

  • De Soto Parish     (The home parish of Holly)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Holly, with the one closest to Holly listed first.
    • Mansfield
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Frierson
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Gloster
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Grand Cane
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • South Mansfield
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • South Mansfield is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Mansfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 352 people
    • Screamerville ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Screamerville is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Screamerville
    • Stonewall
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Keachi
      (12 miles [19.3 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
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Oxford
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Oxford is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford
    • Stanley
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Stanley is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
    • Pelican
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Logansport
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Bienville Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Holly, with the one closest to Holly listed first.
    • Ringgold
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Armistead
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Armistead is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armistead
  • Bossier Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Holly, with the one closest to Holly listed first.
    • Atkins
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Atkins is located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkins
    • Elm Grove
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Bossier City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Parkland Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Parkland Village is located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkland Village
    • Bodcau
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Bodcau is located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bodcau
    • Espanita Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Espanita Village is located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Espanita Village
    • Eastwood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Eastwood is located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastwood
    • Haughton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Red Chute
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Red Chute is located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Chute
  • Caddo Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Holly, with the one closest to Holly listed first.
    • Keithville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Ellerbe Woods
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Ellerbe Woods is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellerbe Woods
    • Spring Ridge
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Spring Ridge is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Ridge
    • Summer Grove
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Summer Grove is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summer Grove
    • Edgewood Village
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Edgewood Village is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewood Village
    • South Towne Heights
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • South Towne Heights is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Towne Heights
    • Reisor
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Reisor is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reisor
    • Chateau Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Chateau Village is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chateau Village
    • Silver Pine Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Silver Pine Village is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Pine Village
    • Normandy Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Normandy Village is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Normandy Village
    • Longwood Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Longwood Village is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longwood Village
    • Shreveport
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Bethany
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Red River Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Holly, with the one closest to Holly listed first.
    • Abington
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Abington is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abington
    • Westdale
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Westdale is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westdale
    • East Point
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • East Point is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Point
    • Harmon
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Carroll
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Carroll is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carroll
    • Halfway
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Halfway is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halfway
    • Coushatta
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Edgefield
      (22 miles [35.4 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
    • Hall Summit
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Hanna
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Hanna is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanna
    • Lake End
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Lake End is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake End
    • Martin
      (28 miles [45.1 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 Holly, with the one closest to Holly listed first.
    • Converse
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Pleasant Hill
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Hamlin ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Hamlin is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlin
    • Noble
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Panola County (TX)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Holly, with the one closest to Holly listed first.
    • Panola
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Midyett
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Midyett is located in Panola County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midyett
    • De Berry
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Shelby County (TX)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Holly, with the one closest to Holly listed first.
    • Haslam
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Haslam is located in Shelby County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haslam
    • Joaquin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Huxley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Huxley is located in Shelby County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huxley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 376 people
    • Campti
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Campti is located in Shelby County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campti

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

Cemeteries Near Holly ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Holly.

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

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

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

  • St. Marks Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • St. Elizabeth Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Slone Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Zion Hill Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Flores Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Creswell Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Evergreen Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • New Friendship Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Trinity Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Highland Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Dill Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Allen Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (151 more) ...
    • Woodvine Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Friendship Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Flanagan Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)

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

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

  • Kingston
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Kingston is located in De Soto Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
  • Carmel
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Carmel is located in De Soto Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carmel
  • Mansfield
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Grand Cane
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Gloster
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Stonewall
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Keachi
    (12 miles [19.3 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
  • Cook ‑ Historic
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Cook is located in De Soto Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cook
  • Williams
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Williams is located in Red River Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williams
  • Longstreet
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
  • Howard
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Howard is located in Red River Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howard
  • Oxford
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Oxford is located in De Soto Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • East Point
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • East Point is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Point
    • Keithville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Robson
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Robson is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robson

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

Newspapers Published in Holly ...

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 23 newspapers that have been published in the area around Holly.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Holly, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Holly.

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 Holly:

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 Holly, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Holly) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.