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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 Idlewild (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 Idlewild. 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 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.

Idlewild is located in Saint Mary 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 Mary Parish: Iberia, Saint Martin & Terrebonne.

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

  • Saint Mary Parish     (The home parish of Idlewild)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Idlewild, with the one closest to Idlewild listed first.
    • Bayou Vista
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Patterson
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Wilsons Landing
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Wilsons Landing is located in Saint Mary Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilsons Landing
    • Berwick
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Fairville
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Fairville is located in Saint Mary Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairville
    • Calumet
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Calumet is located in Saint Mary Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calumet
    • Morgan City
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Ricohoc
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Ricohoc is located in Saint Mary Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ricohoc
    • Maria
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Maria is located in Saint Mary Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maria
    • Verdunville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Verdunville is located in Saint Mary Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verdunville
    • Bayou Sale
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Bayou Sale is located in Saint Mary Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Sale
    • Centerville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Todd
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Todd is located in Saint Mary Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Todd
  • Assumption Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Idlewild, with the one closest to Idlewild listed first.
    • Ursa
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Ursa is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ursa
    • Belle River
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Belle River is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle River
    • Attakapas Landing
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Attakapas Landing is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attakapas Landing
    • Upper Texas
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Upper Texas is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Upper Texas
    • Bayou Crab
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Bayou Crab is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Crab
    • Dwight Fields
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Dwight Fields is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dwight Fields
    • Lower Texas
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Lower Texas is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lower Texas
    • Attakapas Canal
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Attakapas Canal is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attakapas Canal
    • Pierre Part
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Bellewood
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Bellewood is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellewood
    • Brule
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Brule is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brule
    • Georgia
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Georgia is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgia
    • Himalaya
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Himalaya is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Himalaya
  • Iberia Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Idlewild, with the one closest to Idlewild listed first.
    • Jeanerette
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Patoutville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Patoutville is located in Iberia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patoutville
  • Lafourche Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Idlewild, with the one closest to Idlewild listed first.
    • Thibodaux
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Acadia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Acadia is located in Lafourche Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acadia
  • Saint Martin Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Idlewild, with the one closest to Idlewild listed first.
    • Stephenville
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Stephenville is located in Saint Martin Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stephenville
    • Bayou Geneve
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Bayou Geneve is located in Saint Martin Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Geneve
  • Terrebonne Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Idlewild, with the one closest to Idlewild listed first.
    • Gibson
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Donner
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Chacahoula
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Chacahoula is located in Terrebonne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chacahoula
    • Ardoyne
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Ardoyne is located in Terrebonne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ardoyne
    • Magnolia Plantation
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Magnolia Plantation is located in Terrebonne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia Plantation
    • Minerva Plantation
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Minerva Plantation is located in Terrebonne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minerva Plantation
    • Schriever
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Gray
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)

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

Cemeteries Near Idlewild ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Idlewild.

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

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

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

  • St. Joseph Catholic Church Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Joseph Catholic Church Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Joseph Catholic Church Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Patterson.
    • The St. Joseph Catholic Church Cemetery has also been known as:
    • Patterson Catholic Cemetery
    • St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2143457 <2>
  • Iberts Memorial Park
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Bradley Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Berwick Memorial Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Morgan City Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Shadyside - Fairfax Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Little Zion Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Douglas Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Gratt Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • North Bend Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Milton Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • St. Andrews Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (40 more) ...
    • Midway Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Palo Alto Cemetery
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Stirling Cemetery
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)

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

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

  • Patterson
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Berwick
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Morgan City
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Ricohoc
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Ricohoc is located in Saint Mary Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ricohoc
  • Ramos
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Ramos is located in Saint Mary Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramos
  • Bayou Sale
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Bayou Sale is located in Saint Mary Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Sale
  • Amelia
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Irish Bend
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Irish Bend is located in Saint Mary Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Irish Bend
  • Franklin
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Gibson
    (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
  • Baldwin
    (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
  • Charenton
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Chacahoula
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Chacahoula is located in Terrebonne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chacahoula
    • Labadieville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Albemarle
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Albemarle is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albemarle

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

Newspapers Published in Idlewild ...

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 35 newspapers that have been published in the area around Idlewild.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Idlewild, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Idlewild.

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 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 Idlewild:

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 Idlewild, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Idlewild) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.