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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 La Mesa (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 La Mesa. 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 southeast corner of their home parish. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next parish to the east. 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 east 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.

La Mesa is located in Lincoln 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 Lincoln Parish: Bienville, Claiborne, Jackson, Ouachita & Union.

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

  • Lincoln Parish     (The home parish of La Mesa)
    • The following are listed by their distance from La Mesa, with the one closest to La Mesa listed first.
    • Ruston
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Grambling
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Vienna
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Vienna is located in Lincoln Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vienna
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 365 people
    • Simsboro
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Choudrant
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Unionville
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Unionville is located in Lincoln Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unionville
    • Cedarton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Cedarton is located in Lincoln Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarton
    • Dubach
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Sibley
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Sibley is located in Lincoln Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sibley
    • Vining Mills ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Vining Mills is located in Lincoln Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vining Mills
    • Averit ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Averit is located in Lincoln Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Averit
    • Hico
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Hico is located in Lincoln Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hico
  • Bienville Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from La Mesa, with the one closest to La Mesa listed first.
    • Arcadia
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Liberty Hill
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Liberty Hill is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Hill
    • English
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • English is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English
    • Bryceland
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Bryceland is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryceland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 99 people
    • Bienville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Gibsland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Mount Lebanon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Mount Lebanon is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Lebanon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
    • Taylor
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Sparta
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Sparta is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparta
    • Lucky
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Lucky is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucky
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
    • Burkplace
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Burkplace is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burkplace
  • Claiborne Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from La Mesa, with the one closest to La Mesa listed first.
    • Sugar Creek
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Sugar Creek is located in Claiborne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Creek
    • Lisbon
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Weldon
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Weldon is located in Claiborne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
    • Athens
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Darley
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Darley is located in Claiborne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darley
    • Arizona
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Arizona is located in Claiborne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arizona
    • Summerfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Summerfield is located in Claiborne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerfield
    • Homer
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Homer is located in Claiborne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,789 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Homer <1>
  • Jackson Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from La Mesa, with the one closest to La Mesa listed first.
    • Ansley
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Ansley is located in Jackson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ansley
    • Cartwright
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Cartwright is located in Jackson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartwright
    • Quitman
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Eros
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Eros is located in Jackson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eros
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 151 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Eros <1>
    • Nash ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Nash is located in Jackson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash
    • East Hodge
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • East Hodge is located in Jackson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Hodge
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 270 people
    • North Hodge
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • North Hodge is located in Jackson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hodge
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 372 people
    • Dalley ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Dalley is located in Jackson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dalley
    • Hodge
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Weston
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Weston is located in Jackson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
    • Chatham
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Jonesboro
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
  • Ouachita Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from La Mesa, with the one closest to La Mesa listed first.
    • Frost Town
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Frost Town is located in Ouachita Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frost Town
    • Indian Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Indian Village is located in Ouachita Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
    • Calhoun
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Eureka
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Eureka is located in Ouachita Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
    • Forksville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Forksville is located in Ouachita Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forksville
    • Lapine
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Lapine is located in Ouachita Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lapine
    • Claiborne
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Claiborne is located in Ouachita Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claiborne
    • West Monroe
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • West Monroe is located in Ouachita Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Monroe
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 12,086 people
  • Union Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from La Mesa, with the one closest to La Mesa listed first.
    • Downsville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Cane Ridge ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Cane Ridge is located in Union Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Ridge
    • Bernice
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Pisgah
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Pisgah is located in Union Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
    • Wilhite
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Wilhite is located in Union Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilhite
    • Farmerville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Lillie
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Spearsville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
  • Winn Parish
    • Gansville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Gansville is located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gansville

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

Cemeteries Near La Mesa ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of La Mesa.

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 La Mesa - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Mt. Olive Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Greenwood Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Wilder Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Watts Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Zion Traveler Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Riser Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • McGloughlin Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Gullat Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Wesley Chapel Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Macedonia Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Colvin Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Longstraw Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (223 more) ...
    • Douglas Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Colvin Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Trussell Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 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.<2>

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

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

  • Ruston
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Vienna
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Vienna is located in Lincoln Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vienna
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 365 people
  • Sumpter ‑ Historic
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Sumpter is located in Lincoln Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumpter
  • Simsboro
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Choudrant
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
  • Douglas
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Douglas is located in Lincoln Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Douglas
  • Unionville
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Unionville is located in Lincoln Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unionville
  • Cedarton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Cedarton is located in Lincoln Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarton
  • Knowles ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Knowles is located in Lincoln Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knowles
  • Vernon
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Vernon is located in Jackson Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
  • Vining Mills ‑ Historic
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Vining Mills is located in Lincoln Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vining Mills
  • Sibley
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Sibley is located in Lincoln Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sibley
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Averit ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Averit is located in Lincoln Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Averit
    • Hico
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Hico is located in Lincoln Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hico
    • D'Arbonne
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • D'Arbonne is located in Union Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for D'Arbonne

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

Newspapers Published in La Mesa ...

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 31 newspapers that have been published in the area around La Mesa.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of La Mesa, 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 La Mesa.

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 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 La Mesa:

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>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 La Mesa, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- La Mesa) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.