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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

So far, we found very little information about Lafayette. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>

We've added Lafayette to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Lafayette, please Contact Us.

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 Lafayette (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 Lafayette. 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 doctors 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.

Although our information shows that the community of Lafayette is historic, it would have been located within present day Orleans 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 Orleans Parish: Jefferson, Plaquemines, Saint Bernard & Saint Tammany.

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

  • Orleans Parish     (The home parish of Lafayette)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
    • New Orleans
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Gentilly Terrace
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Gentilly Terrace is located in Orleans Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gentilly Terrace
    • Gentilly
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Gentilly is located in Orleans Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gentilly
    • Milneburg
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Milneburg is located in Orleans Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milneburg
    • Pine Village
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Pine Village is located in Orleans Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Village
    • Lake Catherine
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Lake Catherine is located in Orleans Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Catherine
  • Jefferson Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
    • Gretna
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Gretna is located in Jefferson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gretna
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,615 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gretna <2>
    • Harvey
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Marrero
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Terrytown
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Westwego
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Woodmere
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • Woodmere is located in Jefferson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodmere
    • Timberlane
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Timberlane is located in Jefferson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberlane
    • Jefferson
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Estelle
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Estelle is located in Jefferson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estelle
    • Bridge City
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Metairie
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Elmwood
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Lafourche Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
    • Gheens
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Cut Off
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Larose
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Plaquemines Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
    • Belle Chasse
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • English Turn
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • English Turn is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English Turn
    • Scarsdale
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Scarsdale is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scarsdale
    • Stella
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Stella is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stella
    • Braithwaite
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Cedar Grove
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Cedar Grove is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
    • Linwood
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Linwood is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
    • Jesuit Bend
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Jesuit Bend is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jesuit Bend
    • Carlisle
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Monsecour
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Monsecour is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monsecour
    • Myrtle Grove
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Myrtle Grove is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle Grove
    • Woodland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Woodland is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
  • Saint Bernard Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
    • Arabi
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Chalmette
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Meraux
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Versailles
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Versailles is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Versailles
    • Saxonholm
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Saxonholm is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxonholm
    • Mohawk City
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Mohawk City is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mohawk City
    • Story
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Story is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Story
    • Poydras
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Poydras is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poydras
    • Violet
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Sebastopol
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Sebastopol is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sebastopol
    • Saint Bernard
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Toca
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Toca is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toca
  • Saint Charles Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
    • Ama
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Davis ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Davis is located in Saint Charles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
    • Elkinsville ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Elkinsville is located in Saint Charles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkinsville
      • Elkinsville has also been known as:
      • Freetown
    • Saint Rose
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Lone Star
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Lone Star is located in Saint Charles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Star
    • Destrehan
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Mimosa Park
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Mimosa Park is located in Saint Charles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mimosa Park
    • Luling
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Boutte
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • New Sarpy
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Chaudiere Casse
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Chaudiere Casse is located in Saint Charles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chaudiere Casse
    • Hahnville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
  • Saint John the Baptist Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
    • Frenier
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Frenier is located in Saint John the Baptist Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenier
    • Laplace
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Edgard
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Reserve
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Saint Tammany Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lafayette, with the one closest to Lafayette listed first.
    • North Shore Beach
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • North Shore Beach is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Shore Beach
    • North Shore
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • North Shore is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Shore
    • Eden Isle
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Eden Isle is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden Isle
    • Oak Harbor
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Oak Harbor is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Harbor
    • Lacombe
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Lake Shore Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Lake Shore Village is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Shore Village
    • McClane City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • McClane City is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McClane City
    • Lewisburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Lewisburg is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisburg
    • Huntwyck Village
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Huntwyck Village is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntwyck Village
    • Slidell
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Slidell is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slidell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 27,541 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Slidell <2>

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

Cemeteries Near Lafayette ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lafayette.

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

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

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

  • Lafayette Cemetery #2
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Lafayette Cemetery #1
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Evening Star Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Hook and Ladder Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Girod Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • St. Vincent Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Valient Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Valence Street Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Westlawn Memorial Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • McDonoghville Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Firemens Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Hughes Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (87 more) ...
    • Oliver Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • St. Louis Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • St. Mary Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 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.

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

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

  • Harvey
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Gretna
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Gretna is located in Jefferson Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gretna
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,615 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gretna <2>
  • Algiers
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Algiers is located in Orleans Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Algiers
  • New Orleans
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Westwego
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Arabi
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Jefferson
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Gentilly
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Gentilly is located in Orleans Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gentilly
  • Concession
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Concession is located in Plaquemines Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concession
  • Belle Chasse
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Saint Clair
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Saint Clair is located in Plaquemines Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Clair
  • English Turn
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • English Turn is located in Plaquemines Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English Turn
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Chalmette
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Versailles
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Versailles is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Versailles
    • Milneburg
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Milneburg is located in Orleans Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milneburg

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

Newspapers Published in Lafayette ...

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 547 newspapers that have been published in the area around Lafayette.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Lafayette, there are papers which were published within 11 miles [17.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Lafayette.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 Lafayette:

Footnotes ...

<1>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 Lafayette, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>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.
<4>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- Lafayette) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.