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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 Lake Forest (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 Lake Forest. 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.

Name Variations for Lake Forest ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Lake Forest: Lk. Forest

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Lake Forest. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Lake Forest.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 northeast 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 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 east 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.

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

  • Orleans Parish     (The home parish of Lake Forest)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lake Forest, with the one closest to Lake Forest listed first.
    • Pine Village
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Pine Village is located in Orleans Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Village
    • Gentilly Terrace
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Gentilly Terrace is located in Orleans Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gentilly Terrace
    • Gentilly
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Gentilly is located in Orleans Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gentilly
    • Milneburg
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Milneburg is located in Orleans Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milneburg
    • New Orleans
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Lake Catherine
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • 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 Lake Forest, with the one closest to Lake Forest listed first.
    • Gretna
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • 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 <1>
    • Terrytown
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Harvey
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Jefferson
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Metairie
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Timberlane
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Timberlane is located in Jefferson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timberlane
    • Marrero
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Bridge City
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Woodmere
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Woodmere is located in Jefferson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodmere
    • Elmwood
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Westwego
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Harahan
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Plaquemines Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lake Forest, with the one closest to Lake Forest listed first.
    • English Turn
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • English Turn is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English Turn
    • Braithwaite
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Belle Chasse
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Scarsdale
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Scarsdale is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scarsdale
    • Stella
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Stella is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stella
    • Cedar Grove
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Cedar Grove is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
    • Linwood
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Linwood is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
    • Jesuit Bend
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Jesuit Bend is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jesuit Bend
    • Carlisle
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Monsecour
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Monsecour is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monsecour
    • Myrtle Grove
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Myrtle Grove is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle Grove
  • Saint Bernard Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lake Forest, with the one closest to Lake Forest listed first.
    • Arabi
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Chalmette
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Versailles
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Versailles is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Versailles
    • Meraux
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Saxonholm
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Saxonholm is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxonholm
    • Story
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Story is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Story
    • Mohawk City
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Mohawk City is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mohawk City
    • Violet
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Poydras
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Poydras is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poydras
    • Sebastopol
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Sebastopol is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sebastopol
    • Saint Bernard
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Toca
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • 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 Lake Forest, with the one closest to Lake Forest listed first.
    • Ama
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Davis ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Davis is located in Saint Charles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
    • Elkinsville ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 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
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Lone Star
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Lone Star is located in Saint Charles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Star
    • Destrehan
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Mimosa Park
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Mimosa Park is located in Saint Charles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mimosa Park
    • Luling
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • New Sarpy
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Norco
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Boutte
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Hahnville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
  • Saint John the Baptist Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lake Forest, with the one closest to Lake Forest listed first.
    • Frenier
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Frenier is located in Saint John the Baptist Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenier
    • Laplace
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • Saint Tammany Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lake Forest, with the one closest to Lake Forest listed first.
    • North Shore Beach
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • North Shore Beach is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Shore Beach
    • North Shore
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • North Shore is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Shore
    • Eden Isle
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Eden Isle is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden Isle
    • Oak Harbor
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Oak Harbor is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Harbor
    • Lacombe
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Lake Shore Village
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Lake Shore Village is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Shore Village
    • McClane City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • McClane City is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McClane City
    • Huntwyck Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Huntwyck Village is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntwyck Village
    • Slidell
      (20 miles [32.2 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 <1>
    • Bon Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Bon Village is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bon Village
    • Browns Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Browns Village is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browns Village
    • Tanglewood Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Tanglewood Village is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanglewood Village
  • Tangipahoa Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lake Forest, with the one closest to Lake Forest listed first.
    • Akers
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Manchac
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Manchac is located in Tangipahoa Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manchac
  • Hancock County (MS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lake Forest, with the one closest to Lake Forest listed first.
    • Pearlington
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Logtown ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Logtown is located in Hancock County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Logtown
    • Gainesville ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Gainesville is located in Hancock County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gainesville
    • Napoleon
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Napoleon is located in Hancock County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napoleon

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

Cemeteries Near Lake Forest ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lake Forest.

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 Lake Forest - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Resthaven Memorial Park
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Ahavas Sholem Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Hebrew Rest Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Mt. Olivet Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Roch Cemetery Campo Santo
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Vincent De Paul Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Louis Cemetery #3
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Lincoln Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Mandeville Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Bernard Memorial Gardens
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Holt Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Masonic Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (114 more) ...
    • St. Louis Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Oliver Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Hughes Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 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 Lake Forest in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Lake Forest.

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

  • Milneburg
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Milneburg is located in Orleans Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milneburg
  • Gentilly
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Gentilly is located in Orleans Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gentilly
  • Arabi
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Algiers
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Algiers is located in Orleans Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Algiers
  • Chalmette
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Versailles
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Versailles is located in Saint Bernard Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Versailles
  • New Orleans
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Gretna
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • 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 <1>
  • Jefferson
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Harvey
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Saxonholm
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Saxonholm is located in Saint Bernard Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxonholm
  • Story
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Story is located in Saint Bernard Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Story
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • English Turn
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • English Turn is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English Turn
    • Chef Menteur
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Chef Menteur is located in Orleans Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chef Menteur
    • Saint Clair
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Saint Clair is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Clair

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

Newspapers Published in Lake Forest ...

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 553 newspapers that have been published in the area around Lake Forest.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Lake Forest, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Lake Forest.

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 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 Lake Forest:

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 Lake Forest, 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' (or 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- Lake Forest) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.