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 Laran (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 Laran. 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 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/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 south 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.
Laran is located in Union 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 Union Parish: Ashley (AR), Union (AR), Claiborne, Lincoln, Morehouse & Ouachita.
Below are the parishes/counties that are near Laran. For each of these parishes/counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Laran:
- Union Parish (The home parish of Laran)
- The following are listed by their distance from Laran, with the one closest to Laran listed first.
- Truxno
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Truxno is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Truxno
- Spearsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Oakland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Oakland is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Lillie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Pisgah
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pisgah is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
- Marion
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Farmerville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Bernice
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cane Ridge ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cane Ridge is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cane Ridge
- Haile
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Haile is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haile
- Downsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Wilhite
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Wilhite is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilhite
- Ouachita City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Ouachita City is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ouachita City
- Claiborne Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Laran, with the one closest to Laran listed first.
- Junction City
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Junction City is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 557 people
- Wards Mill ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Wards Mill is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wards Mill
- Weldon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Weldon is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
- Summerfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Summerfield is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerfield
- Lisbon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Arizona
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Arizona is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arizona
- Lincoln Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Laran, with the one closest to Laran listed first.
- Hico
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Hico is located in Lincoln Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hico
- Dubach
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Unionville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Unionville is located in Lincoln Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unionville
- Cedarton
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Cedarton is located in Lincoln Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarton
- Vining Mills ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Vining Mills is located in Lincoln Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vining Mills
- Vienna
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Vienna is located in Lincoln Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vienna
- Population from the 2020 Census: 365 people
- Sibley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Sibley is located in Lincoln Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sibley
- Choudrant
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Ouachita Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Laran, with the one closest to Laran listed first.
- Eureka
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Eureka is located in Ouachita Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
- Frost Town
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Frost Town is located in Ouachita Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frost Town
- Ashley County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Laran, with the one closest to Laran listed first.
- Meridian
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Meridian is located in Ashley County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridian
- West Crossett
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- West Crossett is located in Ashley County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Crossett
- Bradley County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Laran, with the one closest to Laran listed first.
- Moro Bay
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Moro Bay is located in Bradley County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moro Bay
- Blanchton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Blanchton is located in Bradley County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanchton
- Ouachita County (AR)
- Joyce City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Joyce City is located in Ouachita County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Joyce City
- Union County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Laran, with the one closest to Laran listed first.
- Strong
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Blanchard Springs ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Blanchard Springs is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanchard Springs
- Urbana
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Urbana is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Urbana
- Junction City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Junction City is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Junction City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 520 people
- Lawson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Lawson is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawson
- Lapile
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lapile is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lapile
- Bolding
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bolding is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolding
- Scotland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Scotland is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scotland
- Huttig
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Huttig is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huttig
- Population from the 2020 Census: 526 people
- Perdue City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Perdue City is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perdue City
- El Dorado
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Felsenthal
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Felsenthal is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felsenthal
- Population from the 2020 Census: 139 people
- Crain City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Crain City is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crain City
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Laran, see our Parish-by-Parish Page for Laran.
Cemeteries Near Laran ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Laran.
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 Laran - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Laran covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Laran, with the one closest to Laran listed first.
- Laran Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Liberty Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Fellowship Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Beulah Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Canaan Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Birds Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Cook Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Antioch Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Camp Creek Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Conway Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Spring Hill Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Continue List (248 more) ...
- Free Hope Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Cane Creek Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Olive Branch 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 Laran in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Laran.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Laran, with the one closest to Laran listed first.
- Cherry Ridge ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Cherry Ridge is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Ridge
- Spearsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Conway
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Conway is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conway
- Clayton ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Clayton is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton
- Oakland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Oakland is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Hillsboro
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Hillsboro is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillsboro
- Caledonia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Caledonia is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Blanchard Springs ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Blanchard Springs is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanchard Springs
- Shiloh
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Shiloh is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shiloh
- Farmerville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Marion
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Wards Mill ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Wards Mill is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wards Mill
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Lapile
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Lapile is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lapile
- Cornie
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cornie is located in Union County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornie
- Weldon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Weldon is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Laran. See our List of 1890's Communities around Laran.
Newspapers Published in Laran ...
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 27 newspapers that have been published in the area around Laran.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Laran, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Laran.
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 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 Laran:
- Websites specific to Louisiana
- Pages specific to Union Parish
- Genealogy information for nearby parishes
- Claiborne Parish
- Lincoln Parish
- Ouachita Parish
- Ashley County
- Bradley County
- Ouachita County
- Union County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Louisiana
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 Laran, 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 from Point A (ie- Laran) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |