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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 Lyons (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 Lyons. 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 and doctors 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.

Lyons is located in Jackson 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 Jackson Parish: Bienville, Caldwell, Lincoln, Ouachita & Winn.

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

  • Jackson Parish     (The home parish of Lyons)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lyons, with the one closest to Lyons listed first.
    • Zoar
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Zoar is located in Jackson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zoar
    • Weston
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Weston is located in Jackson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
    • Chatham
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Dalley ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Dalley is located in Jackson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dalley
    • Nash ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Nash is located in Jackson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash
    • Jonesboro
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • East Hodge
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • East Hodge is located in Jackson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Hodge
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 270 people
    • Eros
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • 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>
    • Hodge
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • North Hodge
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • North Hodge is located in Jackson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hodge
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 372 people
    • Quitman
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Ansley
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Ansley is located in Jackson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ansley
  • Bienville Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lyons, with the one closest to Lyons listed first.
    • English
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • English is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English
    • Liberty Hill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Liberty Hill is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Hill
    • Saline
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • Caldwell Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lyons, with the one closest to Lyons listed first.
    • Vixen
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Vixen is located in Caldwell Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vixen
    • Mount Pleasant
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Mount Pleasant is located in Caldwell Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
    • Kelly
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Clarks
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Banks Springs
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Banks Springs is located in Caldwell Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banks Springs
    • Grayson
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Columbia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
  • Grant Parish
    • Georgetown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • La Salle Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lyons, with the one closest to Lyons listed first.
    • Standard
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Standard is located in La Salle Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Standard
    • Olla
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Olla is located in La Salle Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olla
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,371 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Olla <1>
    • Urania
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Tullos
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Zenoria
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Zenoria is located in La Salle Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenoria
  • Lincoln Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lyons, with the one closest to Lyons listed first.
    • Averit ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Averit is located in Lincoln Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Averit
    • Choudrant
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Ruston
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Sibley
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Sibley is located in Lincoln Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sibley
    • Grambling
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Natchitoches Parish
    • Goldonna
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
  • Ouachita Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lyons, with the one closest to Lyons listed first.
    • Lapine
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Lapine is located in Ouachita Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lapine
    • Indian Village
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Indian Village is located in Ouachita Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
    • Bosco
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Bosco is located in Ouachita Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bosco
    • Cuba
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Cuba is located in Ouachita Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
    • Calhoun
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Forksville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Forksville is located in Ouachita Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forksville
    • Frost Town
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Frost Town is located in Ouachita Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frost Town
    • Eureka
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Eureka is located in Ouachita Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
    • Claiborne
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Claiborne is located in Ouachita Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claiborne
  • Winn Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Lyons, with the one closest to Lyons listed first.
    • Sikes
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Newport
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Newport is located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
    • Hudson
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Hudson is located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hudson
    • Dodson
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Flat Creek
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Flat Creek is located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Creek
    • Gansville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Gansville is located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gansville
    • Joyce
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Winnfield
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Bethlehem
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Bethlehem is located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
    • Calvin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Pine Ridge
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Pine Ridge is located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Ridge
    • Coldwater
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Coldwater is located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coldwater

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

Cemeteries Near Lyons ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Lyons.

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

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

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

  • Dothan Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Mt. Hebron Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Lone Star Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • County Line Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Tippen Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Womack Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Wright Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Zoar Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Transport Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Willis Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (186 more) ...
    • Smith Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Starns Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Hebron Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)

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

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

  • Gaars Mill
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Gaars Mill is located in Winn Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaars Mill
  • Newport
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Newport is located in Winn Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
  • Weston
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Weston is located in Jackson Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
  • Hickory Valley
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Hickory Valley is located in Winn Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Valley
  • Dalley ‑ Historic
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Dalley is located in Jackson Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dalley
  • Hebron
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Hebron is located in Jackson Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
  • Cotton Plant
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Cotton Plant is located in Caldwell Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotton Plant
  • Flat Creek
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Flat Creek is located in Winn Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Creek
  • Nash ‑ Historic
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Nash is located in Jackson Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash
  • Gansville
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Gansville is located in Winn Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gansville
  • Vernon
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Vernon is located in Jackson Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
  • Mount Pleasant
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Mount Pleasant is located in Caldwell Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Winnfield
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Tunica ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Tunica is located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunica
    • Lapine
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Lapine is located in Ouachita Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lapine

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

Newspapers Published in Lyons ...

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 Lyons.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Lyons, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Lyons.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Lyons:

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