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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 Marathon (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 Marathon. 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 northeast corner of their home parish. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors 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.

Marathon is located in Saint John the Baptist 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 Saint John the Baptist Parish: Ascension, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Saint Charles, Saint James & Tangipahoa.

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

  • Saint John the Baptist Parish     (The home parish of Marathon)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Marathon, with the one closest to Marathon listed first.
    • Garyville
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Edgard
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Reserve
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Mount Airy
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Wallace
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
      • Wallace is located in Saint John the Baptist Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallace
    • Laplace
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Frenier
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Frenier is located in Saint John the Baptist Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenier
  • Ascension Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Marathon, with the one closest to Marathon listed first.
    • Sorrento
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Brittany
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Saint Amant
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Weber City
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Weber City is located in Ascension Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weber City
    • Aben
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Aben is located in Ascension Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aben
      • Aben has also been known as:
      • Abend
    • Burnside
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Cofield
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Cofield is located in Ascension Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cofield
    • Brignac
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Brignac is located in Ascension Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brignac
    • Gonzales
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Lake
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Lake is located in Ascension Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake
    • Darrow
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Donaldsonville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
  • Assumption Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Marathon, with the one closest to Marathon listed first.
    • Brulie Maurin
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Brulie Maurin is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brulie Maurin
    • Rosedale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Rosedale is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosedale
    • Woodlawn
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Woodlawn is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn
    • Belle Terre
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Belle Terre is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Terre
    • Madewood
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Madewood is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madewood
    • Albemarle
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Albemarle is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albemarle
    • Bertie
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Bertie is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bertie
    • Cedar Grove Plantation
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Chula
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Chula is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chula
    • Ingleside
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Ingleside is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingleside
    • Belle Alliance
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Belle Alliance is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belle Alliance
    • Elmfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Elmfield is located in Assumption Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmfield
  • Jefferson Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Marathon, with the one closest to Marathon listed first.
    • Kenner
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Kenner is located in Jefferson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 66,288 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kenner <1>
    • River Ridge
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Avondale
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Elmwood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Harahan
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Waggaman
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Bridge City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Jefferson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Metairie
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Westwego
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Lafourche Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Marathon, with the one closest to Marathon listed first.
    • Kraemer
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Chackbay
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Chackbay is located in Lafourche Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chackbay
    • Raceland Junction
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Raceland Junction is located in Lafourche Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raceland Junction
    • Godchaux
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Godchaux is located in Lafourche Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Godchaux
    • Raceland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Thibodaux
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Acadia
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Acadia is located in Lafourche Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acadia
    • Mathews
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Gheens
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Lockport
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Bayou Blue
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Bayou Blue is located in Lafourche Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Blue
  • Livingston Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Marathon, with the one closest to Marathon listed first.
    • Maurepas
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Clio
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Clio is located in Livingston Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clio
    • Killian
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Killian is located in Livingston Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Killian
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,337 people
    • French Settlement
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Port Vincent
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Port Vincent is located in Livingston Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Vincent
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 650 people
    • Springfield
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Albany
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Albany is located in Livingston Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albany
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,170 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Albany <1>
    • Holden
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Saint Charles Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Marathon, with the one closest to Marathon listed first.
    • Killona
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Gypsy
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Gypsy is located in Saint Charles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gypsy
    • Montz
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Montz is located in Saint Charles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montz
    • Taft
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Taft is located in Saint Charles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taft
    • Norco
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Hahnville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • New Sarpy
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Paradis
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Vallier
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Vallier is located in Saint Charles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vallier
    • Boutte
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Destrehan
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Luling
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Saint James Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Marathon, with the one closest to Marathon listed first.
    • Gramercy
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Lutcher
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
      • Lutcher is located in Saint James Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lutcher
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,127 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Lutcher <1>
    • North Vacherie
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • North Vacherie is located in Saint James Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Vacherie
    • Vacherie
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Paulina
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • South Vacherie
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • South Vacherie is located in Saint James Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Vacherie
    • Hester
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Hester is located in Saint James Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hester
    • Lagan
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Lagan is located in Saint James Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lagan
    • Convent
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Uncle Sam
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Burton Lane
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Burton Lane is located in Saint James Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burton Lane
    • Chatman Town
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Chatman Town is located in Saint James Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatman Town
  • Tangipahoa Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Marathon, with the one closest to Marathon listed first.
    • Akers
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Manchac
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Manchac is located in Tangipahoa Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manchac
    • Wadesboro
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Wadesboro is located in Tangipahoa Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wadesboro
    • Ponchatoula
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Baptist
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Baptist is located in Tangipahoa Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baptist
  • Terrebonne Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Marathon, with the one closest to Marathon listed first.
    • Schriever
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Gray
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Magnolia Plantation
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Magnolia Plantation is located in Terrebonne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magnolia Plantation
    • Minerva Plantation
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Minerva Plantation is located in Terrebonne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minerva Plantation
    • Broadmoor
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Broadmoor is located in Terrebonne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Broadmoor
    • Chacahoula
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Chacahoula is located in Terrebonne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chacahoula

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

Cemeteries Near Marathon ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Marathon.

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

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

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

  • Bishop Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • St. John the Baptist Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Woodville Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Phillips Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Western Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • St. Joseph Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Antioch Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Highway Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Montz Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Green Hill Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Holy Rosary Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Michael Cemetery
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (131 more) ...

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

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

  • Mount Airy
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Edgard
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Johnson
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Johnson is located in Saint John the Baptist Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johnson
  • Wallace
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Wallace is located in Saint John the Baptist Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallace
  • Lucy
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
    • Lucy is located in Saint John the Baptist Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucy
  • Paulina
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Vacherie
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Killona
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Remy
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Remy is located in Saint James Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Remy
  • Hester
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Hester is located in Saint James Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hester
  • Frenier
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Frenier is located in Saint John the Baptist Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenier
  • Hahnville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Sarpy ‑ Historic
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Sarpy is located in Saint Charles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sarpy
    • Convent
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • La Branche
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • La Branche is located in Saint Charles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Branche

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

Newspapers Published in Marathon ...

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 13 newspapers that have been published in the area around Marathon.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Marathon, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Marathon.

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 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 Marathon:

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 Marathon, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Marathon) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.