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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 Norris Springs (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 Norris Springs. 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 Norris Springs ...

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 Norris Springs: Norris Spgs. (or less commonly used: Norris Spngs. or Norris Sprngs.)

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 southwest corner of their home parish. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next parish to the west. 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 west 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.

Norris Springs is located in Catahoula 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 Catahoula Parish: Avoyelles, Caldwell, Concordia, Franklin, La Salle & Tensas.

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

  • Catahoula Parish     (The home parish of Norris Springs)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norris Springs, with the one closest to Norris Springs listed first.
    • Sicily Island
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Sicily Island is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sicily Island
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 438 people
    • Harrisonburg
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Greenville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Greenville is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenville
    • Wildwood
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Wildwood is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood
    • Enterprise
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Enterprise is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
    • Trinity
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Trinity is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trinity
    • Rosefield
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Rosefield is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosefield
    • Jonesville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Aimwell
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Utility
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Utility is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utility
    • Rhinehart
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Parhams
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Parhams is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parhams
  • Caldwell Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norris Springs, with the one closest to Norris Springs listed first.
    • Fredericksburg ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Fredericksburg is located in Caldwell Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredericksburg
    • Grayson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Banks Springs
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Banks Springs is located in Caldwell Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banks Springs
    • Clarks
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Columbia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Kelly
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • Concordia Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norris Springs, with the one closest to Norris Springs listed first.
    • Dunbarton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Dunbarton is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunbarton
    • Clayton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Chevey Chase
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Chevey Chase is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chevey Chase
    • Athlone
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Athlone is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athlone
    • Wildsville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • West Ferriday
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • West Ferriday is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Ferriday
    • Ferriday
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Sycamore
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Sycamore is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
    • Ridgecrest
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Ridgecrest is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgecrest
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 585 people
    • Vidalia
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Monterey
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Monterey is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
    • Armagh
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Armagh is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armagh
  • Franklin Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norris Springs, with the one closest to Norris Springs listed first.
    • Elam
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Elam is located in Franklin Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elam
    • Wisner
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Extension
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Extension is located in Franklin Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Extension
    • Jigger
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Gilbert
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Fort Necessity
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Chase
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Liddieville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Liddieville is located in Franklin Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liddieville
    • Winnsboro
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Swampers
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Swampers is located in Franklin Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swampers
    • Baskin
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Crowville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
  • La Salle Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norris Springs, with the one closest to Norris Springs listed first.
    • Jena
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Jena is located in La Salle Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jena
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,430 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jena <1>
    • Summerville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Summerville is located in La Salle Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerville
    • Midway
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Midway is located in La Salle Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
    • Trout
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Standard
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Standard is located in La Salle Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Standard
    • Sharp Town
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Sharp Town is located in La Salle Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharp Town
    • Olla
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • 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>
  • Richland Parish
    • New Light
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • New Light is located in Richland Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Light
  • Tensas Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norris Springs, with the one closest to Norris Springs listed first.
    • Highland
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Highland is located in Tensas Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
    • Waterproof
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Newlight
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Newlight is located in Tensas Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newlight
    • Saint Joseph
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
  • Adams County (MS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norris Springs, with the one closest to Norris Springs listed first.
    • Carthage
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Carthage is located in Adams County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carthage
    • Natchez
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Natchez is located in Adams County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natchez
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,362 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Natchez <1>
    • Cloverdale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Cloverdale is located in Adams County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
    • Washington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Washington is located in Adams County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washington
  • Jefferson County (MS)
    • Rodney
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Rodney is located in Jefferson County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodney

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

Cemeteries Near Norris Springs ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Norris Springs.

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 Norris Springs - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Old Salem Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Peck Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Peniston Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Norris Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Sicily Island Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Old Pine Hill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Hope Will Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Mason Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Highland Park Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • New Salem Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Pilgrim Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Humble Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (230 more) ...
    • New Zion Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Boothe Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • King Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 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 Norris Springs in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Norris Springs.

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

  • Leland
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Leland is located in Catahoula Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leland
  • Sicily Island
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Sicily Island is located in Catahoula Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sicily Island
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 438 people
  • Holly Grove
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Holly Grove is located in Franklin Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Grove
  • Harrisonburg
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Wildwood
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Wildwood is located in Catahoula Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood
  • Greenville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Greenville is located in Catahoula Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenville
  • Enterprise
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Enterprise is located in Catahoula Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
  • Oakley
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Oakley is located in Franklin Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakley
  • Clayton
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Highland
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Highland is located in Tensas Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
  • Gilbert
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
  • Fort Necessity
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Trinity
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Trinity is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trinity
    • Chevey Chase
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Chevey Chase is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chevey Chase
    • Rosefield
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Rosefield is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosefield

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

Newspapers Published in Norris Springs ...

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 17 newspapers that have been published in the area around Norris Springs.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Norris Springs, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Norris Springs.

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 helpful 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 Norris Springs:

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 Norris Springs, 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' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Norris Springs) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.