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 Oak Ridge (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 Oak Ridge. 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 Oak Ridge ...
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.
Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Oak Ridge: Oak Rdg. (or less commonly used: Oak Rdge. or Oak Ridg.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Oak Ridge. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Oak Ridge.
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/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 doctors 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.
Oak Ridge is located in Morehouse 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 Morehouse Parish: Ashley (AR), Chicot (AR), Union (AR), Ouachita, Richland, Union & West Carroll.
Below are the parishes/counties that are near Oak Ridge. For each of these parishes/counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Oak Ridge:
- Morehouse Parish (The home parish of Oak Ridge)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Ridge, with the one closest to Oak Ridge listed first.
- Windsor
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Windsor is located in Morehouse Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windsor
- Collinston
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Mer Rouge
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Bastrop
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Brodnax ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Brodnax is located in Morehouse Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brodnax
- Bonita
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Jones
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Franklin Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Ridge, with the one closest to Oak Ridge listed first.
- Baskinton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Baskinton is located in Franklin Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baskinton
- Big Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Big Creek is located in Franklin Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Creek
- Baskin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Crowville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Madison Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Ridge, with the one closest to Oak Ridge listed first.
- Waverly
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Waverly is located in Madison Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
- Tendal
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Tendal is located in Madison Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tendal
- Quebec
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Quebec is located in Madison Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quebec
- Ouachita Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Ridge, with the one closest to Oak Ridge listed first.
- Swartz
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Fairbanks
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Leisure Village
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Leisure Village is located in Ouachita Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leisure Village
- Spanish City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Spanish City is located in Ouachita Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spanish City
- Sterlington
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Northpark Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Northpark Village is located in Ouachita Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Northpark Village
- Pino Bayou Village
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Pino Bayou Village is located in Ouachita Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pino Bayou Village
- Richwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Richwood is located in Ouachita Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richwood
- Population from the 2020 Census: 3,375 people
- Monroe
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- West Monroe
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- West Monroe is located in Ouachita Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Monroe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 12,086 people
- Claiborne
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Claiborne is located in Ouachita Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claiborne
- Bosco
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bosco is located in Ouachita Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bosco
- Cuba
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cuba is located in Ouachita Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
- Richland Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Ridge, with the one closest to Oak Ridge listed first.
- Rayville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Start
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Holly Ridge
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Holly Ridge is located in Richland Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Ridge
- Dunn
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Dunn is located in Richland Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunn
- Alto
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Alto is located in Richland Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alto
- Archibald
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Delhi
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mangham
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- New Light
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- New Light is located in Richland Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Light
- Union Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Ridge, with the one closest to Oak Ridge listed first.
- Ouachita City
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Ouachita City is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ouachita City
- Haile
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Haile is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haile
- Wilhite
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Wilhite is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilhite
- West Carroll Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Ridge, with the one closest to Oak Ridge listed first.
- Epps
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Epps is located in West Carroll Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Epps
- Population from the 2020 Census: 809 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Epps <1>
- Darnell
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Darnell is located in West Carroll Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darnell
- Pioneer
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Forest
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Fiske
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Fiske is located in West Carroll Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fiske
- Oak Grove
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ashley County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Ridge, with the one closest to Oak Ridge listed first.
- Elon ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Elon is located in Ashley County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elon
- Meridian
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Meridian is located in Ashley County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meridian
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Oak Ridge, see our Parish-by-Parish Page for Oak Ridge.
Cemeteries Near Oak Ridge ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Oak Ridge.
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 Oak Ridge - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Oak Ridge covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Oak Ridge, with the one closest to Oak Ridge listed first.
- Oak Ridge Baptist Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Wimberley Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Conger Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Cooper Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Irwin Lake Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Stevenson Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Shanks Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- James Chapel Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- New Salem Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Trio Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Carter Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Howell Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (129 more) ...
- Wynn Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Roberts Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- McKnight Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Oak Ridge had a population of 296 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Oak Ridge had a population of 118 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Oak Ridge, with the one closest to Oak Ridge listed first.
- Doss ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Doss is located in Morehouse Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doss
- Cleora ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Cleora is located in Morehouse Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleora
- Girard
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Girard is located in Richland Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Girard
- Rayville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Mer Rouge
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Crew Lake
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Crew Lake is located in Richland Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crew Lake
- Bee Bayou
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bee Bayou is located in Richland Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bee Bayou
- Holly Ridge
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Holly Ridge is located in Richland Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Ridge
- Bastrop
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Millhaven
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Millhaven is located in Ouachita Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millhaven
- Sicard
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Sicard is located in Ouachita Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sicard
- Brodnax ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Brodnax is located in Morehouse Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brodnax
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- De Siard
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- De Siard is located in Ouachita Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for De Siard
- Ouachita City
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Ouachita City is located in Union Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ouachita City
- Alto
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Alto is located in Richland Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alto
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Oak Ridge. See our List of 1890's Communities around Oak Ridge.
Newspapers Published in Oak Ridge ...
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 35 newspapers that have been published in the area around Oak Ridge.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Oak Ridge, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Oak Ridge.
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 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 Oak Ridge:
- Websites specific to Louisiana
- Pages specific to Morehouse Parish
- Genealogy information for nearby parishes
- Franklin Parish
- Madison Parish
- Ouachita Parish
- Richland Parish
- Union Parish
- West Carroll Parish
- Ashley 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> | 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 Oak Ridge, 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- Oak Ridge) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |