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 northwest corner of their home parish. During their lives, most 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/counties 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/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 Tangipahoa 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 Tangipahoa Parish: Livingston, Saint Helena, Saint John the Baptist, Saint Tammany, Washington, Amite (MS) & Pike (MS).
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:
- Tangipahoa 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.
- Hammond
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Robert
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Genessee
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Genessee is located in Tangipahoa Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genessee
- Natalbany
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Tickfaw
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Loranger
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Ponchatoula
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Baptist
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Baptist is located in Tangipahoa Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baptist
- Independence
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Wadesboro
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Wadesboro is located in Tangipahoa Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wadesboro
- Husser
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Katie ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Katie is located in Tangipahoa Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Katie
- Henry City ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Henry City is located in Tangipahoa Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henry City
- Ascension Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Ridge, with the one closest to Oak Ridge listed first.
- Summerfield
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Summerfield is located in Ascension Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerfield
- Claybank
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Claybank is located in Ascension Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claybank
- East Baton Rouge Parish
- Baywood
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Baywood is located in East Baton Rouge Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baywood
- Livingston Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Ridge, with the one closest to Oak Ridge listed first.
- Albany
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Springfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Georgeville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Georgeville is located in Livingston Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgeville
- Holden
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Starns
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Starns is located in Livingston Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starns
- Killian
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Killian is located in Livingston Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Killian
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,337 people
- Clio
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Clio is located in Livingston Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clio
- Livingston
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Maurepas
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Oldfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Oldfield is located in Livingston Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oldfield
- Walker
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Walker is located in Livingston Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
- Population from the 2020 Census: 6,302 people
- French Settlement
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Port Vincent
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Port Vincent is located in Livingston Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Port Vincent
- Population from the 2020 Census: 650 people
- Saint Helena Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Ridge, with the one closest to Oak Ridge listed first.
- Montpelier
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Montpelier is located in Saint Helena Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montpelier
- Population from the 2020 Census: 239 people
- Pine Grove
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Greensburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Grangeville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Grangeville is located in Saint Helena Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grangeville
- Saint John the Baptist Parish
- Frenier
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Frenier is located in Saint John the Baptist Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenier
- Saint Tammany Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Ridge, with the one closest to Oak Ridge listed first.
- Goodbee
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Goodbee is located in Saint Tammany Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodbee
- Folsom
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Benedict
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Madisonville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Covington
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Lewisburg
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Lewisburg is located in Saint Tammany Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisburg
- Mandeville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Abita Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Bush
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Sun
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Sun is located in Saint Tammany Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun
- Population from the 2020 Census: 498 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sun <1>
- Washington Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Oak Ridge, with the one closest to Oak Ridge listed first.
- Stoney Point
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Stoney Point is located in Washington Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoney Point
- Enon
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Enon is located in Washington Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enon
- Franklinton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Sunny Hill
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Sunny Hill is located in Washington Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunny Hill
- Mount Hermon
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
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.
- Hoffman Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Johnson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Bankston Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Robertson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Lanier Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Arnold Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Robertson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Robertson Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Garahy Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Narretto Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Rose Memorial Park Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Greenlawn Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (404 more) ...
- Greenfield Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Reid Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Tycer Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 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.<3>
While we didn't find Oak Ridge in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Oak Ridge.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Oak Ridge, with the one closest to Oak Ridge listed first.
- Hammond
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Tickfaw
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Ponchatoula
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Independence
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Katie ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Katie is located in Tangipahoa Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Katie
- Springfield
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Amite City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Starns
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Starns is located in Livingston Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starns
- Killian
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Killian is located in Livingston Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Killian
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,337 people
- Roseland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Springville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Springville is located in Livingston Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springville
- Manchac
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Manchac is located in Tangipahoa Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manchac
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Arcola
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Arcola is located in Tangipahoa Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
- Madisonville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Covington
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
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 64 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 25 miles [40.2 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 Tangipahoa Parish
- Genealogy information for nearby parishes
- Ascension Parish
- East Baton Rouge Parish
- Livingston Parish
- Saint Helena Parish
- Saint John the Baptist Parish
- Saint Tammany Parish
- Washington Parish
- 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 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Oak Ridge) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |