RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Louisiana >> Rapides Parish >> Osburn >> Genealogy HelperIndex...

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 Osburn (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 Osburn. 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 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.

Osburn is located in Rapides 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 Rapides Parish: Allen, Avoyelles, Evangeline, Grant, La Salle, Natchitoches & Vernon.

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

  • Rapides Parish     (The home parish of Osburn)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osburn, with the one closest to Osburn listed first.
    • Glenmora
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • McNary
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • McNary is located in Rapides Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McNary
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
    • Longleaf
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Forest Hill
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Elmer
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Hineston
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Woodworth
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Otis
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Sieper
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Lecompte
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Loyd
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Loyd is located in Rapides Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyd
    • Hemphill
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Hemphill is located in Rapides Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemphill
  • Allen Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osburn, with the one closest to Osburn listed first.
    • Pawnee
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Pawnee is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pawnee
    • Mab
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Mab is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mab
    • Oakdale
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Elizabeth
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Marionville ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Marionville is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marionville
    • Ward
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Ward is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ward
    • Reids
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Reids is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reids
    • Bond
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Bond is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bond
    • Tenmile
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Tenmile is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenmile
    • Canton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Canton is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canton
    • Grant
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Cherry Grove
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Cherry Grove is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Grove
  • Avoyelles Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osburn, with the one closest to Osburn listed first.
    • Eola
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Eola is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eola
    • Gold Dust
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Gold Dust is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gold Dust
    • Milburn
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Milburn is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milburn
    • Bunkie
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Bunkie is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunkie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,826 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bunkie <1>
  • Beauregard Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osburn, with the one closest to Osburn listed first.
    • Sugartown
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Dry Creek
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Ikes
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Ikes is located in Beauregard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ikes
  • Evangeline Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osburn, with the one closest to Osburn listed first.
    • Turkey Creek
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Pine Prairie
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Bayou Chicot
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Bayou Chicot is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Chicot
    • Reddell
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Mamou
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Mamou is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mamou
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,077 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mamou <1>
    • Saint Landry
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Duralde
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Duralde is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duralde
    • Ville Platte
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Basile
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Basile is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Basile
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,791 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Basile <1>
  • Jefferson Davis Parish
    • Elton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Elton is located in Jefferson Davis Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,134 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elton <1>
  • Vernon Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osburn, with the one closest to Osburn listed first.
    • Dido
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Dido is located in Vernon Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dido
    • Pitkin
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Leander
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Leander is located in Vernon Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leander
    • Fullerton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Cravens
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Cravens is located in Vernon Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cravens
    • Lacamp
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Cole Central
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Cole Central is located in Vernon Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cole Central
    • Hicks
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Hicks is located in Vernon Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicks
    • Simpson
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Walnut Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Walnut Hill is located in Vernon Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Hill

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

Cemeteries Near Osburn ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Osburn.

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

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

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

  • Osburn Willis Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Bethel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Melder Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Elizabeth Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Union Hill Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Glenmora Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • West Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Hampton Memorial Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Johnson Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Rose Lawn Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Oakdale Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Sacred Heart Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (168 more) ...
    • Pecan Grove Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Stanley Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Occupy #1 Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Occupy #1 Cemetery
      • The Occupy #1 Cemetery has also been known as:
      • Occupy Church Number 1 Cemetery
      • Ten Mile Cemetery
      • Tenmile Cemetery
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #191365 <2>

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

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

  • Dido
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Dido is located in Vernon Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dido
  • Melder
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
  • Elmer
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
  • Hineston
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
  • Cora
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Cora is located in Vernon Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cora
  • Loyd
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Loyd is located in Rapides Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyd
  • Lecompte
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Lamourie
    (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Lamourie is located in Rapides Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamourie
  • Hemphill
    (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Hemphill is located in Rapides Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemphill
  • Milford ‑ Historic
    (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Milford is located in Rapides Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milford
  • Cheneyville
    (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
  • Moreland
    (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Moreland is located in Rapides Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moreland
  • Continue List   (5 more) ...
    • Haas
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Haas is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haas
    • Hicks
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Hicks is located in Vernon Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicks
    • Eola
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Eola is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eola

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

Newspapers Published in Osburn ...

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 Osburn.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Osburn, 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 Osburn.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Osburn:

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