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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 Plaisance (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 Plaisance. 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.

Plaisance is located in Saint Landry 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 Landry Parish: Acadia, Avoyelles, Evangeline, Lafayette, Pointe Coupee & Saint Martin.

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

  • Saint Landry Parish     (The home parish of Plaisance)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Plaisance, with the one closest to Plaisance listed first.
    • Washington
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Opelousas
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Lawtell
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Boretta
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Boretta is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boretta
    • Port Barre
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Lewisburg
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Lewisburg is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisburg
    • Immaculata
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Immaculata is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Immaculata
    • Lebeau
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Rosa
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Rosa is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosa
    • Leonville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Palmetto
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Grand Coteau
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Sunset
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Sunset is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,962 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sunset <1>
  • Acadia Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Plaisance, with the one closest to Plaisance listed first.
    • Church Point
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Higginbotham
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Higginbotham is located in Acadia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Higginbotham
    • Branch
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Castille
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Castille is located in Acadia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castille
    • Rayne
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Ellis
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Ellis is located in Acadia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellis
    • Iota
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Iota is located in Acadia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iota
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,428 people
  • Allen Parish
    • Bond
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Bond is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bond
  • Avoyelles Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Plaisance, with the one closest to Plaisance listed first.
    • Gold Dust
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Gold Dust is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gold Dust
    • Milburn
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Milburn is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milburn
    • Eola
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Eola is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eola
    • Bunkie
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • 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>
    • Evergreen
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Hickory
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Hickory is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory
    • Dupont
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Dupont is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dupont
    • Enterprise
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Enterprise is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
    • Plaucheville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Cottonport
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Odenburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Odenburg is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odenburg
    • Hessmer
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Moreauville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Evangeline Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Plaisance, with the one closest to Plaisance listed first.
    • Ville Platte
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Chataignier
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Saint Landry
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Mamou
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • 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>
    • Reddell
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Bayou Chicot
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Bayou Chicot is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Chicot
    • Pine Prairie
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Duralde
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Duralde is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duralde
    • Turkey Creek
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Tyrone
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Tyrone is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyrone
    • Unatex
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Unatex is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unatex
    • Basile
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • 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>
  • Lafayette Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Plaisance, with the one closest to Plaisance listed first.
    • Carencro
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Stekey
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Stekey is located in Lafayette Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stekey
    • Ossun
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Ossun is located in Lafayette Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ossun
    • Duson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Duson is located in Lafayette Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,761 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Duson <1>
    • Scott
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Scott is located in Lafayette Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,787 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Scott <1>
    • Lafayette
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
  • Pointe Coupee Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Plaisance, with the one closest to Plaisance listed first.
    • East Krotz Springs
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • East Krotz Springs is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Krotz Springs
    • Elliot City ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Elliot City is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliot City
    • Ravenswood
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Ravenswood is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravenswood
    • Lottie
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Fordoche
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Rapides Parish
    • Cheneyville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Saint Martin Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Plaisance, with the one closest to Plaisance listed first.
    • Cecilia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Breaux Bridge
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Henderson
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Plaisance ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Plaisance.

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

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

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

  • Hebrew Rest Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Cedar Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • St. Andrews Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Frilot Cove Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Bertrand Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Pitre Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Old Grand Prairie Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • St. Landry Catholic Church Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for St. Landry Catholic Church Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the St. Landry Catholic Church Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located in Opelousas.
    • The St. Landry Catholic Church Cemetery has also been known as:
    • St. Landry Cemetery
    • St. Landry Church Cemetery
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1924120 <2>
  • Young Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Green Chapel Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Soileaus Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Deville Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (158 more) ...
    • Green Oak Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Whipp Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Chimleyville Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)

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 Plaisance had a population of 82 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Washington
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Opelousas
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Beggs
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Beggs is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beggs
  • Garland
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Garland is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland
  • Boretta
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Boretta is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boretta
  • Port Barre
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Dubuisson
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Dubuisson is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dubuisson
  • Shuteston
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Shuteston is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shuteston
  • Rosa
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Rosa is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosa
  • Whiteville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Whiteville is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiteville
  • Leonville
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Barbreck
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Barbreck is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barbreck
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Sunset
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Sunset is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunset
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,962 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sunset <1>
    • Grand Coteau
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Palmetto
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Plaisance ...

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 44 newspapers that have been published in the area around Plaisance.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Plaisance, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Plaisance.

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 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 Plaisance:

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