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 Punkin Center (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 Punkin Center. 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 Punkin Center ...
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 Punkin Center: Punkin Ctr. (or less commonly used: Punkin Cen., Punkin Cent. or Punkin Cntr.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Punkin Center. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Punkin Center.
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 doctors and 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.
Punkin Center is located in Jackson 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 Jackson Parish: Bienville, Caldwell, Lincoln, Ouachita & Winn.
Below are the parishes that are near Punkin Center. For each of these parishes, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Punkin Center:
- Jackson Parish (The home parish of Punkin Center)
- The following are listed by their distance from Punkin Center, with the one closest to Punkin Center listed first.
- East Hodge
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- East Hodge is located in Jackson Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Hodge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 270 people
- North Hodge
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- North Hodge is located in Jackson Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hodge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 372 people
- Hodge
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Quitman
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Jonesboro
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Ansley
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Ansley is located in Jackson Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ansley
- Weston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Weston is located in Jackson Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
- Dalley ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Dalley is located in Jackson Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dalley
- Chatham
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Nash ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Nash is located in Jackson Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash
- Eros
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Cartwright
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Cartwright is located in Jackson Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartwright
- Bienville Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Punkin Center, with the one closest to Punkin Center listed first.
- English
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- English is located in Bienville Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English
- Liberty Hill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Liberty Hill is located in Bienville Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Hill
- Bienville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Saline
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Lucky
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Lucky is located in Bienville Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucky
- Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
- Bryceland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Bryceland is located in Bienville Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryceland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 99 people
- Burkplace
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Burkplace is located in Bienville Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burkplace
- Arcadia
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Sparta
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Sparta is located in Bienville Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparta
- Mount Lebanon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Lebanon is located in Bienville Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Lebanon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
- Gibsland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Alberta
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Alberta is located in Bienville Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta
- Caldwell Parish
- Vixen
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Vixen is located in Caldwell Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vixen
- Claiborne Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Punkin Center, with the one closest to Punkin Center listed first.
- Sugar Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Sugar Creek is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Creek
- Darley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Darley is located in Claiborne Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darley
- Athens
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lincoln Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Punkin Center, with the one closest to Punkin Center listed first.
- Grambling
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Ruston
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Simsboro
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Choudrant
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Vienna
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Vienna is located in Lincoln Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vienna
- Population from the 2020 Census: 365 people
- Averit ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Averit is located in Lincoln Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Averit
- Sibley
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Sibley is located in Lincoln Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sibley
- Cedarton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Cedarton is located in Lincoln Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarton
- Unionville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Unionville is located in Lincoln Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unionville
- Dubach
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Vining Mills ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Vining Mills is located in Lincoln Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vining Mills
- Hico
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Hico is located in Lincoln Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hico
- Natchitoches Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Punkin Center, with the one closest to Punkin Center listed first.
- Goldonna
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Chestnut
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Chestnut is located in Natchitoches Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestnut
- Ashland
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Ashland is located in Natchitoches Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
- Ouachita Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Punkin Center, with the one closest to Punkin Center listed first.
- Indian Village
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Indian Village is located in Ouachita Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Village
- Calhoun
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Frost Town
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Frost Town is located in Ouachita Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frost Town
- Lapine
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Lapine is located in Ouachita Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lapine
- Forksville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Forksville is located in Ouachita Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forksville
- Eureka
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Eureka is located in Ouachita Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
- Union Parish
- Downsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Winn Parish
- The following are listed by their distance from Punkin Center, with the one closest to Punkin Center listed first.
- Gansville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Gansville is located in Winn Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gansville
- Dodson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Pine Ridge
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Ridge is located in Winn Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Ridge
- Hudson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Hudson is located in Winn Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hudson
- Sikes
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Bethlehem
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Bethlehem is located in Winn Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
- Calvin
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Coldwater
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Coldwater is located in Winn Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coldwater
- Newport
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Newport is located in Winn Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
- Joyce
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Winnfield
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Flat Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Flat Creek is located in Winn Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Creek
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Punkin Center, see our Parish-by-Parish Page for Punkin Center.
Cemeteries Near Punkin Center ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Punkin Center.
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 Punkin Center - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Punkin Center covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Punkin Center, with the one closest to Punkin Center listed first.
- Stringer Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Antioch Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Antioch Cumberland Presbyterian Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Hodge Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- St. Henrys Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Galilee Baptist Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galilee Baptist Church Cemetery
- The Galilee Baptist Church Cemetery has also been known as:
- Galilee Cemetery
- Gallilee Baptist Church Cemetery
- Betha Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Walnut Ridge Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Fellowship Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Bethel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jimmie Davis Tabernacle Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Jonesboro Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Continue List (173 more) ...
- Hebron Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Zion Rest Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Brooks Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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 Punkin Center in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Punkin Center.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Punkin Center, with the one closest to Punkin Center listed first.
- Hebron
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Hebron is located in Jackson Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
- Weston
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Weston is located in Jackson Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
- Vernon
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Vernon is located in Jackson Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
- Friendship
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Friendship is located in Bienville Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friendship
- Gansville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Gansville is located in Winn Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gansville
- Liberty Hill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Liberty Hill is located in Bienville Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty Hill
- Dalley ‑ Historic
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Dalley is located in Jackson Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dalley
- Gaars Mill
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Gaars Mill is located in Winn Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaars Mill
- Pine Ridge
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Ridge is located in Winn Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Ridge
- Simsboro
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Nash ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Nash is located in Jackson Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash
- Ruston
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Bienville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Bear Creek
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Bear Creek is located in Bienville Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Creek
- Blume
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Blume is located in Bienville Parish
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blume
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Punkin Center. See our List of 1890's Communities around Punkin Center.
Newspapers Published in Punkin Center ...
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 27 newspapers that have been published in the area around Punkin Center.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Punkin Center, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Punkin Center.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with 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 Punkin Center:
- Websites specific to Louisiana
- Pages specific to Jackson Parish
- Genealogy information for nearby parishes
- Bienville Parish
- Caldwell Parish
- Claiborne Parish
- Lincoln Parish
- Natchitoches Parish
- Ouachita Parish
- Union Parish
- Winn 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> | 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 Punkin Center, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Punkin Center) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |