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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 Rattan (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 Rattan. 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/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 southwest corner of their home parish. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors 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/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 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.

Rattan is located in Sabine 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 Sabine Parish: De Soto, Natchitoches, Vernon, Newton (TX), Sabine (TX) & Shelby (TX).

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

  • Sabine Parish     (The home parish of Rattan)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rattan, with the one closest to Rattan listed first.
    • Toro
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Toro is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toro
    • Negreet
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Florien
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Fisher
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Rock ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Rock is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock
    • Corleyville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Corleyville is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corleyville
    • Many
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Many is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Many
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,667 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Many <1>
    • Zwolle
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Bayou Scie
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Bayou Scie is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Scie
    • Belmont
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Noble
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Hamlin ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Hamlin is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlin
  • Natchitoches Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rattan, with the one closest to Rattan listed first.
    • Vowells Mill
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Vowells Mill is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vowells Mill
    • Bellwood
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Bellwood is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellwood
    • Robeline
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Marthaville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Provencal
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Victoria
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Victoria is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victoria
  • Vernon Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rattan, with the one closest to Rattan listed first.
    • Hornbeck
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Anacoco
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Fertitta Park
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Fertitta Park is located in Vernon Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fertitta Park
    • Westwood Village
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Westwood Village is located in Vernon Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood Village
    • Kurthwood
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Leesville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • New Llano
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Alco
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Alco is located in Vernon Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alco
    • Billy Goat Hill
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Billy Goat Hill is located in Vernon Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Billy Goat Hill
    • Evans
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Savage Fork
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Savage Fork is located in Vernon Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Savage Fork
    • Elmwood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Elmwood is located in Vernon Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elmwood
  • Jasper County (TX)
    • Browndell
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Browndell is located in Jasper County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browndell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
  • Newton County (TX)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rattan, with the one closest to Rattan listed first.
    • Toledo
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Toledo is located in Newton County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toledo
    • South Toledo Bend
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • South Toledo Bend is located in Newton County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Toledo Bend
    • Burkeville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Wiergate
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Shanklerville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Shanklerville is located in Newton County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shanklerville
  • Sabine County (TX)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Rattan, with the one closest to Rattan listed first.
    • Fairmount
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Fairmount is located in Sabine County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmount
    • Mason
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Mason is located in Sabine County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason
    • Hemphill
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Milam
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Geneva
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Rosevine
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Rosevine is located in Sabine County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosevine
    • Pineland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Bronson
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Brookeland
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • San Augustine County (TX)
    • Rebecca
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Rebecca is located in San Augustine County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rebecca

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

Cemeteries Near Rattan ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rattan.

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

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

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

  • Victoria Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • McMillion Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • St. Lukes Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Caney Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Beckham Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Antioch Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Redland Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Self Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Miller Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Ferris Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Toro Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Carroll Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (221 more) ...
    • Pleasant View Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Isaac Low Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Union Grove Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)

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

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

  • Toro
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Toro is located in Sabine Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toro
  • Columbus ‑ Historic
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Columbus is located in Sabine Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus
  • Negreet
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Toledo
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Toledo is located in Newton County (TX)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toledo
  • Anacoco
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Corleyville
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Corleyville is located in Sabine Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corleyville
  • Fairmount
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Fairmount is located in Sabine County (TX)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmount
  • Many
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Many is located in Sabine Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Many
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,667 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Many <1>
  • Caney
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Caney is located in Vernon Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caney
  • Hemphill
    (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
  • Milam
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
  • Vowells Mill
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Vowells Mill is located in Natchitoches Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vowells Mill
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Leesville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Kisatchie
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Kisatchie is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kisatchie
    • Bellwood
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Bellwood is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellwood

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

Newspapers Published in Rattan ...

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 21 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rattan.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rattan, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rattan.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with 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 Rattan:

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 Rattan, 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- Rattan) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.