RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Louisiana >> Vermilion Parish >> Riceville >> 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 Riceville (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 Riceville. 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 southeast corner of their home parish. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next parish to the east. 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 east 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.

Riceville is located in Vermilion 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 Vermilion Parish: Acadia, Cameron, Iberia, Jefferson Davis & Lafayette.

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

  • Vermilion Parish     (The home parish of Riceville)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riceville, with the one closest to Riceville listed first.
    • Gueydan
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Kaplan
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Kaplan is located in Vermilion Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kaplan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,345 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kaplan <1>
    • Andrew
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Andrew is located in Vermilion Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Andrew
    • Indian Bayou
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Indian Bayou is located in Vermilion Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Bayou
    • Leroy
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Leroy is located in Vermilion Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leroy
    • Meaux
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Meaux is located in Vermilion Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meaux
    • Maurice
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Perry
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Abbeville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Youngs
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Youngs is located in Vermilion Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Youngs
    • Erath
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Erath is located in Vermilion Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erath
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,030 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Erath <1>
    • Intracoastal City
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Acadia Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riceville, with the one closest to Riceville listed first.
    • Morse
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Estherwood
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Mermentau
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Egan
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Crowley
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Evangeline
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Ebenezer
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Ebenezer is located in Acadia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ebenezer
    • Ellis
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Ellis is located in Acadia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellis
    • Iota
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Iota is located in Acadia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iota
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,428 people
    • Rayne
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Branch
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Castille
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Castille is located in Acadia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castille
  • Calcasieu Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riceville, with the one closest to Riceville listed first.
    • Hayes
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Bell City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
  • Evangeline Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riceville, with the one closest to Riceville listed first.
    • Basile
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • 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>
    • Unatex
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Unatex is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unatex
    • Tyrone
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Tyrone is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyrone
  • Jefferson Davis Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riceville, with the one closest to Riceville listed first.
    • Lake Arthur
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Jennings
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Jennings is located in Jefferson Davis Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jennings
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,660 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jennings <1>
    • Roanoke
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Welsh
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Welsh is located in Jefferson Davis Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Welsh
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,195 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Welsh <1>
    • Lacassine
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Elton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • 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>
  • Lafayette Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riceville, with the one closest to Riceville listed first.
    • Ridge
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Ridge is located in Lafayette Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridge
    • Duson
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • 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>
    • Milton
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Ossun
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Ossun is located in Lafayette Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ossun
    • Scott
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • 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>
  • Saint Landry Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Riceville, with the one closest to Riceville listed first.
    • Eunice
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Eunice is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eunice
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,655 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Eunice <1>
    • Cankton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Cankton is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cankton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 504 people

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

Cemeteries Near Riceville ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Riceville.

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

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

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

  • Simon Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Hanks Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • Leger Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Istre Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
  • Gueydon Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • LeBlanc Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Quebodaux Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Broussard Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Andress Cove Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Marceaux Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Abshire Cemetery
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Indian Cemetery
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (103 more) ...
    • Hebert Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Cossinade Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • Crossinade Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 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.<4>

While we didn't find Riceville in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Riceville.

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

  • Estherwood
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Mermentau
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Crowley
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Indian Bayou
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Indian Bayou is located in Vermilion Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Bayou
  • Cartville ‑ Historic
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Cartville is located in Acadia Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartville
  • Rayne
    (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
  • Ridge
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Ridge is located in Lafayette Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridge
  • Duson
    (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • 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>
  • Perry
    (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
  • Abbeville
    (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
  • Scott
    (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • 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>
  • Church Point
    (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Henry
    (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Henry is located in Vermilion Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henry
  • Prudhomme
    (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Prudhomme is located in Acadia Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prudhomme

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

Newspapers Published in Riceville ...

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 26 newspapers that have been published in the area around Riceville.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Riceville, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Riceville.

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 Riceville:

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>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 from Point A (ie- Riceville) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<4>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 Riceville, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.