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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 Royal (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 Royal. 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.

Royal is located in Winn 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 Winn Parish: Bienville, Caldwell, Grant, Jackson, La Salle & Natchitoches.

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

  • Winn Parish     (The home parish of Royal)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Royal, with the one closest to Royal listed first.
    • Flat Creek
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Flat Creek is also located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Creek
    • Sikes
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
      • Sikes is also located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sikes
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sikes <1>
    • Newport
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Newport is also located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
    • Hudson
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Hudson is also located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hudson
    • Joyce
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Winnfield
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Dodson
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Gansville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Gansville is also located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gansville
    • Whitford
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Whitford is also located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitford
    • Bethlehem
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Bethlehem is also located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
    • Calvin
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Atlanta
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Coldwater
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Coldwater is also located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coldwater
  • Bienville Parish
    • English
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • English is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English
  • Caldwell Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Royal, with the one closest to Royal listed first.
    • Kelly
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Clarks
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Mount Pleasant
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Mount Pleasant is located in Caldwell Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
    • Grayson
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Vixen
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Vixen is located in Caldwell Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vixen
    • Banks Springs
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Banks Springs is located in Caldwell Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banks Springs
    • Columbia
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Fredericksburg ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Fredericksburg was located in Caldwell Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fredericksburg
  • Catahoula Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Royal, with the one closest to Royal listed first.
    • Rosefield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Rosefield is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosefield
    • Aimwell
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Grant Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Royal, with the one closest to Royal listed first.
    • Georgetown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Black Creek ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
      • Black Creek was located in Grant Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Creek
    • Dry Prong
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Antonia
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Antonia is located in Grant Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antonia
  • Jackson Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Royal, with the one closest to Royal listed first.
    • Zoar
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Zoar is located in Jackson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zoar
    • Weston
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Weston is located in Jackson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
    • Chatham
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Dalley ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Dalley was located in Jackson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dalley
    • Jonesboro
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • East Hodge
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • East Hodge is located in Jackson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Hodge
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 270 people
    • Hodge
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • North Hodge
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • North Hodge is located in Jackson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hodge
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 372 people
    • Nash ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Nash was located in Jackson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nash
    • Eros
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Eros is located in Jackson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eros
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 151 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Eros <1>
    • Quitman
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • La Salle Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Royal, with the one closest to Royal listed first.
    • Urania
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Olla
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Olla is located in La Salle Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olla
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,371 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Olla <1>
    • Tullos
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Standard
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Standard is located in La Salle Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Standard
    • Zenoria
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Zenoria is located in La Salle Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zenoria
    • Summerville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Summerville is located in La Salle Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerville
    • Trout
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Midway
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Midway is located in La Salle Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
    • Jena
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Jena is located in La Salle Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jena
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,430 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Jena <1>
  • Natchitoches Parish
    • Goldonna
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
  • Ouachita Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Royal, with the one closest to Royal listed first.
    • Bosco
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Bosco is located in Ouachita Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bosco
    • Cuba
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Cuba is located in Ouachita Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cuba
    • Lapine
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Lapine is located in Ouachita Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lapine

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

Cemeteries Near Royal ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Royal.

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

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

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

  • James Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Old Shady Grove Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Adams Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Smith Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • McCarty Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Willis Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Old Pleasant Hill Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Corley Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Holmes Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • McCarty Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Starns Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Wright Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (186 more) ...
    • Shiloh Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Guin Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Whitehead Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)

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

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

  • Flat Creek
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Flat Creek is also located in Winn Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Flat Creek
  • Hickory Valley
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Hickory Valley is also located in Winn Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Valley
  • Newport
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Newport is also located in Winn Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
  • Tunica ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Tunica was located in Winn Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunica
  • Gaars Mill
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Gaars Mill is also located in Winn Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaars Mill
  • Winnfield
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Cotton Plant
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Cotton Plant is located in Caldwell Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotton Plant
  • Mount Pleasant
    (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Mount Pleasant is located in Caldwell Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Pleasant
  • Gansville
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Gansville is also located in Winn Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gansville
  • Atlanta
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Weston
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Weston is located in Jackson Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
  • Black Creek ‑ Historic
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
    • Black Creek was located in Grant Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Black Creek
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Holum
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Holum is located in Caldwell Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holum
    • Hebron
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Hebron is located in Jackson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hebron
    • Columbia
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)

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

Newspapers Published in Royal ...

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 23 newspapers that have been published in the area around Royal.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Royal, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Royal.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Royal:

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 Royal, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>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 from Point A (ie- Royal) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.