RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Louisiana >> Catahoula Parish >> Serena >> 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 Serena (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 Serena. 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 doctors and 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.

Serena is located in Catahoula 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 Catahoula Parish: Avoyelles, Caldwell, Concordia, Franklin, La Salle & Tensas.

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

  • Catahoula Parish     (The home parish of Serena)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Serena, with the one closest to Serena listed first.
    • Parhams
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Parhams is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parhams
    • Utility
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Utility is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utility
    • Jonesville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Trinity
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Trinity is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trinity
    • Rhinehart
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Harrisonburg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Aimwell
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Greenville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Greenville is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenville
    • Wildwood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Wildwood is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood
    • Sicily Island
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Sicily Island is located in Catahoula Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sicily Island
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 438 people
  • Avoyelles Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Serena, with the one closest to Serena listed first.
    • North Point
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • North Point is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Point
    • Vick
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Vick is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vick
    • Moncla
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Moncla is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moncla
    • Bordelonville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Effie
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Center Point
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Marksville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Hamburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Mansura
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Moreauville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Egg Bend
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Egg Bend is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egg Bend
    • Hessmer
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Concordia Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Serena, with the one closest to Serena listed first.
    • Armagh
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Armagh is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armagh
    • Monterey
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Monterey is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
    • Acme
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Wildsville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Athlone
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Athlone is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Athlone
    • Chevey Chase
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Chevey Chase is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chevey Chase
    • Bougere
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Bougere is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bougere
    • Fairview
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Fairview is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
    • West Ferriday
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • West Ferriday is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Ferriday
    • Ferriday
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Ridgecrest
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Ridgecrest is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgecrest
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 585 people
    • Sycamore
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Sycamore is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
  • Grant Parish
    • Fishville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Fishville is located in Grant Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fishville
  • La Salle Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Serena, with the one closest to Serena listed first.
    • Sharp Town
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Sharp Town is located in La Salle Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharp Town
    • Jena
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • 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>
    • Midway
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Midway is located in La Salle Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
    • Trout
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Summerville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Summerville is located in La Salle Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerville
  • Rapides Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Serena, with the one closest to Serena listed first.
    • Deville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Kolin
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Ruby
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Libuse
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
  • Adams County (MS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Serena, with the one closest to Serena listed first.
    • Carthage
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Carthage is located in Adams County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carthage
    • Cloverdale
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Cloverdale is located in Adams County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
    • Natchez
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Natchez is located in Adams County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natchez
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 14,362 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Natchez <1>
  • Wilkinson County (MS)
    • Artonish
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Artonish is located in Wilkinson County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artonish

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

Cemeteries Near Serena ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Serena.

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

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

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

  • Palo Alto Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Hedrick Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Matthew Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Gillespie Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Forman Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Lone Pine Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Pecantly Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Alton Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Trisler Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Steele Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Young Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Calhoun Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (193 more) ...
    • Glade Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Nichols Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Dale Cemetery
      (5 miles [8 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 Serena in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Serena.

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

  • Glade
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Glade is located in Catahoula Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glade
  • Eva
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Eva is located in Concordia Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eva
  • Parhams
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Parhams is located in Catahoula Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parhams
  • New Era
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • New Era is located in Concordia Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Era
  • Lismore
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Lismore is located in Concordia Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lismore
  • Security
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Security is located in Catahoula Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Security
  • Monterey
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Monterey is located in Concordia Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
  • Acme
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
  • Lavacco
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Lavacco is located in Catahoula Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lavacco
  • Utility
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Utility is located in Catahoula Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Utility
  • Jonesville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
  • Trinity
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Trinity is located in Catahoula Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trinity
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Chevey Chase
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Chevey Chase is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chevey Chase
    • Frogmore
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Frogmore is located in Concordia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frogmore
    • Rhinehart
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Serena ...

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 108 newspapers that have been published in the area around Serena.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Serena, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Serena.

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 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 Serena:

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