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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 Simpson (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 Simpson. 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 northeast 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 north.

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 east contained birth and death records; the parish to the north 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.

Simpson is located in Vernon 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 Vernon Parish: Allen, Beauregard, Natchitoches, Rapides, Sabine & Newton (TX).

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

  • Vernon Parish     (The home parish of Simpson)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simpson, with the one closest to Simpson listed first.
    • Hicks
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Hicks is located in Vernon Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicks
    • Walnut Hill
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Walnut Hill is located in Vernon Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Hill
    • Slagle
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Alco
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Alco is located in Vernon Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alco
    • Lacamp
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Kurthwood
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Leander
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Leander is located in Vernon Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leander
    • Fort Polk North
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Fort Polk North is located in Vernon Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fort Polk North
    • Leesville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Fertitta Park
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Fertitta Park is located in Vernon Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fertitta Park
    • Westwood Village
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Westwood Village is located in Vernon Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westwood Village
    • Billy Goat Hill
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Billy Goat Hill is located in Vernon Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Billy Goat Hill
    • Fort Polk
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
  • Allen Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simpson, with the one closest to Simpson listed first.
    • Reids
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Reids is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reids
    • Elizabeth
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Beauregard Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simpson, with the one closest to Simpson listed first.
    • Sugartown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Ikes
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Ikes is located in Beauregard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ikes
    • Ludington
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Ludington is located in Beauregard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ludington
  • Grant Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simpson, with the one closest to Simpson listed first.
    • Fairmount
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Fairmount is located in Grant Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmount
    • Colfax
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Montgomery
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Natchitoches Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simpson, with the one closest to Simpson listed first.
    • Gorum
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Derry
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Derry is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derry
    • Cloutierville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Bellwood
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Bellwood is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellwood
    • Marco
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Marco is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marco
    • Melrose
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Flora
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Vowells Mill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Vowells Mill is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vowells Mill
    • Natchez
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Provencal
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Victoria
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Victoria is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victoria
  • Rapides Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simpson, with the one closest to Simpson listed first.
    • Mora
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Sieper
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Flatwoods
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Hemphill
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Hemphill is located in Rapides Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemphill
    • Otis
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Hineston
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Hot Wells
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Hot Wells is located in Rapides Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hot Wells
    • Gardner
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Lena
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Rock
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Rock is located in Rapides Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock
    • Zimmerman
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Zimmerman is located in Rapides Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zimmerman
    • Elmer
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Boyce
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Sabine Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Simpson, with the one closest to Simpson listed first.
    • Corleyville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Corleyville is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corleyville
    • Florien
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Fisher
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Toro
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Toro is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toro

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

Cemeteries Near Simpson ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Simpson.

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

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

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

  • Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Welcome Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Pine Island Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Mayo Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Union Grove Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Glass Window Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Ballview Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Scott Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Robinson Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Comrade Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Holton Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Ebenezer Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (170 more) ...
    • Blackwell Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Antioch Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Laurel Hill 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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Simpson had a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Simpson had a population of 582 people.

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

  • Hicks
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Hicks is located in Vernon Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicks
  • Walnut Hill
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Walnut Hill is located in Vernon Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut Hill
  • Mora
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Gorum
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
  • Cora
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Cora is located in Vernon Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cora
  • Hemphill
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Hemphill is located in Rapides Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hemphill
  • Kisatchie
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Kisatchie is located in Natchitoches Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kisatchie
  • Leesville
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Hineston
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Milford ‑ Historic
    (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Milford is located in Rapides Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milford
  • Chopin
    (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Chopin is located in Natchitoches Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chopin
  • Derry
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Derry is located in Natchitoches Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derry
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Anacoco
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Crane
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Crane is located in Rapides Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crane
    • Lena
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Simpson ...

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 12 newspapers that have been published in the area around Simpson.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Simpson, 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 Simpson.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 Simpson:

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