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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 Smyrna (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 Smyrna. 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 northwest corner of their home parish. During their lives, most doctors and 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/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 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.

Smyrna is located in De Soto 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 De Soto Parish: Caddo, Natchitoches, Red River, Sabine, Panola (TX) & Shelby (TX).

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

  • De Soto Parish     (The home parish of Smyrna)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smyrna, with the one closest to Smyrna listed first.
    • Screamerville ‑ Historic
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Screamerville is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Screamerville
    • Longstreet
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Grand Cane
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Keachi
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
      • Keachi is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keachi
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 300 people
    • Gloster
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Stanley
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Stanley is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
    • Logansport
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Mansfield
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
    • South Mansfield
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • South Mansfield is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Mansfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 352 people
    • Stonewall
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Frierson
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Oxford
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Oxford is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford
    • Pelican
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Bossier Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smyrna, with the one closest to Smyrna listed first.
    • Atkins
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Atkins is located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkins
    • Elm Grove
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Bossier City
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Caddo Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smyrna, with the one closest to Smyrna listed first.
    • Spring Ridge
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Spring Ridge is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Ridge
    • Keithville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Edgewood Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Edgewood Village is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewood Village
    • South Towne Heights
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • South Towne Heights is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Towne Heights
    • Summer Grove
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Summer Grove is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summer Grove
    • Bethany
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Reisor
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Reisor is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reisor
    • Ellerbe Woods
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Ellerbe Woods is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellerbe Woods
    • Silver Pine Village
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Silver Pine Village is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Pine Village
    • Chateau Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Chateau Village is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chateau Village
    • Greenwood
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Western Hills Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Longwood Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Longwood Village is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longwood Village
  • Red River Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smyrna, with the one closest to Smyrna listed first.
    • Abington
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Abington is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abington
    • Westdale
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Westdale is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westdale
    • Harmon
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • East Point
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • East Point is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Point
    • Carroll
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Carroll is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carroll
    • Halfway
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Halfway is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halfway
  • Sabine Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smyrna, with the one closest to Smyrna listed first.
    • Converse
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Pleasant Hill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Hamlin ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Hamlin is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlin
    • Noble
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Harrison County (TX)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smyrna, with the one closest to Smyrna listed first.
    • Elysian Fields
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Waskom
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Waskom is located in Harrison County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waskom
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,150 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Waskom <1>
    • Jonesville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Panola County (TX)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smyrna, with the one closest to Smyrna listed first.
    • Midyett
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Midyett is located in Panola County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midyett
    • De Berry
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Panola
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Woods
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Woods is located in Panola County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woods
    • Carthage
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Gary City
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Murvaul
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Murvaul is located in Panola County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murvaul
  • Shelby County (TX)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Smyrna, with the one closest to Smyrna listed first.
    • Haslam
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Haslam is located in Shelby County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haslam
    • Joaquin
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Campti
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Campti is located in Shelby County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campti
    • Tenaha
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Tenaha is located in Shelby County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tenaha
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,134 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tenaha <1>
    • Huxley
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Huxley is located in Shelby County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huxley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 376 people
    • Shelbyville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Africa ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Africa is located in Shelby County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Africa
    • Center
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Center is located in Shelby County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,043 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Center <1>

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

Cemeteries Near Smyrna ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Smyrna.

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

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

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

  • Union Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Gamble Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Flower Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Friendship Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Spanish Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Cook Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Zion Hill Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Mt. Zion Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Gatlin Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Hogeye Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Old Home Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
  • Pyle Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (164 more) ...
    • Prude Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Trinity Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Price Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)

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

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

  • Longstreet
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Grand Cane
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
  • Keachi
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Keachi is located in De Soto Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keachi
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 300 people
  • Cook ‑ Historic
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Cook is located in De Soto Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cook
  • Gloster
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Logansport
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Mansfield
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
  • Joaquin
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Kingston
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Kingston is located in De Soto Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
  • Stonewall
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
  • Centennial
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Centennial is located in Panola County (TX)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centennial
  • Spring Ridge
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Spring Ridge is located in Caddo Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Ridge
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Lula
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Lula is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lula
    • Carmel
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Carmel is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carmel
    • Deadwood
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Deadwood is located in Panola County (TX)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deadwood

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

Newspapers Published in Smyrna ...

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 24 newspapers that have been published in the area around Smyrna.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Smyrna, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Smyrna.

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 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 Smyrna:

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