RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Louisiana >> Allen Parish >> Soileau >> 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 Soileau (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 Soileau. 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 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 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, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Soileau is located in Allen 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 Allen Parish: Acadia, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Evangeline, Jefferson Davis, Rapides & Vernon.

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

  • Allen Parish     (The home parish of Soileau)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Soileau, with the one closest to Soileau listed first.
    • Oberlin
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Bond
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Bond is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bond
    • Canton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Canton is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canton
    • Elder
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Elder is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elder
    • Ward
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Ward is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ward
    • Coverdale
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Coverdale is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coverdale
    • Lauderdale
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Lauderdale is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lauderdale
    • Kinder
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Oakdale
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Mittie
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Cherry Grove
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Cherry Grove is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Grove
    • Le Blanc
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Le Blanc is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Le Blanc
    • Mab
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Mab is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mab
  • Acadia Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Soileau, with the one closest to Soileau listed first.
    • Iota
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Iota is located in Acadia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iota
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,428 people
    • Evangeline
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Ellis
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Ellis is located in Acadia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellis
    • Egan
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Mermentau
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Branch
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Church Point
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Crowley
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Estherwood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Beauregard Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Soileau, with the one closest to Soileau listed first.
    • Dry Creek
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Sugartown
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Evangeline Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Soileau, with the one closest to Soileau listed first.
    • Basile
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
      • 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>
    • Duralde
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Duralde is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duralde
    • Tyrone
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Tyrone is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyrone
    • Unatex
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Unatex is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unatex
    • Mamou
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Mamou is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mamou
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,077 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mamou <1>
    • Reddell
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Pine Prairie
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Chataignier
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Ville Platte
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Bayou Chicot
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Bayou Chicot is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Chicot
    • Turkey Creek
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Saint Landry
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Jefferson Davis Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Soileau, with the one closest to Soileau listed first.
    • Elton
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • 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>
    • Fenton
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Fenton is located in Jefferson Davis Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fenton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 349 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fenton <1>
    • Roanoke
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Jennings
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • 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>
    • Welsh
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • 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
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Rapides Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Soileau, with the one closest to Soileau listed first.
    • Glenmora
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • McNary
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • McNary is located in Rapides Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McNary
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
    • Longleaf
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Saint Landry Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Soileau, with the one closest to Soileau listed first.
    • Eunice
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • 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>
    • Lawtell
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Lewisburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Lewisburg is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisburg
  • Vernon Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Soileau, with the one closest to Soileau listed first.
    • Dido
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Dido is located in Vernon Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dido
    • Pitkin
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Soileau ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Soileau.

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

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

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

  • Sonnier Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Cole Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Duplechien Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Peters Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Durose Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Cezar Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Chretien Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Veillon Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Caney Creek Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Deshotel Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Oberlin Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oberlin Cemetery
    • To give a relative sense of its location, the Oberlin Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the southwest of Oberlin.
    • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1963106 <2>
  • St. Lukes Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (154 more) ...
    • Lyles Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Liberty Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • McGee Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)

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.<3>

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

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

  • Cartville ‑ Historic
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Cartville is located in Acadia Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cartville
  • Prudhomme
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Prudhomme is located in Acadia Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prudhomme
  • Dido
    (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Dido is located in Vernon Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dido
  • Mermentau
    (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
  • Church Point
    (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Soileau ...

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 30 newspapers that have been published in the area around Soileau.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Soileau, there are papers which were published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Soileau.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Soileau:

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>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 Soileau, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Soileau) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.