RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Louisiana >> Webster Parish >> Swift >> 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 Swift (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 Swift. 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 southwest 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 south.

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 south 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.

Swift is located in Webster 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 Webster Parish: Columbia (AR), Lafayette (AR), Bienville, Bossier & Claiborne.

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

  • Webster Parish     (The home parish of Swift)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swift, with the one closest to Swift listed first.
    • Heflin
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Buckhorn ‑ Historic
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Buckhorn is located in Webster Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckhorn
    • Yellow Pine
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Yellow Pine is located in Webster Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Pine
    • Dubberly
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Sibley
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Doyline
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Minden
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Dixie Inn
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Dixie Inn is located in Webster Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixie Inn
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 266 people
    • Cotton Valley
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
  • Bienville Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swift, with the one closest to Swift listed first.
    • Armistead
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Armistead is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armistead
    • Jamestown
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Ringgold
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Taylor
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Sparta
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Sparta is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparta
    • Mount Lebanon
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
      • Mount Lebanon is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Lebanon
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
    • Gibsland
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Castor
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Bryceland
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Bryceland is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryceland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 99 people
    • Alberta
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Alberta is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta
    • Bienville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Lucky
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Lucky is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucky
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
    • Arcadia
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
  • Bossier Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swift, with the one closest to Swift listed first.
    • Haughton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Fillmore
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Fillmore is located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fillmore
    • Atkins
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Atkins is located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkins
    • Princeton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Elm Grove
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Eastwood
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Eastwood is located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastwood
    • Bodcau
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Bodcau is located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bodcau
    • Espanita Village
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Espanita Village is located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Espanita Village
    • Bellevue
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Bellevue is located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellevue
    • Red Chute
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Red Chute is located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Chute
    • Parkland Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Parkland Village is located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkland Village
    • Bossier City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Ivan
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Ivan is located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ivan
  • Caddo Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swift, with the one closest to Swift listed first.
    • Ellerbe Woods
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Ellerbe Woods is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellerbe Woods
    • Normandy Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Normandy Village is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Normandy Village
    • Shreveport
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Claiborne Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swift, with the one closest to Swift listed first.
    • Darley
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Darley is located in Claiborne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darley
    • Holly Springs
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Holly Springs is located in Claiborne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Springs
    • Athens
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Homer
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Homer is located in Claiborne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homer
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,789 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Homer <1>
    • Sugar Creek
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Sugar Creek is located in Claiborne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugar Creek
    • Blackburn
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Blackburn is located in Claiborne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackburn
    • Arizona
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Arizona is located in Claiborne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arizona
  • De Soto Parish
  • Lincoln Parish
    • Simsboro
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
  • Natchitoches Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swift, with the one closest to Swift listed first.
    • Ashland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Ashland is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
    • Chestnut
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Chestnut is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestnut
  • Red River Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Swift, with the one closest to Swift listed first.
    • Hall Summit
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • East Point
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • East Point is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Point
    • Westdale
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Westdale is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westdale
    • Halfway
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Halfway is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halfway
    • Martin
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Martin is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 543 people
    • Carroll
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Carroll is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carroll
    • Abington
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Abington is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abington
    • Edgefield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Edgefield is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgefield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 185 people
    • Harmon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Coushatta
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
  • Winn Parish
    • Pine Ridge
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Pine Ridge is located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Ridge

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

Cemeteries Near Swift ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Swift.

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

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

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

  • Andrew Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Tomlinson Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Moore Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Pleasant Hill Baptist Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Walker Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Fellowship Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Reeves Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Game Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Bush Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Union Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Theus Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Lane Memorial Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (215 more) ...
    • Kennon Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Pilgrim Rest Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Shehee Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 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 Swift in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Swift.

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

  • Buckhorn ‑ Historic
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Buckhorn is located in Webster Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckhorn
  • Armistead
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Armistead is located in Bienville Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armistead
  • Dubberly
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Sibley
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Ringgold
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Taylor
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Doyline
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Sparta
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Sparta is located in Bienville Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparta
  • Minden
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Mount Lebanon
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Mount Lebanon is located in Bienville Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Lebanon
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
  • Gibsland
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Haughton
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Dorcheat
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Dorcheat is located in Webster Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorcheat
    • Darley
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Darley is located in Claiborne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darley
    • Langston
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Langston is located in Claiborne Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langston

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

Newspapers Published in Swift ...

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 40 newspapers that have been published in the area around Swift.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Swift, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Swift.

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 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 Swift:

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