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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 Velma (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 Velma. 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 southeast 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 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 east 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.

Velma is located in Tangipahoa 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 Tangipahoa Parish: Livingston, Saint Helena, Saint John the Baptist, Saint Tammany, Washington, Amite (MS) & Pike (MS).

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

  • Tangipahoa Parish     (The home parish of Velma)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Velma, with the one closest to Velma listed first.
    • Independence
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Amite City
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Tickfaw
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Loranger
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Genessee
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Genessee is located in Tangipahoa Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genessee
    • Roseland
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Natalbany
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Husser
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Henry City ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Henry City is located in Tangipahoa Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henry City
    • Baptist
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Baptist is located in Tangipahoa Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baptist
    • Hammond
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Hammond is located in Tangipahoa Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 21,359 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hammond <1>
    • Fluker
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Wilmer
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Wilmer is located in Tangipahoa Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmer
  • Ascension Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Velma, with the one closest to Velma listed first.
    • Claybank
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Claybank is located in Ascension Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claybank
    • Summerfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Summerfield is located in Ascension Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summerfield
  • East Baton Rouge Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Velma, with the one closest to Velma listed first.
    • Baywood
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Baywood is located in East Baton Rouge Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baywood
    • Stonypoint ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Stonypoint is located in East Baton Rouge Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonypoint
    • Pride
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Greenwell Springs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • East Feliciana Parish
    • Blairstown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Blairstown is located in East Feliciana Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blairstown
  • Livingston Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Velma, with the one closest to Velma listed first.
    • Georgeville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Georgeville is located in Livingston Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgeville
    • Albany
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Albany is located in Livingston Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albany
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,170 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Albany <1>
    • Starns
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Starns is located in Livingston Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starns
    • Holden
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Springfield
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Livingston
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Oldfield
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Oldfield is located in Livingston Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oldfield
    • Killian
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Killian is located in Livingston Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Killian
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,337 people
    • Clio
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Clio is located in Livingston Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clio
    • Walker
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Walker is located in Livingston Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walker
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,302 people
    • Maurepas
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Watson
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Denham Springs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Denham Springs is located in Livingston Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denham Springs
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 9,842 people
      • Former names for Denham Springs:
      • Amite Springs
      • Hill's Springs
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Denham Springs <1>
  • Saint Helena Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Velma, with the one closest to Velma listed first.
    • Montpelier
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Montpelier is located in Saint Helena Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montpelier
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 239 people
    • Greensburg
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Pine Grove
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Grangeville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Grangeville is located in Saint Helena Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grangeville
    • Coleman Town
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Coleman Town is located in Saint Helena Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman Town
    • Chipola
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Chipola is located in Saint Helena Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chipola
  • Saint Tammany Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Velma, with the one closest to Velma listed first.
    • Folsom
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Folsom is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folsom
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 871 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Folsom <1>
    • Goodbee
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Goodbee is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodbee
    • Saint Benedict
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Covington
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Madisonville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Abita Springs
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Washington Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Velma, with the one closest to Velma listed first.
    • Stoney Point
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Stoney Point is located in Washington Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoney Point
    • Sunny Hill
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Sunny Hill is located in Washington Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunny Hill
    • Franklinton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Mount Hermon
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Enon
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Enon is located in Washington Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enon
  • Amite County (MS)
    • Gillsburg
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Gillsburg is located in Amite County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillsburg
  • Pike County (MS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Velma, with the one closest to Velma listed first.
    • Osyka
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Osyka is located in Pike County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osyka
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 407 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Osyka <1>
    • Chatawa
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Chatawa is located in Pike County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatawa
    • Smithburg
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Smithburg is located in Pike County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithburg

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

Cemeteries Near Velma ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Velma.

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

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

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

  • Warren Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Stevens Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Barnett Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Lynne Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • McMichael Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Baham Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Myra Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Durbin Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Durbin Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Hoover Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Colonial Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Hayden Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (564 more) ...
    • Ford Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Butler Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Natalbany Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)

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

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

  • Independence
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Tickfaw
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Amite City
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Roseland
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Arcola
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Arcola is located in Tangipahoa Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
  • Hammond
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Hammond is located in Tangipahoa Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hammond
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 21,359 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hammond <1>
  • Starns
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Starns is located in Livingston Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starns
  • Tangipahoa
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
  • Ponchatoula
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
  • Greensburg
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Pine Grove
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
  • Springfield
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Bailey
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Bailey is located in Tangipahoa Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey
    • Springville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Springville is located in Livingston Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springville
    • Kentwood
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)

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

Newspapers Published in Velma ...

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 65 newspapers that have been published in the area around Velma.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Velma, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Velma.

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 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 Velma:

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 Velma, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Velma) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.