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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 Vidrine (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 Vidrine. 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 southwest 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 south.

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 west contained birth and death records; the parish to the south 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.

Vidrine is located in Evangeline 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 Evangeline Parish: Acadia, Allen, Avoyelles, Jefferson Davis, Rapides & Saint Landry.

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

  • Evangeline Parish     (The home parish of Vidrine)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vidrine, with the one closest to Vidrine listed first.
    • Reddell
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Mamou
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
      • 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>
    • Pine Prairie
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Ville Platte
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Bayou Chicot
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Bayou Chicot is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Chicot
    • Chataignier
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Turkey Creek
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Duralde
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Duralde is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duralde
    • Saint Landry
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Tyrone
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Tyrone is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyrone
    • Unatex
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Unatex is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unatex
    • Basile
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • 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>
  • Acadia Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vidrine, with the one closest to Vidrine listed first.
    • Church Point
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Branch
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Iota
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Iota is located in Acadia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iota
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,428 people
    • Ellis
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Ellis is located in Acadia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellis
    • Higginbotham
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Higginbotham is located in Acadia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Higginbotham
    • Castille
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Castille is located in Acadia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castille
  • Allen Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vidrine, with the one closest to Vidrine listed first.
    • Bond
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Bond is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bond
    • Oakdale
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Ward
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Ward is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ward
    • Pawnee
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Pawnee is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pawnee
    • Canton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Canton is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canton
    • Oberlin
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Mab
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Mab is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mab
    • Elder
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Elder is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elder
    • Elizabeth
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Coverdale
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Coverdale is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coverdale
    • Lauderdale
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Lauderdale is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lauderdale
    • Marionville ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Marionville is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marionville
  • Avoyelles Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vidrine, with the one closest to Vidrine listed first.
    • Gold Dust
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Gold Dust is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gold Dust
    • Milburn
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Milburn is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milburn
    • Eola
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Eola is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eola
    • Bunkie
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Bunkie is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunkie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,826 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bunkie <1>
    • Evergreen
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Enterprise
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Enterprise is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
    • Cottonport
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Hickory
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Hickory is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory
    • Hessmer
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Plaucheville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Jefferson Davis Parish
    • Elton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • 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>
  • Rapides Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vidrine, with the one closest to Vidrine listed first.
    • Cheneyville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Glenmora
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Longleaf
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • McNary
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • McNary is located in Rapides Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McNary
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
    • Loyd
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Loyd is located in Rapides Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyd
    • Forest Hill
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Lecompte
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Echo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Saint Landry Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Vidrine, with the one closest to Vidrine listed first.
    • Eunice
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • 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>
    • Boretta
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Boretta is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boretta
    • Lawtell
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Washington
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Morrow
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Lewisburg
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Lewisburg is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisburg
    • Opelousas
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Rosa
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Rosa is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosa
    • Immaculata
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Immaculata is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Immaculata
    • Lebeau
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Bayou Jack
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Bayou Jack is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Jack
    • Port Barre
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)

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

Cemeteries Near Vidrine ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Vidrine.

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

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

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

  • Platin Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • St. Anns Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Ortego Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Anns Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Community Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • Ardoin Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Pinseclair Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Ardoin Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Paron Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Pine Point Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Te Mamou Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Fontenot Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (177 more) ...
    • Campbell Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • St. Johns Memorial Garden
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • St. Peters Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 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.<2>

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

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

  • Barbreck
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Barbreck is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barbreck
  • Prudhomme
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Prudhomme is located in Acadia Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prudhomme
  • Whiteville
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Whiteville is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whiteville
  • Plaisance
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Plaisance is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plaisance
  • Boretta
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Boretta is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boretta
  • Dubuisson
    (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Dubuisson is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dubuisson
  • Eola
    (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Eola is located in Avoyelles Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eola
  • Garland
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Garland is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland
  • Haas
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Haas is located in Avoyelles Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haas
  • Washington
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
  • Beggs
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Beggs is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beggs
  • Opelousas
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Morrow
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Church Point
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Bunkie
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Bunkie is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunkie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,826 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bunkie <1>

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

Newspapers Published in Vidrine ...

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 44 newspapers that have been published in the area around Vidrine.

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

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 helpful 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 Vidrine:

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