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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

So far, we found very little information about Viola. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>

We've added Viola to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Viola, please Contact Us.

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 Viola (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 Viola. 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 doctors 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.

Although our information shows that the community of Viola is historic, it would have been located within present day 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 Viola. For each of these parishes/counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Viola:

  • Tangipahoa Parish     (The home parish of Viola)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Viola, with the one closest to Viola listed first.
    • Husser
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Henry City ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Henry City is located in Tangipahoa Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henry City
    • Loranger
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Robert
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Wilmer
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Wilmer is located in Tangipahoa Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmer
    • Genessee
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Genessee is located in Tangipahoa Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genessee
    • Tickfaw
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Independence
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Natalbany
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Roseland
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Hammond
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • 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 <2>
    • Amite City
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
  • Livingston Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Viola, with the one closest to Viola listed first.
    • Georgeville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Georgeville is located in Livingston Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgeville
    • Albany
      (20 miles [32.2 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 <2>
    • Springfield
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Starns
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Starns is located in Livingston Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starns
    • Holden
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Killian
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Killian is located in Livingston Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Killian
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,337 people
    • Livingston
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Clio
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Clio is located in Livingston Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clio
  • Saint Helena Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Viola, with the one closest to Viola listed first.
    • Montpelier
      (21 miles [33.8 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
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Pine Grove
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
  • Saint Tammany Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Viola, with the one closest to Viola listed first.
    • Folsom
      (6 miles [9.7 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 <2>
    • Goodbee
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Goodbee is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodbee
    • Saint Benedict
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Covington
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Abita Springs
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Madisonville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Lewisburg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Lewisburg is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisburg
    • Mandeville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Bush
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Sun
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Sun is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sun
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 498 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Sun <2>
    • Talisheek
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
  • Washington Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Viola, with the one closest to Viola listed first.
    • Stoney Point
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Stoney Point is located in Washington Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoney Point
    • Enon
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Enon is located in Washington Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enon
    • Franklinton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Sunny Hill
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Sunny Hill is located in Washington Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunny Hill
    • Mount Hermon
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Pine
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Pine is located in Washington Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine
    • Lees Creek
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Lees Creek is located in Washington Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lees Creek
    • Bogalusa
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Popeville ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Popeville is located in Washington Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Popeville
  • Pike County (MS)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Viola, with the one closest to Viola listed first.
    • Smithburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Smithburg is located in Pike County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithburg
    • Osyka
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • 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 <2>
    • Chatawa
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
      • Chatawa is located in Pike County (MS)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatawa

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

Cemeteries Near Viola ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Viola.

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

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

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

  • Bezue Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Brown Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Neal Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Noah Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • St. Rock Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Bahm Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Bailey Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Reed Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Joiner Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Henen Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Olliphant Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
  • Pierre Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (569 more) ...
    • Neal Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Hughes Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Joiner Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 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.

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

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

  • Tickfaw
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Independence
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
  • Hammond
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • 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 <2>
  • Zona
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Zona is located in Washington Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zona
  • Roseland
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Amite City
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
  • Katie ‑ Historic
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Katie is located in Tangipahoa Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Katie
  • Franklinton
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Arcola
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Arcola is located in Tangipahoa Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
  • Bailey
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Bailey is located in Tangipahoa Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey
  • Covington
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Ponchatoula
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Sunny Hill
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Sunny Hill is located in Washington Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunny Hill
    • Madisonville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Tangipahoa
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Viola ...

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 66 newspapers that have been published in the area around Viola.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Viola, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Viola.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first visit the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer 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 Viola:

Footnotes ...

<1>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 Viola, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>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.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Viola) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.