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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 Waxia (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 Waxia. 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 southeast corner of their home parish. During their lives, most doctors and 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 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, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

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

Waxia is located in Saint Landry 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 Saint Landry Parish: Acadia, Avoyelles, Evangeline, Lafayette, Pointe Coupee & Saint Martin.

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

  • Saint Landry Parish     (The home parish of Waxia)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Waxia, with the one closest to Waxia listed first.
    • Immaculata
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
      • Immaculata is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Immaculata
    • Lebeau
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
    • Palmetto
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Rosa
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Rosa is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosa
    • Washington
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Swayze Lake
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Swayze Lake is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swayze Lake
    • Port Barre
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
    • Half Moon
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Half Moon is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Half Moon
    • Boretta
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Boretta is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boretta
    • Bayou Jack
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • Bayou Jack is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Jack
    • Opelousas
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Melville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Elba
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Elba is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
  • Acadia Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Waxia, with the one closest to Waxia listed first.
    • Church Point
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Higginbotham
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Higginbotham is located in Acadia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Higginbotham
    • Branch
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Castille
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Castille is located in Acadia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Castille
  • Avoyelles Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Waxia, with the one closest to Waxia listed first.
    • Dupont
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Dupont is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dupont
    • Odenburg
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Odenburg is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Odenburg
    • Gold Dust
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Gold Dust is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gold Dust
    • Hickory
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
      • Hickory is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory
    • Plaucheville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Milburn
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Milburn is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milburn
    • Evergreen
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Cottonport
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Enterprise
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Enterprise is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
    • Eola
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Eola is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eola
    • Simmesport
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Bunkie
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • 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>
    • Hamburg
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
  • Evangeline Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Waxia, with the one closest to Waxia listed first.
    • Ville Platte
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
    • Saint Landry
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Chataignier
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Bayou Chicot
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Bayou Chicot is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Chicot
    • Mamou
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • 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
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Pine Prairie
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Turkey Creek
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Iberville Parish
    • Maringouin
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Lafayette Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Waxia, with the one closest to Waxia listed first.
    • Carencro
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Stekey
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Stekey is located in Lafayette Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stekey
    • Ossun
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Ossun is located in Lafayette Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ossun
    • Lafayette
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
    • Scott
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Scott is located in Lafayette Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 8,787 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Scott <1>
  • Pointe Coupee Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Waxia, with the one closest to Waxia listed first.
    • East Krotz Springs
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • East Krotz Springs is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Krotz Springs
    • Ravenswood
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Ravenswood is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravenswood
    • Elliot City ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Elliot City is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliot City
    • Lottie
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Fordoche
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Batchelor
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Morganza
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Innis
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Legonier
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Legonier is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Legonier
    • Lettsworth
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Williamsport
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Williamsport is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsport
    • Smithland
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Smithland is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithland
    • Livonia
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Livonia is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Livonia
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,399 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Livonia <1>
  • Rapides Parish
    • Cheneyville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Saint Martin Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Waxia, with the one closest to Waxia listed first.
    • Cecilia
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Henderson
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Breaux Bridge
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
  • West Feliciana Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Waxia, with the one closest to Waxia listed first.
    • Angola
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Tunica
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Waxia ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Waxia.

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

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

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

  • Saquette Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • McBride Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Goudeau Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Cedar Hill Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Hebrew Rest Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Mt. Olive Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Green Chapel Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Cason Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Chimleyville Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Whipp Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • De Viller Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • St. James Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (165 more) ...
    • St. Marks Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • St. Josephs Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Apostolic Cemetery
      (11 miles [17.7 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 Waxia in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Waxia.

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

  • Palmetto
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Beggs
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Beggs is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beggs
  • Washington
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Rosa
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Rosa is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosa
  • Port Barre
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Garland
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Garland is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland
  • Plaisance
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Plaisance is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plaisance
  • Dubuisson
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Dubuisson is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dubuisson
  • Boretta
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Boretta is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boretta
  • Opelousas
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Big Cane
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Big Cane is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Cane
  • Melville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Leonville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Elba
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Elba is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elba
    • Bayou Current
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Bayou Current is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Current

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

Newspapers Published in Waxia ...

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 Waxia.

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

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 Waxia:

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