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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 West End (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 West End. 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 northwest 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 north.

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 north 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.

West End is located in Orleans 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 Orleans Parish: Jefferson, Plaquemines, Saint Bernard & Saint Tammany.

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

  • Orleans Parish     (The home parish of West End)
    • The following are listed by their distance from West End, with the one closest to West End listed first.
    • Gentilly Terrace
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Gentilly Terrace is located in Orleans Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gentilly Terrace
    • Gentilly
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Gentilly is located in Orleans Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gentilly
    • Milneburg
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Milneburg is located in Orleans Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milneburg
    • Pine Village
      (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
      • Pine Village is located in Orleans Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Village
    • New Orleans
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Lake Catherine
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Lake Catherine is located in Orleans Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Catherine
  • Jefferson Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from West End, with the one closest to West End listed first.
    • Metairie
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Jefferson
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Elmwood
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Bridge City
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • River Ridge
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Kenner
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
      • Kenner is located in Jefferson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 66,288 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kenner <1>
    • Harvey
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Marrero
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Westwego
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
    • Gretna
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Gretna is located in Jefferson Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gretna
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,615 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gretna <1>
    • Harahan
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Avondale
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Plaquemines Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from West End, with the one closest to West End listed first.
    • Belle Chasse
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • English Turn
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • English Turn is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for English Turn
    • Braithwaite
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Scarsdale
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Scarsdale is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scarsdale
    • Stella
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Stella is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stella
    • Cedar Grove
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Cedar Grove is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Grove
    • Linwood
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Linwood is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Linwood
    • Jesuit Bend
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Jesuit Bend is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jesuit Bend
    • Carlisle
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Monsecour
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Monsecour is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monsecour
    • Myrtle Grove
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Myrtle Grove is located in Plaquemines Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myrtle Grove
  • Saint Bernard Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from West End, with the one closest to West End listed first.
    • Arabi
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Chalmette
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Versailles
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Versailles is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Versailles
    • Meraux
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Saxonholm
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Saxonholm is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxonholm
    • Story
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Story is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Story
    • Mohawk City
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Mohawk City is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mohawk City
    • Violet
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Poydras
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Poydras is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poydras
    • Sebastopol
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Sebastopol is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sebastopol
    • Saint Bernard
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Toca
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Toca is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toca
  • Saint Charles Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from West End, with the one closest to West End listed first.
    • Ama
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Elkinsville ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Elkinsville is located in Saint Charles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkinsville
      • Elkinsville has also been known as:
      • Freetown
    • Saint Rose
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Davis ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Davis is located in Saint Charles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
    • Lone Star
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Lone Star is located in Saint Charles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lone Star
    • Destrehan
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Luling
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Mimosa Park
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Mimosa Park is located in Saint Charles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mimosa Park
    • New Sarpy
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Norco
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Boutte
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Hahnville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
  • Saint John the Baptist Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from West End, with the one closest to West End listed first.
    • Frenier
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Frenier is located in Saint John the Baptist Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frenier
    • Laplace
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Edgard
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Reserve
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Garyville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Saint Tammany Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from West End, with the one closest to West End listed first.
    • North Shore Beach
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • North Shore Beach is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Shore Beach
    • Lacombe
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • North Shore
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • North Shore is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Shore
    • Lewisburg
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Lewisburg is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewisburg
    • Eden Isle
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Eden Isle is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden Isle
    • Oak Harbor
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Oak Harbor is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Harbor
    • Mandeville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Lake Shore Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Lake Shore Village is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Shore Village
    • Huntwyck Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Huntwyck Village is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huntwyck Village
    • McClane City
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • McClane City is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McClane City
    • Madisonville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Bon Village
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Bon Village is located in Saint Tammany Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bon Village
  • Tangipahoa Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from West End, with the one closest to West End listed first.
    • Akers
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Manchac
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Manchac is located in Tangipahoa Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manchac
    • Katie ‑ Historic
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Katie is located in Tangipahoa Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Katie

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

Cemeteries Near West End ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West End.

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 West End - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Lake Lawn Park Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Metairie Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Greenwood Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Firemens Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Odd Fellows Rest Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Holt Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Masonic Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Charity Hospital Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Jewish Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • St. Louis Cemetery #3
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Lincoln Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Mt. Olivet Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (105 more) ...

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.<3>

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

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

  • Gentilly
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Gentilly is located in Orleans Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gentilly
  • Milneburg
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
    • Milneburg is located in Orleans Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milneburg
  • Jefferson
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • New Orleans
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Algiers
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Algiers is located in Orleans Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Algiers
  • Kenner
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Kenner is located in Jefferson Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kenner
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 66,288 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kenner <1>
  • Westwego
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Harvey
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • Gretna
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Gretna is located in Jefferson Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gretna
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,615 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gretna <1>
  • Arabi
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Waggaman
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Chalmette
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Versailles
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Versailles is located in Saint Bernard Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Versailles
    • Ama
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Elkinsville ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Elkinsville is located in Saint Charles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkinsville
      • Elkinsville has also been known as:
      • Freetown

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

Newspapers Published in West End ...

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 551 newspapers that have been published in the area around West End.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West End, there are papers which were published within 14 miles [22.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for West End.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with 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 West End:

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>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.
<3>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 West End, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<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- West End) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.