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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 Whiteville (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 Whiteville. 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 hospitals and 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 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.

Whiteville 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 Whiteville. For each of these parishes, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Whiteville:

  • Saint Landry Parish     (The home parish of Whiteville)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Whiteville, with the one closest to Whiteville listed first.
    • Boretta
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Boretta is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boretta
    • Morrow
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Rosa
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
      • Rosa is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosa
    • Lebeau
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Bayou Jack
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Bayou Jack is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Jack
    • Immaculata
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Immaculata is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Immaculata
    • Washington
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Palmetto
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Lawtell
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Opelousas
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Port Barre
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Swayze Lake
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Swayze Lake is located in Saint Landry Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swayze Lake
  • Acadia Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Whiteville, with the one closest to Whiteville listed first.
    • Church Point
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Higginbotham
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Higginbotham is located in Acadia Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Higginbotham
  • Allen Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Whiteville, with the one closest to Whiteville listed first.
    • Bond
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Bond is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bond
    • Pawnee
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Pawnee is located in Allen Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pawnee
    • Oakdale
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
  • Avoyelles Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Whiteville, with the one closest to Whiteville listed first.
    • Gold Dust
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Gold Dust is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gold Dust
    • Milburn
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Milburn is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Milburn
    • Eola
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Eola is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eola
    • Bunkie
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
      • 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
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Enterprise
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Enterprise is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enterprise
    • Hickory
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Hickory is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory
    • Cottonport
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
    • Dupont
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Dupont is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dupont
    • Plaucheville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Hessmer
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Mansura
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
  • Evangeline Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Whiteville, with the one closest to Whiteville listed first.
    • Saint Landry
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Ville Platte
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Bayou Chicot
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Bayou Chicot is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Chicot
    • Pine Prairie
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
    • Turkey Creek
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
    • Chataignier
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Reddell
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Mamou
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • 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>
    • Duralde
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Duralde is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duralde
    • Tyrone
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Tyrone is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyrone
    • Unatex
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Unatex is located in Evangeline Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Unatex
  • Pointe Coupee Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Whiteville, with the one closest to Whiteville listed first.
    • Legonier
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Legonier is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Legonier
    • Lettsworth
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
    • Innis
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Ravenswood
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Ravenswood is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravenswood
    • Batchelor
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Smithland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Smithland is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithland
    • Williamsport
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Williamsport is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsport
    • East Krotz Springs
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • East Krotz Springs is located in Pointe Coupee Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Krotz Springs
  • Rapides Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Whiteville, with the one closest to Whiteville listed first.
    • Cheneyville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Loyd
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Loyd is located in Rapides Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyd
    • Echo
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Lecompte
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Ruby
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Whittington
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Whittington is located in Rapides Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whittington
    • Forest Hill
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Glenmora
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Longleaf
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
    • McNary
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • McNary is located in Rapides Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McNary
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people

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

Cemeteries Near Whiteville ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Whiteville.

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

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

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

  • St. Josephs Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Fontenot Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • St. Marks Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • St. Lukes Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Hebert Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Chimleyville Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • St. James Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Old Grand Prairie Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Whipp Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Big Cane Baptist Church Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Lauther Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Soileaus Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (187 more) ...
    • Gate of Heaven Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Cason Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Mt. Olive Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Whiteville had a population of 26 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service.

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

  • Boretta
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Boretta is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boretta
  • Dubuisson
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Dubuisson is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dubuisson
  • Barbreck
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Barbreck is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barbreck
  • Morrow
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Garland
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Garland is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland
  • Rosa
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Rosa is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosa
  • Big Cane
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
    • Big Cane is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Cane
  • Beggs
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Beggs is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beggs
  • Eola
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Eola is located in Avoyelles Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eola
  • Bunkie
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • 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
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
  • Plaisance
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Plaisance is located in Saint Landry Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plaisance
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Haas
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Haas is located in Avoyelles Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haas
    • Washington
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Cottonport
      (14 miles [22.5 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 Whiteville. See our List of 1890's Communities around Whiteville.

Newspapers Published in Whiteville ...

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 34 newspapers that have been published in the area around Whiteville.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Whiteville, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Whiteville.

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 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 Whiteville:

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 Whiteville, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Whiteville) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.