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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 Williams (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 Williams. 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 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.

Williams is located in Red River 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 Red River Parish: Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, De Soto & Natchitoches.

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

  • Red River Parish     (The home parish of Williams)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
    • Westdale
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Westdale is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westdale
    • East Point
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • East Point is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Point
    • Abington
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
      • Abington is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abington
    • Halfway
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Halfway is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halfway
    • Harmon
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Carroll
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Carroll is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carroll
    • Hall Summit
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Edgefield
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Edgefield is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgefield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 185 people
    • Coushatta
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Martin
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Martin is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 543 people
    • Hanna
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Hanna is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanna
    • Lake End
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Lake End is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake End
  • Bienville Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
    • Ringgold
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Armistead
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Armistead is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armistead
    • Castor
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
    • Jamestown
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Alberta
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
      • Alberta is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta
    • Sparta
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Sparta is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparta
    • Burkplace
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Burkplace is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burkplace
    • Lucky
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Lucky is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucky
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
    • Saline
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
  • Bossier Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
    • Atkins
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
      • Atkins is located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atkins
    • Elm Grove
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
    • Haughton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Bodcau
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Bodcau is located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bodcau
    • Eastwood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Eastwood is located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastwood
    • Espanita Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Espanita Village is located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Espanita Village
    • Fillmore
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Fillmore is located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fillmore
    • Red Chute
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Red Chute is located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Chute
    • Bossier City
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Parkland Village
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Parkland Village is located in Bossier Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkland Village
    • Princeton
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
  • Caddo Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
    • Ellerbe Woods
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Ellerbe Woods is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellerbe Woods
    • Keithville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Normandy Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Normandy Village is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Normandy Village
    • South Towne Heights
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • South Towne Heights is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Towne Heights
    • Summer Grove
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Summer Grove is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Summer Grove
    • Chateau Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Chateau Village is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chateau Village
    • Edgewood Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Edgewood Village is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewood Village
    • Silver Pine Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Silver Pine Village is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Pine Village
    • Reisor
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Reisor is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reisor
    • Shreveport
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Spring Ridge
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Spring Ridge is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring Ridge
    • Longwood Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Longwood Village is located in Caddo Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longwood Village
    • Western Hills Village
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • De Soto Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
    • Frierson
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Mansfield
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • South Mansfield
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • South Mansfield is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Mansfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 352 people
    • Gloster
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Butler ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Butler is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butler
    • Oxford
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Oxford is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford
    • Grand Cane
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Stonewall
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Pelican
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Screamerville ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Screamerville is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Screamerville
    • Keachi
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Keachi is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keachi
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 300 people
    • Longstreet
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Stanley
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Stanley is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 116 people
  • Natchitoches Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
    • Ashland
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Ashland is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
    • Grappes Bluff
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Grappes Bluff is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grappes Bluff
    • Powhatan
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Chestnut
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Chestnut is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestnut
    • Campti
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Campti is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campti
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,033 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Campti <1>
  • Sabine Parish
    • Pleasant Hill
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
  • Webster Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Williams, with the one closest to Williams listed first.
    • Buckhorn ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Buckhorn is located in Webster Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckhorn
    • Heflin
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Yellow Pine
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Yellow Pine is located in Webster Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yellow Pine
    • Doyline
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Sibley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Dubberly
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Dixie Inn
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Dixie Inn is located in Webster Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dixie Inn
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 266 people

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

Cemeteries Near Williams ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Williams.

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

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

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

  • Morrison Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
  • New Star Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Mary Magdalene Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Taylor Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Wilson Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Tanyard Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • St. Marks Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Dill Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Wilson Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Mt. Zion Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Watson Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Spring Hill Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Continue List   (158 more) ...
    • New Friendship Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Wesley Chapel Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • St. Pauls Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)

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>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Williams had a post office and no railroad service.

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

  • Howard
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Howard is located in Red River Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Howard
  • East Point
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • East Point is located in Red River Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Point
  • Carmel
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Carmel is located in De Soto Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carmel
  • Kingston
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
    • Kingston is located in De Soto Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingston
  • Coushatta
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Ringgold
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Robson
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Robson is located in Caddo Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robson
  • Mansfield
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Armistead
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Armistead is located in Bienville Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Armistead
  • Curtis
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Curtis is located in Bossier Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curtis
  • Gloster
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
  • Grand Cane
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • Oxford
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Oxford is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford
    • Butler ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Butler is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butler
    • Buckhorn ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Buckhorn is located in Webster Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buckhorn

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

Newspapers Published in Williams ...

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 25 newspapers that have been published in the area around Williams.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Williams, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Williams.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Williams:

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