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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 Wood (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 Wood. 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 hospitals 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.

Wood is located in Natchitoches 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 Natchitoches Parish: Bienville, De Soto, Grant, Rapides, Red River, Sabine, Vernon & Winn.

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

  • Natchitoches Parish     (The home parish of Wood)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wood, with the one closest to Wood listed first.
    • Campti
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • 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>
    • Grappes Bluff
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Grappes Bluff is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grappes Bluff
    • Powhatan
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Caspari ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Caspari is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caspari
    • Forest
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
      • Forest is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest
    • Clarence
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Natchitoches
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Chestnut
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Chestnut is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestnut
    • Goldonna
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Victoria
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Victoria is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victoria
    • Robeline
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Ashland
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Ashland is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 260 people
    • Marthaville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Bienville Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wood, with the one closest to Wood listed first.
    • Saline
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
    • Alberta
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Alberta is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alberta
    • Burkplace
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Burkplace is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burkplace
    • Castor
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Lucky
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Lucky is located in Bienville Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucky
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 252 people
    • Jamestown
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
    • Ringgold
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • De Soto Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wood, with the one closest to Wood listed first.
    • Butler ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Butler is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butler
    • Pelican
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Oxford
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Oxford is located in De Soto Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford
  • Grant Parish
    • Montgomery
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Red River Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wood, with the one closest to Wood listed first.
    • Lake End
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
      • Lake End is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake End
    • Hanna
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Hanna is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hanna
    • Coushatta
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Martin
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
      • Martin is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 543 people
    • Edgefield
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Edgefield is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgefield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 185 people
    • Carroll
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Carroll is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carroll
    • Halfway
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Halfway is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halfway
    • Harmon
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Hall Summit
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Abington
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Abington is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abington
    • East Point
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • East Point is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Point
    • Westdale
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Westdale is located in Red River Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westdale
  • Sabine Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wood, with the one closest to Wood listed first.
    • Pleasant Hill
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Belmont
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Hamlin ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Hamlin is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlin
    • Bayou Scie
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Bayou Scie is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Scie
    • Many
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Many is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Many
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,667 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Many <1>
    • Corleyville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Corleyville is located in Sabine Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corleyville
  • Winn Parish
    • The following are listed by their distance from Wood, with the one closest to Wood listed first.
    • Saint Maurice
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Couley
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Couley is located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Couley
    • Coldwater
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Coldwater is located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coldwater
    • Pine Ridge
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Pine Ridge is located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Ridge
    • Bethlehem
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
      • Bethlehem is located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
    • Calvin
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Atlanta
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Whitford
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Whitford is located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitford
    • Gansville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Gansville is located in Winn Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gansville
    • Winnfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)

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

Cemeteries Near Wood ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Wood.

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

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

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

  • Nativity Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Campti Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • Zion Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Bethany Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
  • Hawes Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • St. Lukes Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • Russell Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Russell Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Smith Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Smith Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • De Blieux Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (130 more) ...
    • Browne Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Haley Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Memory Lawn Cemetery
      (8 miles [12.9 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>

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

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

  • Campti
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • 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>
  • Grappes Bluff
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Grappes Bluff is located in Natchitoches Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grappes Bluff
  • Timon
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
    • Timon is located in Natchitoches Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timon
  • Allen
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Allen is located in Natchitoches Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allen
  • Lake End
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Lake End is located in Red River Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake End
  • Clarence
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Natchitoches
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Trichell
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Trichell is located in Natchitoches Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trichell
  • Chestnut
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Chestnut is located in Natchitoches Parish
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chestnut
  • Coushatta
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
  • Saint Maurice
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Robeline
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Victoria
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Victoria is located in Natchitoches Parish
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victoria
    • Marthaville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Provencal
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)

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

Newspapers Published in Wood ...

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 30 newspapers that have been published in the area around Wood.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Wood, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Wood.

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 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 Wood:

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 Wood, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Wood) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.