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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 Osyka (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 Osyka. 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 Counties/Parishes ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties/parishes.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties/parishes instead of the county in which they lived:  their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the west contained birth and death records; the county to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties/parishes, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

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

Osyka is located in Pike County.

To see how the shape of Mississippi's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Pike County: Tangipahoa (LA), Washington (LA), Amite, Lincoln & Walthall.

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

  • Pike County     (The home county of Osyka)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osyka, with the one closest to Osyka listed first.
    • Chatawa
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Chatawa is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatawa
    • Magnolia
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Smithburg
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Smithburg is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithburg
    • Bacots
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Bacots is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bacots
    • Bear Town
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Bear Town is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Town
    • McComb
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Holmesville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Holmesville is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmesville
    • Summit
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • Topisaw
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Topisaw is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Topisaw
  • Amite County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osyka, with the one closest to Osyka listed first.
    • Gillsburg
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Gillsburg is located in Amite County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillsburg
    • Huron
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Huron is located in Amite County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huron
    • Glading
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Glading is located in Amite County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glading
    • McElveen
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • McElveen is located in Amite County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McElveen
    • Thompson
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Thompson is located in Amite County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompson
    • Liberty
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Liberty is located in Amite County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Liberty
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 634 people
    • Brookside
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Brookside is located in Amite County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brookside
    • Mount Olive
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Mount Olive is located in Amite County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
  • Lawrence County
    • Verna
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Verna is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verna
  • Lincoln County
    • Norfield
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Norfield is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norfield
  • Marion County
  • Walthall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osyka, with the one closest to Osyka listed first.
    • Tylertown
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Sartinville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Sartinville is located in Walthall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sartinville
  • East Feliciana Parish (LA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osyka, with the one closest to Osyka listed first.
    • Troy ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Troy is located in East Feliciana Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Troy
    • Woodland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
      • Woodland is located in East Feliciana Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
  • Livingston Parish (LA)
    • Georgeville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Georgeville is located in Livingston Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgeville
  • Saint Helena Parish (LA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osyka, with the one closest to Osyka listed first.
    • Greensburg
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
    • Chipola
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Chipola is located in Saint Helena Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chipola
    • Coleman Town
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Coleman Town is located in Saint Helena Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coleman Town
    • Montpelier
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Montpelier is located in Saint Helena Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montpelier
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 239 people
    • Pine Grove
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Grangeville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Grangeville is located in Saint Helena Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grangeville
  • Saint Tammany Parish (LA)
    • Folsom
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Folsom is located in Saint Tammany Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Folsom
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 871 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Folsom <1>
  • Tangipahoa Parish (LA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osyka, with the one closest to Osyka listed first.
    • Kentwood
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Kentwood is located in Tangipahoa Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kentwood
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,452 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kentwood <1>
    • Tangipahoa
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Fluker
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Wilmer
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Wilmer is located in Tangipahoa Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmer
    • Roseland
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Roseland is located in Tangipahoa Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,279 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Roseland <1>
    • Amite City
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Henry City ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Henry City is located in Tangipahoa Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henry City
    • Husser
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Independence
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Loranger
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
    • Tickfaw
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Tickfaw is located in Tangipahoa Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tickfaw
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Tickfaw <1>
    • Genessee
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Genessee is located in Tangipahoa Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genessee
  • Washington Parish (LA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Osyka, with the one closest to Osyka listed first.
    • Mount Hermon
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Sunny Hill
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Sunny Hill is located in Washington Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunny Hill
    • Stoney Point
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Stoney Point is located in Washington Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoney Point
    • Franklinton
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Pine
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Pine is located in Washington Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine
    • Popeville ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Popeville is located in Washington Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Popeville
    • Enon
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Enon is located in Washington Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Enon

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

Cemeteries Near Osyka ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Osyka.

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

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

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

  • McGehee Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • German Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Osyka Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Dykes Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Ford Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Varnado Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Wolverton Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Cutrer Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Tate Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Rayborn - Easley Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Alton Roberts Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Dickey Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (876 more) ...
    • Wilson Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Cutrer Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
    • Varnado Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 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.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Osyka had a population of 742 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Osyka had a population of 407 people.

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

  • Chatawa
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
    • Chatawa is located in Pike County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatawa
  • Kentwood
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Kentwood is located in Tangipahoa Parish (LA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kentwood
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,452 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Kentwood <1>
  • Tangipahoa
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
  • Magnolia
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
  • Sunny Hill
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Sunny Hill is located in Washington Parish (LA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunny Hill
  • Mount Hermon
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Smithburg
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Smithburg is located in Pike County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Smithburg
  • Gillsburg
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Gillsburg is located in Amite County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillsburg
  • Bailey
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Bailey is located in Tangipahoa Parish (LA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bailey
  • Huron
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Huron is located in Amite County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huron
  • Fernwood
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Fernwood is located in Pike County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fernwood
  • Greensburg
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Arcola
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Arcola is located in Tangipahoa Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
    • Roseland
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Roseland is located in Tangipahoa Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roseland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,279 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Roseland <1>
    • Holmesville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Holmesville is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holmesville

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

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Osyka ...

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 47 newspapers that have been published in the area around Osyka.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Osyka. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Osyka and those printed in the larger area surrounding Osyka.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<3> of Osyka.

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 professional and volunteer 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 Osyka:

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