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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 Isla (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 Isla. 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.

Isla is located in Sabine County.

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

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Sabine County: Sabine (LA), Jasper, Newton, San Augustine & Shelby.

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

  • Sabine County     (The home county of Isla)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Isla, with the one closest to Isla listed first.
    • Geneva
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Milam
      (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
    • Rosevine
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Rosevine is located in Sabine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosevine
    • Hemphill
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Bronson
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Mason
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Mason is located in Sabine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mason
    • Pineland
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Fairmount
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Fairmount is located in Sabine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmount
    • Brookeland
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
  • Jasper County
    • Browndell
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Browndell is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Browndell
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 204 people
  • Nacogdoches County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Isla, with the one closest to Isla listed first.
    • Chireno
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Attoyac
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Attoyac is located in Nacogdoches County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Attoyac
  • Newton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Isla, with the one closest to Isla listed first.
    • South Toledo Bend
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • South Toledo Bend is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Toledo Bend
    • Toledo
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Toledo is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toledo
  • San Augustine County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Isla, with the one closest to Isla listed first.
    • Rebecca
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Rebecca is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rebecca
    • San Augustine
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
    • Maxey Town
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Maxey Town is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maxey Town
    • Denning
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Denning is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denning
    • White City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • White City is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
    • Broaddus
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Powell
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Powell is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powell
    • Zana ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Zana is located in San Augustine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zana
  • Shelby County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Isla, with the one closest to Isla listed first.
    • Huxley
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Huxley is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Huxley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 376 people
    • Choice
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Choice is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choice
    • Shelbyville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Campti
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Campti is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Campti
    • Short
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Short is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Short
    • Africa ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Africa is located in Shelby County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Africa
    • Center
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
  • De Soto Parish (LA)
    • Pelican
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Natchitoches Parish (LA)
    • Marthaville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Sabine Parish (LA)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Isla, with the one closest to Isla listed first.
    • Zwolle
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Zwolle is located in Sabine Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zwolle
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,927 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Zwolle <1>
    • Noble
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Noble is located in Sabine Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Noble
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 247 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Noble <1>
    • Negreet
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Bayou Scie
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Bayou Scie is located in Sabine Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Scie
    • Converse
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Many
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Many is located in Sabine Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Many
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,667 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Many <1>
    • Hamlin ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Hamlin is located in Sabine Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlin
    • Fisher
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Fisher is located in Sabine Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fisher
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 216 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Fisher <1>
    • Florien
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Toro
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Toro is located in Sabine Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toro
    • Belmont
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Rock ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Rock is located in Sabine Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rock
  • Vernon Parish (LA)
    • Hornbeck
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)

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

Cemeteries Near Isla ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Isla.

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

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

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

  • New Hope Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Mason Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Buckley Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Gellatly Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Vickers Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Vickers Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Liberty Springs Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Cooper Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Cedar Grove Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Alford Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Harvey Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Strother Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (252 more) ...
    • Reeves Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Meador - Judson Meador Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • King Family Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)

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 Isla in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Isla.

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

  • Geneva
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
  • Milam
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Sexton
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Sexton is located in Sabine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sexton
  • East Hamilton
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • East Hamilton is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Hamilton
  • Hemphill
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
  • Patroon
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Patroon is located in Shelby County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Patroon
  • Columbus ‑ Historic
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Columbus is located in Sabine Parish (LA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Columbus
  • San Augustine
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
  • Negreet
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
  • Macune
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Macune is located in San Augustine County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macune
  • Bayou Scie
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Bayou Scie is located in Sabine Parish (LA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bayou Scie
  • Many
    (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
    • Many is located in Sabine Parish (LA)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Many
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,667 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Many <1>
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Fairmount
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
      • Fairmount is located in Sabine County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairmount
    • Shelbyville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Toro
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Toro is located in Sabine Parish (LA)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toro

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

Newspapers Published in Isla ...

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 40 newspapers that have been published in the area around Isla.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Isla, 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 Isla.

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 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 Isla:

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