Louisiana Genealogical Records

Louisiana Birth & Baptism Records

US French Catholic Church Records (1695-1954)

An index to and digital images of registers recording the baptism, marriage and burials of 10,000s of French Catholics.

Louisiana Births and Christenings (1811-1934)

An index to around 30,000 births and baptisms recorded in the state. The index can be used to locate original records, which may contain further details.

Evangelical Lutheran Church of America Records (1875-1940)

An index to and images of Lutheran registers containing close to 3 million baptism, marriage and death records.

US Consular Reports of Births (1910-1945)

An index to and images of 36,000 birth records for children of US citizens registered abroad. Records contain child's name, date and place of birth, parents' names and ages, occupations, residence, passport numbers, consulate where registered, parents' naturalization dates, parents place of of birth and number of living children to the parents.

Foreign and Overseas Registers of British Subjects (1627-1965)

Registers of births/baptisms, marriages and deaths/burials containing over 160,000 entries from over 30 countries. These largely relate to British subjects.

Louisiana Marriage & Divorce Records

Louisiana Parish Marriages (1837-1957)

An index to registers recording around 200,000 marriages. Contains ages and parents' names.

Louisiana Marriages (1718-1925)

An index to 280,000 marriages, including the name of the individual, spouse's name, marriage date and marriage place. The index can be used to locate original records, which may contain further details.

US French Catholic Church Records (1695-1954)

An index to and digital images of registers recording the baptism, marriage and burials of 10,000s of French Catholics.

Louisiana Marriages (1816-1906)

An index to over 130,000 marriages recorded in the state. The index can be used to locate original records, which may contain further details.

Early Louisiana Marriage Index (1700-1850)

An index to around 15,000 early marriages recorded in the state.

Louisiana Death & Burial Records

Louisiana Statewide Death Index (1900-1949)

An index of close to 600,000 deaths recorded in the state, including name, age, date of death, parish of death and a reference to order a death certificate.

Louisiana Deaths Index (1850-1956)

An index to around 680,000 deaths, which may include name, date and place of death, gender, age, race, birthplace, parents' names and spouse's name. The index can be used to locate original records, which may contain further details.

US French Catholic Church Records (1695-1954)

An index to and digital images of registers recording the baptism, marriage and burials of 10,000s of French Catholics.

United States Social Security Death Index (1962-Present)

An index to over 93 million people whose death has been recorded by the Social Security Administration. It includes date of birth, date of death, last place of residence and other details. It can be used to located other records, such as death certificates, which will provide more information.

US Mortality Schedules (1849-1886)

Details of over 1.6 million people who died between 1849 and 1886. Entries may list name, gender, colour, marital status, place of birth, occupation, cause of death and more.

Louisiana Census & Population Lists

Louisiana Census & Substitutes Index (1791-1890)

An index to around 190,000 names found in a 1791 census of New Orleans, federal censuses, pensioner lists, slave schedules, two sugar censuses and a veterans schedule.

US WWII Old Man's Draft Registration (1942)

Records registering over 15 million men born between 1877 and 1897, including name, age, birth date and place, residence, employer, and physical description.

1940 United States Census (1940)

A name index and digital images of registers recording almost 135 million people living in the United States. The registers record age, place of birth, relationships, occupations and more.

1930 United States Census (1930)

An index to 125 million people living in the United States, linked to registers recording their age, place of birth, family relationships and more.

1920 United States Census (1920)

A name index and digital images of registers recording over 107 million people living in the United States. The registers record age, place of birth, relationships, occupations and more.

Newspapers Covering Louisiana

Newspaper Archive: US (1753-Present)

Text-searchable editions of over 7,500 newspaper titles from the United States, containing 2 billion articles and over 100 million obituaries.

Newspapers.com (1728-Present)

A growing collection of text-searchable, digitalised newspapers from the United States of America. Contains thousands of titles and over 100 million pages.

Genealogy Bank Newspapers (1690-Present)

Text-searchable editions of and over 250 million obituaries and death notices extracted from over 7,500 United States newspaper titles.

US Quaker Periodicals (1828-1929)

This database contains digitized volumes of more than 60 Quaker publications, including some foreign-language periodicals. Names have been indexed from a variety of articles including births, marriage notices, obituaries, officers, missionaries, committee members, names of people who have moved, and other references to members of the Society of Friends.

Name Card Index to AP Stories (1905-1990)

An index to over 2.1 million people mentioned in Associated Press stories, including name, subject, location, date and a reference to the article.

Louisiana Wills & Probate Records

Louisiana Wills & Probate Records (1756-1984)

An index to and images of more than 205,000 wills and probate documents. They typically record details of the deceased's relatives; and sometimes describe real and personal property, sentiments, convictions, intended places of burial and more.

British Inheritance Disputes Index (1574-1714)

An index to almost 78,000 wills that were disputed. The index can lead you to documents that may shed a great deal of genealogical information as disputes often arose between siblings and cousins.

Genealogical Gleanings in England Vol. I (1400-1650)

Abstracts of English wills that are connected to early American families. In addition, it contains genealogical notes and pedigrees, maps, tabular charts, illustrations, and an index of 30,000 names as well as a fifty-one page index of places, with details of where many of the early families settled.

Genealogical Gleanings in England Vol. II (1400-1650)

Abstracts of English wills that are connected to early American families. In addition, it contains genealogical notes and pedigrees, maps, tabular charts, illustrations, and an index of 30,000 names as well as a fifty-one page index of places, with details of where many of the early families settled.

Louisiana Immigration & Travel Records

New York Passenger and Crew Lists (1909-1957)

Digital images of registers recording the arrival of passengers and crew at New York harbour. Varying details are included, such as name, age, gender, occupation, nationality, race, last place of residence, intended place of residence and more. The registers can be searched by a name index of over 28 million names.

Canada-US Border Crossings (1895-1956)

This database contains an index of aliens and citizens crossing into the U.S. from Canada via various ports of entry along the U.S.-Canadian border. It may include name, age, date and place of birth, gender, ethnicity/nationality, names of friends and relatives and more.

San Francisco Passenger Lists (1893-1953)

Name index and images from passenger lists of those arriving in San Francisco, California. Records details, such as place of birth and occupation of around 3 million people.

New York Passenger Arrival Lists (1892-Present)

Images of passenger and crew lists, searchable by an index of more than 51 million names. Lists may contain details such as age, gender, place of origin, occupation and much more.

Boston, MA Passenger Lists (1891-1943)

Digital images of passenger lists, recording passenger names, their age, gender, occupation place of birth, citizenship, place of residence and intended place of residence. Searchable by an index of almost 3 million names.

Louisiana Military Records

Louisiana First Registration Draft Cards (1940-1945)

Digital images of cards, containing personal details such as date and place of birth, next of kin, physical description and more. Searchable by a name index.

US WWII Draft Cards (1940-1947)

Over 2.5 million draft cards for men from Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, and North Carolina aged 18–44. Cards may include name, serial number, address, telephone, age, place of birth, country of citizenship, employer's name, place of employment, next of kin or friend, physical description and more.

Louisiana Confederate Soldiers (1861-1865)

This database constitutes 3 volumes of records of Louisiana Confederate soldiers and commands. This alphabetized roll contains over 120,000 records of individuals. It also provides a brief history of Louisiana's 982 companies in the Confederate army.

Confederate Citizens File (1861-1865)

An index to and images of hundreds-of-thousands of documents relating to goods furnished or services rendered the Confederate government by private individuals or business firms.

Chalmette National Cemetery (1864-2003)

Digital images of headstones of Louisianan veterans and casualties of war.

Louisiana Slave Records (1719-1820)

Details of over 100,000 slaves exchanged in Louisiana. The database may list the slave's name, the master's name, race, age, place of birth, names of family members, name of seller, name of buyer, sale amount, skills, attempted escapes, personality and more.

US Freedmen Bureau Records of Field Offices (1863-1878)

Digital images of labor contracts, letters, applications for rations, reports of abandoned land, reports of clothes and medicine issued, school reports, court trials, hospital records, employment records, complaints and more relating to refugees and freedmen. Searchable by and index of around 550,000 names.

Louisiana Freed Slave Records (1719-1820)

This database is a compilation of information on over four thousand slaves from Louisiana who were involved in manumission.

US Southern Claims Commission Master Index (1871-1880)

An index and digital images of claims filed by residents of Southern states for reimbursement due to property damaged during The Civil War.

US Circuit Court Criminal Case Files (1790-1871)

An index to and digital images of indictment, presentments, please of defendants, recognizances, depositions, affidavits, subpoenas, writs, orders of the court, petitions, warrants, bonds, Presidential orders of pardon from imprisonment and other records detailing federal crimes in Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Louisiana.

Louisiana Taxation Records

IRS Tax Assessment Lists (1862-1918)

An index to and digital images of registers recording 8.8 million instances of taxation. The records list the name of the person or business being taxed: their address and details tax assessed and paid.

Louisiana Land & Property Records

US General Land Office Records (1796-1907)

An index to and digital images of 2.2 million land patents, primarily cash and homestead, from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Louisiana Homestead & Cash Entry Patents (1770-1908)

Documents recording land transfers. The records contain names, acreages, signatures, dates, mineral rights, bounds, descriptions of land and more.

US Freedmen Bureau Records of Field Offices (1863-1878)

Digital images of labor contracts, letters, applications for rations, reports of abandoned land, reports of clothes and medicine issued, school reports, court trials, hospital records, employment records, complaints and more relating to refugees and freedmen. Searchable by and index of around 550,000 names.

US Southern Claims Commission Master Index (1871-1880)

An index and digital images of claims filed by residents of Southern states for reimbursement due to property damaged during The Civil War.

Disallowed Southern Claims Commission Claims (1871-1880)

An index to the names of over 15,000 people who made unsuccessful claims from reimbursement due to property damaged during The Civil War.

Louisiana Directories & Gazetteers

Louisiana State Gazetteer & Business Man's Guide (1866)

A searchable book containing information relating to the area, its residents and businesses.

Thom's Official Directory of Great Britain & Ireland (1914)

A directory of the court, parliament, aristocracy, mayors, civil service, military, militia and banks in the British Empire.

US City Directories (1821-1989)

An index to around 1.5 billion names found in books containing list of citizens & businesses: their addresses and occupation or business. The index is linked to scanned images of the books, which may also contain local history, details of government bodies, officials and more.

The American Gazetteer (1798)

One of the earliest attempt to form a comprehensive dictionary of places in The Americas.

US Phone & Address Directories (1993-2002)

Transcriptions of over 313 million entries from directories, which may list name, address, city, state and phone number.

Louisiana Cemeteries

Chalmette National Cemetery (1864-2003)

Digital images of headstones of Louisianan veterans and casualties of war.

Louisiana Gravestones (1800-Present)

A growing database of over 96,000 gravestones, searchable by name and organised by cemetery.

US Veteran's Gravesites (1775-2008)

A database containing details of the burial of 7.6 million US military veterans. Entries may contain details of birth, next of kin and more.

Billion Graves (1200-Present)

Photographs and transcriptions of millions of gravestones from cemeteries around the world.

US Cemetery & Funeral Home Collection (1777-Present)

A growing collection of millions of funeral and cemetery record transcriptions, including obituaries and names of relatives.

Louisiana Obituaries

Newspaper Archive: US (1753-Present)

Text-searchable editions of over 7,500 newspaper titles from the United States, containing 2 billion articles and over 100 million obituaries.

US Cemetery & Funeral Home Collection (1777-Present)

A growing collection of millions of funeral and cemetery record transcriptions, including obituaries and names of relatives.

US Obituary Collection (1700-Present)

A growing database containing 10s of millions of abstract obituaries with a reference to the publication it occurred in and a link to the full obituary if available online.

Genealogy Bank Newspapers (1690-Present)

Text-searchable editions of and over 250 million obituaries and death notices extracted from over 7,500 United States newspaper titles.

Daily Obituary Digest (1995-Present)

A growing index to more than 16 million obituaries, citing name, age, residence and source publication.

Louisiana Histories & Books

The American Gazetteer (1798)

One of the earliest attempt to form a comprehensive dictionary of places in The Americas.

Mary Evans Picture Library (2000 BC-Present)

A database of over 300,000 photos, etchings, engravings and other mediums depicting places and events in the British Isles and the rest of the world.

Ancestry Member Stories (6000 BC-Present)

Over 7 million remembrances and historic details submitted by Ancestry members. Useful for local historians.

Ancestry Member Photos & Documents (6000 BC-Present)

Over 60 million historic photographs and documents submitted to Ancestry. This rich collection contains many rare sources of interest to local historians and will be relevant to most genealogical research.

US Historical Postcards (1880-1940)

This database contains over 115,000 historical postcards with photos of places in the United States. Each postcard caption has been indexed and may be searched by keyword or location.

Louisiana School & Education Records

US Freedmen Bureau Records of Field Offices (1863-1878)

Digital images of labor contracts, letters, applications for rations, reports of abandoned land, reports of clothes and medicine issued, school reports, court trials, hospital records, employment records, complaints and more relating to refugees and freedmen. Searchable by and index of around 550,000 names.

US School Yearbooks (1880-2012)

A growing index to over 300 million entries in middle school, junior high, high school, and college yearbooks linked to digital images of the yearbook pages. Yearbooks usually include name and photo, but may include biographical data, such as family relations, academic achievements and hobbies.

US School Yearbooks (1880-2012)

An index to and digital images of over 20,000 year books, listing details of schools, students and staff. Many contain photographs.

US School Catalogues (1765-1935)

A variety of publications listing names of students, faculty, alumni, and others associated with US universities, seminaries and theological institutes, normal schools, medical schools, academies, military schools, etc. Records include catalogues, obituary records and necrologies, class histories, speeches and addresses, commencement exercises, class reports, registers, prospectus, circulars, proceedings, annual reports, magazines and other documents.

High School Student Lists (1821-1923)

Digital images of a variety of publications listing the names of students, faculty, alumni, and others associated primarily with preparatory and similar schools, including academies, high schools, seminaries, reform schools, institutes, industrial schools, military academies, dance schools, grammar schools, Latin schools and others. Searchable by an index of around 650,000 names.

Louisiana Occupation & Business Records

Confederate Citizens File (1861-1865)

An index to and images of hundreds-of-thousands of documents relating to goods furnished or services rendered the Confederate government by private individuals or business firms.

US Crew Lists and Manifests (1890-1963)

Digital images of crew lists for ships arriving in Maine, Washington, Massachusetts, Georgia, South Carolina, Illinois, Texas, South Carolina, Mississippi, Texas, Wisconsin, Alaska, Louisiana, Florida, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, California, Georgia and Puerto Rico.

US Freedmen Bureau Records of Field Offices (1863-1878)

Digital images of labor contracts, letters, applications for rations, reports of abandoned land, reports of clothes and medicine issued, school reports, court trials, hospital records, employment records, complaints and more relating to refugees and freedmen. Searchable by and index of around 550,000 names.

FBI Case Files (1908-1922)

Over 2.3 million records from investigations of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

US Federal Census Non-Population Schedules (1850-1880)

An index and digital images of schedules recording statistical data concerning agriculture, industry, social and other areas. Includes many people and businesses.

Pedigrees & Family Trees Covering Louisiana

Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage Books (1620-1938)

Pedigrees of women who were descendants of one or more servicemen of The American Revolutionary War. Contains 100,000s of names.

FamilySearch Community Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.

Colonial Families in the US (1600-1920)

Genealogical charts, and coats of arms where appropriate, of prominent families in America's early history.

Ancestry Member Family Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A compilation of lineage-linked family trees submitted by Ancestry users. The database contains over 2 billion individuals and is searchable by numerous metrics.

Spanish-American Family History Guide (1514-1990)

Detailed guides for researchers with Spanish-American ancestors. It includes biographies and genealogical charts for over 700 noted Spanish-American families.

Louisiana Royalty, Nobility & Heraldry Records

FamilySearch Community Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.

History of England Society & Government (56 BC-1867)

A lengthy history of England detailing the country's connection to the U.S.A. Includes much detail on royalty, nobility and other historical figures of note.

Louisiana Church Records

US French Catholic Church Records (1695-1954)

An index to and digital images of registers recording the baptism, marriage and burials of 10,000s of French Catholics.

US Quaker Meeting Records (1681-1935)

An index to and digital images of documents recording almost 6 million names. They include registers of births, marriages and deaths; lists of members; movement of members between congregations; records of discipline; disownment; burials and more.

US Quaker Periodicals (1828-1929)

This database contains digitized volumes of more than 60 Quaker publications, including some foreign-language periodicals. Names have been indexed from a variety of articles including births, marriage notices, obituaries, officers, missionaries, committee members, names of people who have moved, and other references to members of the Society of Friends.

Index to Quaker Records (1680-1940)

An index to close to 900,000 names occurring in Quaker meeting records. These cover items such as discipline, admittance, movement between meetings, some vital events and much more.

Evangelical Lutheran Church of America Records (1875-1940)

An index to and images of Lutheran registers containing close to 3 million baptism, marriage and death records.

Biographical Directories Covering Louisiana

Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans (1904)

A ten volume work containing close to 20,000 biographies of notable Americans.

American Biographical Library (1774-1949)

Over 75,000 biographies covering congressmen, women, military and other notable individuals.

Biography & Genealogy Master Index (1600-Present)

An index to millions of biographies, listing names, dates of birth and death and the biography's source publication.

Spanish-American Family History Guide (1514-1990)

Detailed guides for researchers with Spanish-American ancestors. It includes biographies and genealogical charts for over 700 noted Spanish-American families.

American Genealogical-Biographical Index (1450-Present)

This database contains millions of records of people whose names have appeared in printed genealogical records and family histories.

Louisiana Maps

US Enumeration District Maps & Descriptions (1940)

Maps recording districts used to allot areas in which census takers would operate. Searchable by street name and more.

County Land Ownership Maps (1860-1918)

Various maps and documents listing and delineating around 7 million land plots and their owners. Searchable by a name index.

Historic Land Ownership and Reference Atlases (1507-2000)

This database is a collection of maps and atlases detailing land areas that comprise the present-day United States and Canada, as well as various other parts of the world.

Old Maps Online (1497-2010)

An interactive index to thousands of maps covering the world, continents, countries and regions. The majority of maps cover Britain and Ireland.

Civil War Maps (1861-1865)

A collection of around 2,000 reconnaissance, sketch, and theater-of-war maps.

Louisiana Reference Works

Periodical Source Index (1825-Present)

An index to over 2.7 million articles published in various genealogical, historical and ethnographic publications.

US Free Genealogical Data Search Engine (1513-Present)

A search engine that covers over 2.5 million pages of vital records, family trees, biographies and other genealogical resources.

A Guide to the NARA Field Branches (1988)

Details of record collections held by numerous sub-branches of The National Archives.

Spanish-American Family History Guide (1514-1990)

Detailed guides for researchers with Spanish-American ancestors. It includes biographies and genealogical charts for over 700 noted Spanish-American families.

US Family Historian's Address Book (1997)

A directory of bodies that hold important collections of genealogical and historical records, ordered by state. As it was published in 1997, some contact details may be out of date, but the organizations' names can be used to locate updated information.

Historical Description

LOUISIANA. This state became a territorial member of the Federal Union in the year 1803, under peculiar circumstances. It had been successively the property of certain French adventurers, of the crown of France, of the government of Spain, and again of the French, by whom it was sold to the United States for $15,000,000. One of the conditions of the transfer required the United States to liquidate all claims of American citizens upon France, on account of commercial spoliations prior to the year 1800-an obligation which, after the lapse of nearly half a century, has not been fulfilled. Within 20 years after the discovery, in 1663, of the River Mississippi, the territory was explored by La Salle, who, in honor of Louis XIV., called it by the name it now bears. The first settlements were made at about the commencement of the 18th century; and in 1731, the proprietors relinquished their jurisdiction to the king, who ceded it to Spain, in 1762. It was reconveyed to France in 1800; and, at the period of its sale to the United States, three years thereafter, the province embraced all the country west of the Mississippi, reaching to the Texan boundaries. It was admitted as an independent state, and its limits specially defined, in 1812. The city of New Orleans, near the mouth of the Mississippi, is celebrated in history for its defence, under General Jackson, against an attack of the British sea and land forces, commanded by General Packenham, on the 8th of January, 1815, wherein the invaders were signally defeated.

Boundary and Extent

It is bounded on the extreme north by Arkansas, and near its centre by a part of Mississippi; on the east by the Mississippi River, dividing it from the state of that name, and by Pearl River; on the south by the Gulf of Mexico; and on the west by Texas, from which it is partially divided by the River Sabine. It extends from 29° to 33° north latitude, and from 88° 40' to 94° 25' west longitude. Its length is 250 miles, and its breadth, at the southern extremity, 300. This width is maintained throughout about one half its length, when it becomes nearly 200 miles narrower, though gradually expanding towards the northern line, where it measures 180 miles in breadth. Its area is computed at 46,431 square miles.

Government

By the constitution, established in 1845, the governor holds office for a term of four years, but cannot be elected for the next succeeding term. He is chosen by a plurality of the electors. The lieutenant governor, chosen in like manner, presides over the Senate. Senators, 32 in number, are chosen also for four years, at alternate biennial elections, so that one half retire every two years. Representatives, not less than 70 nor more than 100 in number, apportioned to the number of electors, as computed every 10 years, are chosen biennially. The legislature sits but once in two years, and their sessions cannot be of longer duration than 60 days. The qualifications of voters are similar to those of most of the free states; the right of suffrage being confined to white American citizens, who have resided within the state two years, the last of which in the parish or county where they vote.

Judiciary

The Supreme Court is composed of a chief and three associate justices. It has appellate jurisdiction only in certain prescribed cases. District Courts, with one judge to each, are established in the several judicial districts, the present number of which is 17: these have jurisdiction in all criminal cases, and in civil suits involving a sum exceeding 50 dollars. All the judges are appointed by the executive; those of the Supreme Court for eight, and those of the inferior courts for six years.

Education

The state appropriates annually, for purposes of education, $250,000. It has also a permanent fund, derived from various sources, the interest of which is applied to the maintenance of free schools.

Finances

It is provided by the constitution that the state debt shall never exceed $100,000, except in case of war or other like emergency, or for some special public work or object authorized by law. Subscriptions by the state to the stock of any corporation are prohibited, as is also a loan of the state credit. Banking or discounting companies cannot be augmented in number, nor any further charters granted, except for political or municipal purposes, for more than 25 years.

Surface, Soil, &c.-Nearly the whole surface of the state consists of level prairies, many of them of immense extent. There are no elevations of consequence, excepting in one quarter, near the centre of the western boundary, where the land swells into protuberances, though of no very great height. There are occasional tracts exhibiting a hilly and rolling surface, having forests of pines, of singular appearance, upon the acclivities, and surmounted by broad expanses of table lands, the intervening valleys reaching to a depth of some 40 feet. Prairies, swamps, alluvial plains, pine, hickory, and oak lands, may be said to comprehend the chief varieties of the soil of Louisiana. The marshes, forming the basis of the alluvia] soil, and which are annually overflowed, extend some 20 to 30 miles inland from the southern boundary, and in many places nearly the same distance on either side of the large streams. The alluvial grounds beyond, as they gradually accumulate, assume the character of prairies, and are remarkable for their extraordinary fertility. A part of the tract subject to inundation bears a heavy growth of timber. The soil of the pine uplands is somewhat sterile; and that of the elevated prairies is generally of ordinary quality, though well adapted for grazing; but that of the alluvial districts is exceedingly rich and productive. Sugar,cotton, and rice are the most important staples; and these are cultivated extensively and profitably. Among the other valuable products of the soil are corn and other grains, potatoes, tobacco, hay, &c. Large numbers of horses, cattle, sheep, and swine are raised in the central and northern parts of the state. The bottom lands bordering on Red River abound in various descriptions of timber, as locust, buckeye, papaw, willow, cottonwood, &c. On the fertile uplands are found the hickory, elm, ash, walnut, and mulberry; also grape-vines in great profusion. The white and yellow pine, and several kinds of oak, thrive in many other elevated parts of the state, otherwise deemed sterile.

Rivers

The magnificent “Father of Waters,” the Mississippi, discharges itself into the Gulf of Mexico, through various outlets at the southern and south-eastern extremities of the state. In its long journey from its northern sources, it of course traverses the entire length of the state, partially forming its eastern boundary, and then passing off in a south-easterly direction, nearly through the middle of the remaining portion of the territory. This vast stream receives in its course, and within the limits of the state, the liquid contributions of several important tributaries, which water the country in many directions. Among these are Red River and its branches, the Atchafalaya, &c.

Internal Improvements

There are sundry railroads connecting the capital with different places in the vicinity, none of which, however, are of any great length. The railroad from St. Francisville, on the Mississippi, to Woodville, Mississippi, 20 miles, is the longest in the state.

There are also several canals of considerable magnitude connected with the navigation of the Mississippi. Other public works of the kind, including both railroads and canals, are in contemplation, some of which are already in course of construction.

Minerals

But little attention has been given to the mineral resources of Louisiana. Probably no extensive explorations have ever been undertaken. Few or no indications of coal, or other mineral deposits, have as yet made their appearance, and whatever treasures of this kind may exist beneath the surface still remain undeveloped.

Manufactures

These include a few cotton factories, producing articles only for home consumption; several furnaces, forges, and tanneries; a number of sugar refineries, distilleries, and mills of various sorts.

Indians

Of the numerous tribes which once peopled or roamed over this and the neighboring regions, scarcely a vestige remains. The race of red men has retired before the advancing footsteps of civilization, from this as from other quarters of the United States, where the settlements of the white man have encroached upon the hunting-grounds and the wild haunts and habits of the savage.

Population

The people of Louisiana comprehend not only several varieties of the human species, but are composed both of native Americans and of the descendants of emigrants from many foreign nations. The inhabitants of the northern settlements were chiefly from Canada, those in the centre of the state are mostly of German extraction, and those at the south comprise large numbers of French and Spaniards, descended from the original settlers. The population, which in 1810 was 76,556, more than doubled itself within the following ten years, and in 1850 it had increased to 517,739. Nearly one half the population are slaves.

Climate

There are large tracts in this state, which, at certain seasons, are decidedly unfavorable to human health. During the summer and autumn, the low and marshy localities are frequently visited by yellow fever, cholera, and other destructive maladies. Other parts of the state, however, enjoy a salubrious climate. The winters in general are said to be less mild than those on the Atlantic coast in the same parallel of latitude.

Religion

The Roman Catholics have ever been the prevailing sect, the country having been originally settled by them, although other denominations are at present increasing. There are numerous bodies of Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, and Episcopalians, all of which are growing in numbers more rapidly than the Papists.

A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States (1854) by Thomas Baldwin

Most Common Surnames in Louisiana

RankSurnameIncidenceFrequencyPercent of ParentRank in United States
1Williams54,5061:892.84%3
2Smith51,8211:941.80%1
3Johnson47,3561:1032.16%2
4Jones35,4091:1382.13%5
5Brown33,8521:1441.91%4
6Davis27,5321:1771.96%6
7Jackson25,5521:1913.07%16
8Thomas23,6321:2062.71%12
9Hebert21,3911:22841.20%823
10Miller20,7471:2351.52%7
11Landry20,4951:23839.60%826
12Broussard18,5191:26352.70%1,252
13Leblanc17,8831:27232.96%784
14Taylor16,9571:2871.89%11
15Martin16,8921:2882.06%17
16Wilson16,5291:2951.70%9
17Lewis16,3231:2982.53%25
18Harris16,0881:3032.09%21
19Guidry15,7561:30959.65%1,708
20White15,6701:3111.93%18
21Fontenot15,1721:32160.73%1,818
22Robinson14,3191:3402.28%27
23Moore14,0771:3461.64%13
24Lee13,7751:3541.64%15
25Boudreaux13,5381:36065.32%2,213
26Richard13,4691:36219.09%584
27Adams13,3571:3652.41%34
28Green13,2271:3682.46%37
29Anderson12,9101:3771.27%8
30Walker12,8191:3802.02%26
31Thompson12,4291:3921.58%20
32Washington11,8821:4105.79%146
33Allen11,8311:4121.90%28
34Carter11,6431:4182.40%42
35Clark11,6071:4201.61%22
36Young11,5381:4221.92%31
37Mitchell10,8671:4482.38%45
38Scott10,6381:4581.98%38
39Thibodeaux10,5291:46262.61%2,721
40Breaux10,0371:48561.59%2,790
41Parker9,7911:4972.35%51
42Collins9,5161:5122.27%50
43Guillory9,1021:53548.77%2,433
44Hall9,0501:5381.46%30
45Trahan8,9781:54250.85%2,588
46Edwards8,8841:5482.09%49
47Stewart8,8441:5512.20%54
48James8,7391:5572.90%79
49Turner8,4501:5761.97%48
50Coleman8,1541:5972.92%92
51Bourgeois8,0911:60243.94%2,482
52King8,0871:6021.44%32
53Morgan7,8771:6182.16%60
54Rogers7,8381:6212.03%57
55Hill7,7651:6271.43%35
56Reed7,6371:6382.20%66
57Alexander7,6071:6402.90%101
58Roberts7,5761:6431.60%43
59Evans7,5341:6461.66%46
60Bergeron7,3081:66628.16%1,736
61Bell7,2021:6761.99%62
62Blanchard7,1881:67713.96%831
63Nguyen7,1571:6801.77%53
64Jenkins7,1501:6812.61%100
65Sanders7,0331:6922.51%90
66Butler6,9811:6982.47%88
67Robertson6,9611:7003.61%163
68Daigle6,8381:71235.83%2,388
69Cooper6,7261:7241.85%61
70Morris6,6941:7271.67%55
71Joseph6,4861:7515.94%344
72Wright6,4671:7531.16%33
73Griffin6,4421:7562.55%111
74Phillips6,3571:7661.45%47
75Richardson6,3481:7672.02%77
76Nelson6,3021:7731.17%39
77Bailey6,2481:7791.74%64
78Howard6,1411:7931.84%70
79Brooks6,0341:8071.84%73
80Campbell6,0211:8091.22%41
81Bordelon6,0021:81167.97%5,037
82Henderson5,9781:8152.18%99
83Gray5,9561:8181.86%75
84Watson5,8951:8261.85%76
85Simmons5,8161:8372.28%106
86Henry5,7971:8402.76%138
87Baker5,7931:8411.07%36
88Foster5,7891:8411.97%81
89Comeaux5,6961:85562.39%4,889
90Bennett5,6781:8581.75%74
91Price5,6701:8591.94%86
92Cook5,6641:8601.43%56
92Simon5,6641:8605.45%366
94Benoit5,6361:86422.34%1,800
95Romero5,5421:8793.06%181
96Theriot5,4521:89365.85%5,367
97Melancon5,3741:90663.43%5,246
98Cormier5,1491:94624.03%2,136
99Kelly5,1211:9511.55%72
100Ford5,0291:9682.13%121
101Jordan5,0111:9721.97%108
102Woods4,9981:9742.26%132
103Matthews4,9841:9772.96%211
104Hamilton4,8721:1,0001.87%102
105Perkins4,8681:1,0003.02%226
106Bryant4,7991:1,0151.98%116
107Franklin4,7981:1,0153.19%238
108Ross4,7291:1,0301.60%80
109Willis4,7091:1,0342.83%216
110Holmes4,7001:1,0362.45%168
111Duhon4,6651:1,04458.83%5,572
112Powell4,6571:1,0461.69%97
113Perry4,6251:1,0531.68%98
114Hughes4,6151:1,0551.52%78
115Wallace4,5671:1,0661.80%110
116Kennedy4,4781:1,0871.97%129
117Freeman4,4731:1,0892.07%133
118Dugas4,4611:1,09247.21%4,725
119Stevens4,4461:1,0951.88%119
120Bernard4,4051:1,1058.71%844
121Harrison4,3941:1,1081.86%120
122Lejeune4,3631:1,11659.51%5,992
123Cole4,3221:1,1271.70%109
124Murphy4,2851:1,1361.11%58
125Manuel4,2821:1,13714.13%1,484
126Dunn4,2651:1,1422.24%172
127Babin4,2611:1,14351.34%5,356
127Sonnier4,2611:1,14358.06%5,986
129Russell4,2471:1,1471.53%95
130Ellis4,2411:1,1481.73%115
130Myers4,2411:1,1481.45%84
132Dupre4,2311:1,15139.76%4,254
133Dixon4,2011:1,1592.05%148
134Pitre4,1971:1,16052.58%5,540
134West4,1971:1,1601.64%104
136Cox4,1901:1,1621.22%67
137Barnes4,1241:1,1811.47%89
138Rodriguez4,1181:1,1830.48%14
139Martinez4,1081:1,1850.51%19
140Doucet4,0501:1,20250.64%5,533
141Gibson4,0421:1,2051.69%117
142Lambert4,0291:1,2093.43%309
143Arceneaux4,0101:1,21453.26%5,831
144Leger4,0071:1,21532.28%3,616
145Wells4,0051:1,2161.80%130
146Champagne3,9841:1,22225.03%2,857
147Ward3,9821:1,2231.21%71
148Guillot3,9251:1,24165.82%7,137
149George3,9121:1,2452.42%222
150Aucoin3,8871:1,25357.22%6,403
151McDonald3,8761:1,2561.65%122
152Soileau3,8261:1,27373.45%8,076
153Ledet3,8251:1,27366.56%7,386
154Patterson3,8181:1,2751.50%107
155Bourque3,7751:1,29032.72%3,918
156Marshall3,7671:1,2931.65%128
157Vincent3,7511:1,2985.58%618
158Roy3,6981:1,3175.38%601
159Hawkins3,6901:1,3202.04%182
160Crawford3,6871:1,3211.71%134
161Mouton3,6671:1,32844.48%5,387
162Graham3,6551:1,3321.41%103
163Webb3,6201:1,3451.71%137
164Banks3,6151:1,3472.73%278
165Owens3,5961:1,3541.58%127
166Hunter3,5891:1,3571.81%158
167Burns3,5031:1,3901.58%131
168Lemoine3,4931:1,39441.45%5,271
169Matherne3,4771:1,40177.70%9,202
170Gordon3,4511:1,4111.61%136
171Gaspard3,4381:1,41655.30%6,908
172Warren3,4351:1,4181.78%165
173Hernandez3,4341:1,4180.48%23
174Francis3,4141:1,4263.40%391
174Harper3,4141:1,4262.11%224
176Boyd3,3961:1,4341.69%154
177Sullivan3,3041:1,4741.13%83
178Ardoin3,2981:1,47765.40%8,312
179Charles3,2861:1,4824.55%559
180Lopez3,2641:1,4920.49%24
181Hudson3,2331:1,5061.87%203
182Duncan3,2231:1,5111.79%187
183Magee3,2221:1,5119.03%1,233
184Bertrand3,2021:1,52119.46%2,766
185Fisher3,1831:1,5301.15%94
186Hicks3,1741:1,5341.61%161
187Tate3,1461:1,5483.53%449
188McDaniel3,1361:1,5532.74%318
189Long3,1301:1,5561.09%87
190Vidrine3,1261:1,55876.15%9,953
190Welch3,1261:1,5582.20%257
192Pierce3,0751:1,5841.76%199
193Tran3,0721:1,5851.74%194
194Porter3,0671:1,5881.52%153
195Dufrene3,0601:1,59175.86%10,100
196Montgomery3,0441:1,6002.03%239
197Menard3,0401:1,60220.82%3,120
198Chapman3,0231:1,6111.81%215
198McGee3,0231:1,6113.15%409
200Murray3,0211:1,6121.31%124
200Tucker3,0211:1,6121.44%140
RankSurnameIncidenceFrequencyPercent of ParentRank in United States
1Johnson15,5691:604.07%2
2Williams14,6121:644.57%4
3Smith12,4721:751.98%1
4Brown9,7431:962.74%3
5Jones9,2711:1012.91%5
6Jackson7,8991:1195.36%14
7Davis6,1291:1532.42%7
8Thomas5,6661:1663.87%16
9Washington4,9651:18913.00%126
10Green4,6311:2033.80%19
11Taylor4,5141:2082.66%9
12Wilson4,3821:2152.33%8
13White4,1051:2292.54%11
14Lewis4,0871:2303.44%22
15Harris3,9701:2373.09%18
16Miller3,7621:2501.34%6
17Martin3,5481:2652.41%15
18Walker3,4251:2742.91%23
19Scott3,3931:2773.25%29
20Thompson3,1161:3021.98%13
21Moore3,0861:3051.93%12
22Robinson2,9121:3232.81%30
23Anderson2,8701:3281.96%17
24Lee2,8231:3333.42%35
25Carter2,8221:3333.43%36
26Young2,7631:3402.40%24
27Landry2,5951:36280.37%1,991
28Allen2,5231:3732.09%21
29Clark2,4401:3851.46%10
29Hebert2,4401:38574.14%1,960
31Hall2,2281:4221.84%20
32Turner2,1921:4292.78%40
33Parker2,0161:4662.51%37
34Butler1,9991:4703.81%71
35Collins1,9731:4762.60%41
36King1,9621:4791.85%27
37Robertson1,9611:4795.44%142
38Henderson1,9411:4843.87%77
38William1,9411:48416.71%533
40Hill1,9201:4901.82%28
41Richardson1,8231:5163.11%64
42Nelson1,7991:5232.60%47
43Coleman1,7931:5243.90%93
44Brooks1,7521:5373.20%68
45Broussard1,7381:54196.56%3,424
46Richard1,7341:54218.80%679
47Bell1,7231:5462.59%51
48Adams1,7161:5481.76%31
49Wright1,7001:5531.59%26
50Morris1,6861:5582.42%46
51James1,6771:5613.38%78
52Henry1,6701:5633.92%107
53Harrison1,6691:5633.80%100
54Edwards1,6321:5762.49%52
55Mitchell1,6261:5782.55%54
56Stewart1,5581:6032.18%45
57Watson1,5051:6252.55%63
58Morgan1,4851:6332.31%53
59Cooper1,4831:6342.48%60
60Howard1,4481:6492.34%56
61Joseph1,4351:65522.55%1,007
62Reed1,4251:6601.89%42
63Baker1,4241:6601.28%25
64Alexander1,4231:6613.33%105
65Hamilton1,3161:7142.69%80
66Campbell1,2811:7341.49%34
67Ross1,2721:7392.53%76
68Foster1,2621:7452.13%62
69Guidry1,2421:75799.04%4,711
70Evans1,2291:7651.67%43
71Perkins1,2211:7703.35%139
72Jenkins1,2111:7762.72%99
73Sanders1,2061:7802.84%108
74Murphy1,1871:7921.25%32
75Gibson1,1801:7972.85%111
76Ford1,1701:8042.59%96
77Leblanc1,1681:80580.11%4,115
78Cook1,1561:8131.32%33
79Griffin1,1551:8142.59%98
80Kelly1,1401:8251.56%44
81Louis1,1321:83115.08%839
82Bernard1,1131:84521.93%1,273
83Banks1,0821:8695.12%248
84Franklin1,0741:8754.50%220
85Gray1,0731:8761.81%61
86Willis1,0581:8893.78%188
87Ellis1,0451:9002.31%94
88Roberts1,0071:9341.26%39
89Woods9971:9432.70%134
90Fisher9771:9621.46%49
91Simmons9691:9702.50%123
92Rogers9681:9711.55%55
93Price9671:9721.76%67
94Hunter9641:9752.35%113
95Powell9391:1,0012.20%106
95Cole9391:1,0011.80%73
97Hawkins9361:1,0042.76%153
98Porter9301:1,0112.06%95
99Miles9171:1,0254.34%247
99Boudreaux9171:1,02597.76%6,023
101Wallace9131:1,0302.04%97
102Holmes9101:1,0332.46%132
103Fontenot9091:1,034100.00%6,190
104Patterson9081:1,0351.80%75
105Roberson9031:1,0415.35%341
106Simon8941:1,0529.85%691
107West8841:1,0631.91%90
108Mason8701:1,0812.00%101
109Blanchard8671:1,0847.52%537
110Ward8501:1,1061.27%50
110Phillips8501:1,1061.42%59
112Dunn8281:1,1351.97%109
113Perry8241:1,1411.77%87
114Jefferson8151:1,1547.77%597
115Pierre8041:1,16979.45%5,643
115Gordon8041:1,1692.80%178
117Mitchel7991:1,1773.95%262
118Marshall7831:1,2012.04%125
119Bailey7771:1,2101.41%66
120Kennedy7661:1,2271.89%114
121Bryant7591:1,2392.17%147
122Breaux7341:1,28199.86%7,415
123Sims7331:1,2834.06%313
124Burns7321:1,2841.42%74
124Riley7321:1,2841.70%104
126Vincent7301:1,2886.61%561
127Mathews7291:1,2902.48%171
128George7281:1,2913.08%222
129Armstrong7271:1,2931.92%129
130Dixon7121:1,3202.72%193
131Le Blanc7101:1,32491.03%7,014
131Jordan7101:1,3242.11%156
133Dorsey7051:1,3346.00%524
134Dugas7031:1,33787.11%6,801
135Levy7001:1,3438.27%743
136Grant6931:1,3572.18%161
136Black6931:1,3571.78%121
138Baptiste6911:1,36175.11%6,129
139Crawford6841:1,3741.71%117
140Barnes6821:1,3781.44%83
141Bourgeois6791:1,38574.78%6,194
142Graham6721:1,3991.45%88
143Wells6681:1,4071.45%92
144Long6651:1,4141.11%58
145Clay6631:1,4185.26%489
146McDonald6511:1,4441.25%72
147Owens6441:1,4601.86%150
148Bennett6381:1,4741.20%70
148Myers6381:1,4741.10%65
150D'Aigle6321:1,48866.74%5,978
151Tucker6311:1,4901.64%124
152Babin6191:1,51987.80%7,655
152Charles6191:1,5198.74%892
154Watkins6131:1,5342.41%204
155Chapman6031:1,5591.75%151
156Peterson6001:1,5671.22%79
156Hart6001:1,5671.46%112
158Francois5971:1,57575.57%6,935
158Berry5971:1,5751.62%135
160Wood5961:1,5770.75%38
161Oliver5951:1,5802.44%216
162Montgomery5931:1,5852.30%199
163Bradford5911:1,5914.38%449
163Hughes5911:1,5911.28%89
165Cox5901:1,5930.98%57
165Trahan5901:1,59384.41%7,712
165Freeman5901:1,5931.70%148
168Simpson5891:1,5961.54%127
169Robert5861:1,60416.63%1,822
170Bergeron5851:1,60765.22%6,260
170Gilbert5851:1,6072.03%176
172Dickerson5841:1,6104.86%515
172Lyons5841:1,6102.59%237
174Bradley5781:1,6271.83%162
174Simms5781:1,6277.03%771
176Murray5771:1,6291.52%128
177Page5731:1,6412.21%198
178Meyer5701:1,6491.76%159
179Payne5691:1,6522.00%180
180Singleton5671:1,6585.62%627
180Stevens5671:1,6581.21%85
182Warren5641:1,6671.57%143
183Ryan5591:1,6821.05%69
183Webb5591:1,6821.55%141
185Paul5581:1,6854.02%435
186Harper5571:1,6882.06%192
187Lambert5541:1,6973.39%355
188Hicks5531:1,7001.84%168
189Hudson5511:1,7061.98%190
190Hardy5491:1,7123.12%321
191John5471:1,7198.88%1,045
192Mouton5421:1,73590.33%8,740
192Carroll5421:1,7351.81%169
194Fields5401:1,7412.68%264
195Boyd5391:1,7441.51%144
196Russell5371:1,7511.15%86
196Hays5371:1,7512.17%212
198Austin5331:1,7641.87%182
199Hunt5311:1,7701.22%102
200Guillory5291:1,777100.00%9,707