Bienville Parish, Louisiana Genealogy

Guide to Bienville Parish, Louisiana ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
The Bienville Parish was named for Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville and was created March 14, 1848. Arcadia is the parish seat. The parish is located in the northwest area of the state.

Parish Courthouse
Bienville Parish Courthouse 100 Court House Dr. Arcadia, LA 71001 phone: 318-263-2019 Bienville Parish Courthouse Parish Clerk has marriage, divorce, probate and court records from 1848.

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this parish:

Bible Records

 * Index to Bienville Parish Bible Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Biographies

 * Bienville Parish, Louisiana, Biographies (Genealogy Trails)
 * Index to Bienville Parish Biography Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Census Records

 * 1850 Bienville Parish Census Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Louisiana Census Images at USGenWeb Census Images Project

Church Records

 * Bienville Parish Church Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Louisiana Historical Church Information
 * Directory of Churches in Louisiana — at Church Angel — by city

 List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
 African Americans
 * 1860 Largest Slaveholders of Bienville Parish, Louisiana (Genealogy Trails)
 * Louisiana African American Griots Project; USGenWeb Project
 * Afrigeneas - African Ancestored Genealogy

Land and Property Records

 * Bienville Parish Land Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Local Histories

 * History of Bienville Parish (Genealogy Trails)
 * Index to Historical Records of Bienville Parish. Includes school records, family histories, etc. (USGenWeb Archives)
 * History of Bienville Parish by Sharon O. Kleinpeter (USGenWeb Project)

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this parish - How to Use FS Places
 * Maps of Louisiana (1805-1990)
 * Family Maps of Bienville Parish, Louisiana (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
 * Louisiana Digital Map Library at USGen Web Archives

Military Records

 * Louisiana Military History Online
 * Some Military Land Grants In Bienville Parish Louisiana For Soldiers Of The Indian Wars (USGenWeb Archives)

 War of 1812
 * Some Military Land Grants In Bienville Parish Louisiana For Soldiers Of The War Of 1812 (USGenWeb Archives)

 Civil War Online Civil War Indexes and Records

Civil War service men in Bienville Parish served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (part of a regiment) that originated in their parish. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in this parish:
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1883 Pensioners on the Rolls as of January 1, 1883, Bienville Parish, Louisiana (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1898-1950 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1890 Veteran Census, Bienville Parish, Louisiana (Genealogy Trails)
 * Civil War Soldiers, Bienville Parish, Louisiana (Genealogy Trails)
 * - 2nd Regiment, Louisiana Cavalry (Confederate), Companies E and F

World War I
 * 1917-1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

World War II
 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

Newspapers

 * Louisiana Newspaper List -  listing by name/parish  -  USNPL
 * Louisiana Newspaper - listing  -  Newslink
 * Index to Bienville Parish News Records; (USGenWeb Archives)

Obituaries

 * Index to Obituaries, Bienville Parish, Louisiana (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Obituaries and Death Notices, Bienville Parish, Louisiana (Genealogy Trails)

Probate Records
Louisiana Probate Records; information on. Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1756-1984 Louisiana Wills and Probate Records 1756-1984 at Ancestry.com Ancestry.com — index and images ($)
 * 1850-1932 - Index to the Bienville Parish, Louisiana, Will Book, 1850-1932 (USGenWeb Project)
 * Index to Wills Records, Bienville Parish, Louisiana (USGenWeb Archives)

Vital Records

 * Bienville Parish Vital Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Marriage

 * 1837-1957 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1849-1872 Bienville Parish Marriage Book A & B; 1849-1872 (USGenWeb Project)
 * 1849-1886 Index to Bienville Parish Marriage Records (Genealogy Trails)
 * Bienville Parish Marriage Announcements (Genealogy Trails)

Death

 * 1850-1875, 1894-1960 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1850 1850 Mortality Census Schedule (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1870 1870 Mortality Schedule (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1880 1880 Mortality Schedule (Genealogy Trails)

FamilySearch Centers

 * Ruston Louisiana FamilySearch Center
 * Shreveport Louisiana FamilySearch Center
 * Shreve Memorial Library - an affiliate library
 * Webster Parish Library - Minden Main Branch - an affiliate library
 * Webster Parish Library - Sibley Branch - an affiliate library
 * Webster Parish Library - Doyline Branch - an affiliate library

Societies

 * Bienville Historical Society Rt 1, Box 9 Bienville 71008-9653


 * Louisiana Historical Association 101 LSU Student Union LSU Box 25435 Baton Rouge, LA 70803 Website


 * Louisiana Historical Society 428 Hector Ave Metairie, La. 70005-4412 Website


 * Mt. Lebon Historical Society 517 Gibsland LA 71028

Websites

 * GenWeb, LA GenWeb
 * Bienville Parish, Louisiana Archives, USGenWeb Archives Project
 * Bienville Parish, Louisiana Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Genealogy Trails: Bienville Parish, Louisiana
 * Bienville Parish LA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
 * Louisiana Genealogy & History Network
 * – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.