Allen Parish, Louisiana Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for Henry Watkins Allen. The County has Oberlin as its seat and the County was created 1912. The County is located in the central area of the state.

Parish Courthouse
Allen Parish Courthouse PO Box G Oberlin, LA 70655-2007 Phone: 337.639.2803 Parish Clerk has marriage, divorce, probate and court records from 1913.

History
Allen Parish is named for former Confederate States Army general and Governor of Louisiana Henry Watkins Allen.

Allen Parish was part of the Opelousas County after the Louisiana Territory was established in 1803. In 1807, the territory was divided into parishes and Allen was part of St. Landry Parish. Allen remained part of St. Landry Parish until 1840 when Calcasieu Parish was carved from the very large St. Landry Parish. In 1870, Cameron Parish was carved from Calcasieu Parish and also gained a piece of Vermillion Parish. Calcasieu remained the same until 1912 when it was divided into four parishes, including Allen Parish.

For more information:


 * History of Allen Parish by John Berton Gremillion

Parent Parish

 * 1912--Allen Parish was created 12 June 1912 from Calcasieu Parish. Parish seat: Oberlin

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Louisiana Parish boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Louisiana Parish Boundary Maps" (1805-1990) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

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 county:

African American

 * Louisiana African American Griots Project
 * Afrigeneas - African Ancestored Genealogy
 * African American Cemeteries, listing by county

Cemeteries
The following web sites may have additional information on Allen Parish cemeteries.


 * Interment.net Louisiana cemetery records by Parish.
 * African American Cemeteries, listing by county

Census
Allen Parish Quick Facts - U.S. Census Bureau


 * Index to Allen Parish, Louisiana Census Images (USGenWeb Archives)

Church

 * Louisiana Historical Church Information
 * Directory of Churches in Louisiana, by city (Church Angel)

Libraries

 * Allen Parish Libraries. You can access local records at the library or through Heritage Quest which is linked between all libraries.
 * Three locations:
 * 320 S. 6th Street Oberlin, LA 70655 Phone: 318-491-4543 Fax: 337-639-2654
 * 405 E. 6th Avenue Oakdale, LA 71463 Phone: 318-335-2690 Fax: 318-335-4743
 * 833 4th Avenue Kinder, LA 70648 Phone: 318-491-4545 Fax: 337-738-4213

Local Histories
Louisiana Museums


 * From Whence They Came, by J. Erwin Kelmsley (includes Irwin, Beckham, Goodbee, Rogers, and Smith families)


 * Early Allen Parish, Louisiana marriage records, 1889-1942 : computer indexed marriage records


 * Inventory of the parish archives of Louisiana: no. 2, Allen Parish (Oberlin)


 * Family maps of Allen Parish, Louisiana: with homesteads, roads, waterways, towns, cemeteries, railroads, and more

Maps

 * Maps of Louisiana (1805-1990)
 * Family Maps of Allen Parish, Louisiana (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
 * USGW Digital Map Collection (USGenWeb Project)
 * Allen Parish Zip Code Map

Military

 * Louisiana Military History Online

Civil War
Online Records
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1898-1950 - at FamilySearch — images

World War I

 * 1917-1918 - at FamilySearch — index and images

World War II

 * 1940-1945 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * Allen Parish, Louisiana World War II Casualties Army and Air Force

Newspapers

 * Louisiana Newspaper List, listing by name/parish (USNPL)
 * Louisiana Newspaper listing (Newslink)

Obituaries

 * Allen Parish Obituaries and Death Notices (Genealogy Trails)
 * Index to Louisiana Obituaries of Allen Parish (USGenWeb Archives)

Probate
Louisiana Probate Records

Online Probate Records
 * 1756 – 1984 Louisiana Wills and Probate Records 1756-1984 at Ancestry — index and images $

Vital Records

 * Louisiana Records and Statistics Information - where and how to order information.

Birth

 * Allen County Birth Records (Genealogy Trails)

Marriage

 * 1837–1957 -  at FamilySearch — index and images

Death

 * Allen Parish Death Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1850-1875, 1894-1960 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Societies

 * Allen Genealogical & Historical Society PO Box 789 Kinder, LA 70648-0789
 * Central Louisiana Genealogical Society PO Box 12206 Alexandria, LA 71315-2206 Website
 * Louisiana Historical Society Website
 * Louisiana Historical Association Website

Websites

 * Louisiana Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Louisiana Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Allen Parish Tourist Commission This site includes Allen Parish history as well as a Ward Map. Many of the Louisiana census records were recorded as wards.
 * Allen Parish Genealogy
 * Allen Parish (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Allen Parish on Facebook
 * Lousiana Genealogy on Facebook
 * Allen Parish on Louisiana.gov
 * Louisiana Archives (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Allen Parish, Louisiana Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Allen Parish, Louisiana on KindredTrails.com
 * Genealogy Trails: Allen Parish, Louisiana
 * Allen Parish LA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
 * Allen Parish LA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)