West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana Genealogy

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

Description
The West Baton Rouge Parish was named for the bâton rouge, French for red stick and was created in March 31, 1807. The parish seat is Port Allen and is located in the central area of the state.

Parish Courthouse
West Baton Rouge Parish Courthouse 850 8th St Port Allen, LA 70767 Phone: 225-383-0378 West Baton Rouge Parish Courthouse Clerk Court has birth, marriage, probate and land records.

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:

Biographies

 * West Baton Rouge Parish Biographies (Genealogy Trails)
 * Index to West Baton Rouge Parish Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)

Census Records

 * West Baton Rouge Parish Census Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Louisiana Census Images (USGenWeb Census Images Project)

Church Records

 * Louisiana Historical Church Information
 * Directory of Churches in Louisiana — at Church Angel — by city

 List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Court Records
Online Court Indexes and Records
 * West Baton Rouge Parish Court Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
 African Americans
 * Louisiana African American Griots Project
 * Afrigeneas - African Ancestored Genealogy
 * African American Cemeteries, listing by parish
 * 1719-1820 West Baton Rouge Parish Slave Records (Genealogy Trails)

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Maps of Louisiana (1805-1990)
 * Louisiana Digital Map Library at USGen Web Archives
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this parish - How to Use FS Places

Military Records

 * Louisiana Military History Online

 Civil War
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images at Partner Site
 * 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images at Partner Site
 * 1818-1872 West Baton Rouge Pensioners, 1818-1872 (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1898-1950 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images

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
 * West Baton Rouge Enlistments, World War II (Genealogy Trails)

Newspapers

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

Obituaries

 * West Baton Rouge Parish Obituaries and Death Notices (Genealogy Trails)
 * Index to West Baton Rouge Parish Obituaries (USGenWeb Archives)

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1756-1984 Louisiana Wills and Probate Records 1756-1984 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
 * Dates Vary United States Wills and Deeds Experimental Search at FamilySearch - incomplete index and images, counties and dates vary

Social Security Records

 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Birth

 * 1847-1853 West Baton Rouge Parish Birth Records (Genealogy Trails)

Marriage

 * 1837-1957 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * West Baton Rouge Parish Marriage Records (Genealogy Trails)

Death

 * 1850-1875, 1894-1960 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * West Baton Rouge Parish Death Records (Genealogy Trails)

FamilySearch Centers

 * Baker Louisiana FamilySearch Center
 * Baton Rouge Louisiana FamilySearch Center
 * Denham Springs Louisiana FamilySearch Center
 * Opelousas Louisiana FamilySearch Center
 * East Baton Rouge Parish Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Livingston Parish Library - an affiliate library
 * West Feliciana Parish Library - an affiliate library

Museums

 * Louisiana Museums

Societies

 * West Baton Rouge Genealogical Society 814 Avenue E PO Box 1126 Port Allen, LA 70767-1126 225-749-2874
 * West Baton Rouge Museum and Historical Society 845 North Jefferson Avenue Port Allen, LA 70767-2417 Phone: 225-336-2422 or 1-888-881-6811 Fax: 225-336-3448
 * Louisiana Historical Society 428 Hector Ave Metairie, La. 70005-4412 Website
 * Louisiana Historical Association 101 LSU Student Union LSU Box 25435 Baton Rouge, LA 70803 Website

Websites

 * West Baton Rouge, Louisiana Genealogy & History Network
 * West Baton Rouge GenWeb, LA GenWeb
 * West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana (USGenWeb Archives)
 * West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, Genealogy and History (Genealogy Trails)
 * West Baton Rouge Parish LA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
 * – 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.