Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana Genealogy

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

Description
Calcasieu Parish was named for the Atakapa word for crying eagle and was created in March 24, 1840. The parish seat is Lake Charles and is located in the southwest area of the state.

Parish Courthouse
Calcasieu Parish Courthouse 1000 Ryan St Lake Charles, LA 70601 Phone: 337-437-3550 Calcasieu Parish Courthouse Parish Clerk has marrige, divorce, probate, court and land records from 1910.

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:

History Timeline
When Louisiana became a state, the large, sparsely settled area between the Atchafalaya and Sabine rivers was designated St. Landry. As the parish became more populated, settlers began to complain about the long horse or wagon journey they had to make to Opelousas. By 1840, the area had enough settlers that the Louisiana Legislature took note of their complaints and created a new parish out of the southwest corner of St. Landry. The new parish was named Calcasieu in honor of the region's principal river.

The name Calcasieu (pronounced Cal-ca-shoo) comes from the Atakapan word, "quelqueshue", meaning "crying eagle". It was originally the name of an Atakapa chief, but became the name given to what was formerly the Rio Hondo River (Rio Stondo or "Deep River"), now the Calcasieu River. The parish then inherited this name.

The May 3, 1912, issue of the American Press reported: "In one of the most representative meetings ever held in the state, as well as one of the most harmonious, it was decided at the parish convention in this city [Lake Charles] last night to divide Imperial Calcasieu parish into four parishes. Amicable agreements were made upon the lines of division."

The divisions were as follows:


 * Part set off for Jefferson Davis Parish 12 June 1912.
 * Part set off for Beauregard Parish 12 Jun 1912.
 * Various parts taken to add to other existing parishes, Rapides 1852, St. Landry 1852, Vermilion 1871, Allen 1912.

Bible Records

 * Calcasieu Parish Bible Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Biographies

 * Index to Calcasieu Parish Biographies (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Calcasieu Parish Biographies (Genealogy Trails)

Census Records

 * 1840 1840 Census - Text; 1840 Census - Images (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 1850 1850 Census - Text (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Calcasieu Parish Census Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Calcasieu Parish Census Quick Facts

Church Records

 * Early Churches of Calcasieu Parish (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Calcasieu Parish Church Records (ldsgenealogy.com)
 * Current Churches of Calcasieu Parish (USGenWeb Archives)

 List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
 African Americans
 * African-American Resources for Louisiana - Links to FamilySearch Library and Online Resources
 * African American Cemeteries, listing by county

Land and Property Records
Online Land Indexes and Records
 * Calcasieu Parish Land Patent Search
 * Calcasieu Parish Land and Tax Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Local Histories

 * 1836-1865 Thomas Rigmaiden's Diary - Thomas Rigmaiden, Imperial Calcasieu's first school teacher, kept a diary from 1836 to 1865. The diary entries are a great resource about the people and events of early Calcasieu Parish.
 * A Timeline History of Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana
 * Calcasieu Parish history information (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Calcasieu Parish places on the National Register of Historic Places
 * On This Day in Southwest Louisiana History
 * Calcasieu Parish History Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Calcasieu Parish LA Historical Records (ldsgenealogy.com)

Maps and Gazetteers

 * 1805-1990 Maps of Louisiana (1805-1990)
 * 1895 1895 Map of Calcasieu Parish
 * Family Maps of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.
 * GIS Maps of Calcasieu Parish - Downloadable/printable pdf maps, including cities, political districts, parks and Government buildings.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this parish - How to Use FS Places

Military Records

 * Military Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Calcasieu Parish Military Records (USGenWeb Archives)

 Civil War
 * 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 Calcasieu Parish Pensioners on the Rolls as of January 1, 1883 (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1898-1950 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * Confederate Pension Applications - The Louisiana Secretary of State's searchable database contains over 49,000 names that were included in pension applications submitted to the Board of Pension Commissioners.

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
 * Calcasieu Parish, World War II Casualties, Army and Air Force

Newspapers

 * Lake Charles American Press - Online subscriptions or day passes to the ePaper allow users to search the entire archives.
 * Chronicling America - Calcasieu Parish - Directory of Calcasieu Parish newspapers, Library of Congress website
 * Calcasieu Parish News Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Calcasieu Parish Newspapers and Obituaries (ldsgenealogy.com)

Obituaries

 * Calcasieu Parish Newspapers and Obituaries (ldsgenealogy.com)
 * Calcasieu Parish Obituaries and Death Notices (Genealogy Trails)
 * Calcasieu Parish Obituary Records (USGenWeb Archives)

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

Tax Records
Online Tax Indexes and Records
 * 1865 Tax Roll

Birth

 * Calcasieu Parish Birth Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Calcasieu Parish LA Birth Records (ldsgenealogy.com)

Marriage

 * 1837-1957 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * Calcasieu County Marriage Announcements (Genealogy Trails)
 * Calcasieu Parish Marriage Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Death

 * 1850-1875, 1894-1960 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * Death records Louisiana Secretary of State - Search by deceased's name, parish or month of death, for deaths that occurred in Louisiana over 50 years ago.
 * Calcasieu Parish Death Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Archives

 * McNeese State University Archives and Special Collections

FamilySearch Centers

 * Lafayette Louisiana FamilySearch Center
 * Opelousas Louisiana FamilySearch Center
 * Orange Texas FamilySearch Center
 * Calcasieu Parish Public library - an affiliate library

Libraries
Calcasieu Parish Public Library 411 Pujo St. Lake Charles, LA 70601 Phone: 337-721-7110 Genealogy Collections Louisiana Digital Library Online library containing photographs, maps, manuscript materials, books, and oral histories that document history and culture

Societies
Brimstone Museum and Historical Society 800 Picard Rd Sulphur, LA 70663-4362 337-527-0357 Website Daughters of the American Revolution Louisiana Chapter Locator Website 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 The Southwest Louisiana Genealogy Society, Inc. Website

Websites

 * Calcasieu Parish LAGenWeb Project, a member of The LAGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
 * Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Calcasieu Parish Marriage Project USGW Archives - transcriptions of marriage applications and other marriage records as recorded in the parish court house and state archives.
 * Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, Genealogy and History (Genealogy Trails)
 * 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.