Red River Parish, Louisiana Genealogy

Guide to Red River 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 the Red River. The County has Coushatta as its seat and the County was created March 2, 1871. The County is located in the northwest area of the state.

Parish Courthouse
Red River Parish Courthouse 615 East Carroll Street Coushatta, LA 71019 Phone: 318.932.6741 Clerk Court has marriage and probate records from 1871, divorce and court records from 1904.

Parent Parish

 * 1871--Red River Parish was created 2 March 1871 from Caddo, Bienville, Bossier, DeSoto, and Natchitoches Parishes. Parish seat: Coushatta

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:

Neighboring Parishes or Counties

 * Bienville
 * Bossier
 * Caddo
 * DeSoto
 * Natchitoches

African American

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

Bible Records

 * Red River Parish Bible Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Biographies

 * Red River Parish: The People (Genealogy Trails)
 * Index to Red River Parish Biography Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Red River Parish Biographies (LAGenWeb)

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


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

Census

 * Red River Parish Census Records (LAGenWeb)
 * Louisiana Census Images (USGenWeb Census Images Project)

Church

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

Court

 * Red River Parish Court Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Land

 * Red River Parish Land Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Local Histories

 * Louisiana Museums
 * Red River Parish History (Genealogy Trails)
 * Red River Parish History (LAGenWeb)

Maps

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

Military
Louisiana Military History Online

Civil War
Online Records
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861-1865 - US Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1861-1865, Red River Parish, Louisiana (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1883 - Red River Parish Pensioners List 1883 (Genealogy Trails)
 * 1898-1950 - at FamilySearch — images

Civil War Battle
The following Civil War battle was fought in Red River Parish:


 * April 12-13, 1864 - Blair’s Landing, also known as Pleasant Hill Landing


 * Map showing Civil War battles in Louisiana

World War I

 * 1917-1920 - at FamilySearch — index and images

World War II

 * 1940-1945 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * Index to World War II Army Enlistment Records, Red River Parish (Genealogy Trails)
 * World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army & Army Air Forces Personnel, Red River Parish (Genealogy Trails)
 * World War II Casualty List, Navy and Marine Corps Casualties, Red River Parish (LAGenWeb)

Newspapers

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

Additional newspapers abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as LA Newspaper abstracts newspapers in online catalogs like:
 * WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
 * Do a LA Newspaper abstracts Place-name search for these and other records in the FamilySearch Catalog (For instructions see FamilySearch Catalog Place-name Search).


 * Red River Parish, Louisiana, Newspaper Articles (Genealogy Trails)
 * Red River Parish Newspaper Marriage Announcements (Genealogy Trails)
 * Red River Parish News Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * The Coushatta Riot (LAGenWeb)

Obituaries

 * Red River Parish Obituaries (Genealogy Trails)
 * Index to Red River Parish Obituary Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Probate
Louisiana Probate Records

Online Probate Records
 * Red River Parish Wills Records (USGenWeb Archives)
 * 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.
 * Index to Red River Parish Vital Records (USGenWeb Archives)

Marriage

 * 1837–1957 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * Index to Red River Parish Marriages (USGenWeb Archives)
 * Index of Red River Parish Marriages (LAGenWeb)

Death

 * 1850-1875, 1894-1960 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Societies and Libraries

 * Red River Heritage Rt 4, Box 364 1825 Ringgold Ave Coushatta, LA 71019-8730 Phone: 318-932-8351
 * Louisiana Historical Society Website
 * Louisiana Historical Association Website

Websites

 * Louisiana Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Louisiana Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * Red River Parish, LAGenWeb Project, part of the USGenWeb Project
 * Red River Parish, Louisiana, USGenWeb Archives
 * Red River Parish, Louisiana Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Red River Parish, Louisiana, Genealogy and History (Genealogy Trails)
 * Red River Parish LA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)
 * Red River Parish LA Genealogy (ldsgenealogy.com)