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SEARCH FOR YOUR ANCESTORS IN THESE LOUISIANA GENEALOGICAL DATABASES:
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Bienville Parish History and Information
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Bienville Parish Facts

Bienville Parish
Bienville Parish was created on 1848 , from Claiborne Parish and the parish was named in honor of the founder of the city of New Orleans, Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville. . The Parish seat is Arcadia .

It is borderd by Claiborne Parish (north), Lincoln Parish (northeast), Jackson Parish (east), Winn Parish (southeast), Natchitoches Parish (south), Red River Parish (southwest), Bossier Parish (west), Webster Parish (northwest) . Cites, Towns and Communities include Arcadia, Bienville, Bryceland, Castor, Gibsland, Jamestown, Lucky, Mount Lebanon, Ringgold, Saline . The Official County Website is located at http://www.bienvilleparish.org/ . See Extended History for More information.

 

There are free downloadable and printable forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms, U.K. Census Extraction Forms, Research Calendar, Ancestral Chart, Research Extract, Correspondence Record , Family Group Sheet , Source Summary Form.

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Bienville Parish Court Records

See Also Louisiana Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

PLEASE READ!! Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information.

   Bienville Parish Clerk of Court has Court Records from 1848 and Land Records from 1848 and Probate Records from 1848 has Marriage Records from 1848 and is located at 100 Courthouse Drive, Room 100, Arcadia, LA 71001, (318) 263-2123, (318) 263-7426 Fax .
   The Clerk of Court for each parish in Louisiana performs the functions of more than one office. As the Recorder, the office of the Clerk of Court receives, files, records and indexes all mortgages, conveyances and all other instruments recorded in the Public Records for the Parish. The Clerk’s Office receives and files all pleadings, such as petitions, answers, motions and other filings in Civil and Probate matters, as well as indictments, bills of information and other filings in Criminal matters. The Clerk’s Office also handles special Juvenile matters and Criminal Neglect cases. Another function of the Clerk’s Office is the issuance of Marriage Licenses and recording their returns after the marriages are performed.

There are a few online databases for Court, Land and Probate Records which include:Louisiana Marriages, 1718-1925, Louisiana Marriages to 1850, Louisiana Marriage Records, 1851-1900, New Orleans, Louisiana Marriage Records Index, 1831-1925, Louisiana Land Records. You may also search the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) which does cover Louisiana and does cover surrounding states. Many pioneers and settelers bought land from the government instead of individuals.


Search Online Click Here to Search Louisiana Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records! - Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

Below is a list of online resources for Bienville Parish Court Records. Email us with websites containing Bienville Parish Court Records by clicking the link below:

  • Bienville Parish, Louisiana Court Books at Amazon.com

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Bienville Parish Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in Louisiana

Search Online Click Here to Search Louisiana Birth, Marriage & Death Records! - Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information. Look also for baptism, christening, and burial records in this collection.

Some documents are just too important to wait six weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. Birth, Marriage, Divorce & Death Certificates Signed. Sealed. Delivered. Often in as few as three business days!

   Vital Records Registry Office of Public Health, 325 Loyola Avenue, P.O. Box 60630. New Orleans, LA 70160; Tel: 504-568-5150 504- 568-5152 (automated) is the repository for all Louisiana Birth Certificates less than 101 years old and all Louisiana Death Certificates less than 51 years old. Existing records of births which occurred in Louisiana more than 100 years ago or deaths which occurred more than 50 years ago are maintained by the Louisiana State Archives. They have the following records:

  • Birth Certificates: State office has had records since July 1914. Birth records for city of New Orleans are available from 1892. Death records are available since 1942. Older birth, death, and marriage records are available through the Louisiana State Archives, P.O. Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804.
    • Cost: The cost of a birth record is $15.00. Fees must be remitted by personal check, money order or Credi/Debit Card Online for the exact amount at the time the order is placed. No credit cards are accepted except online. If the record is not on file, one fee is retained to cover the expense of the search. Please do not send cash in the mail.
    • Processing Time: 4-6 weeks when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY
  • Death Certificates: Death records maintained by Arkansas Vital Records start with February 1, 1914 through the present. Arkansas Vital Records does have a limited number of deaths occurring prior to 1914 for Little Rock and Fort Smith dating from 1881. The Arkansas History Commission has a death index of deaths occurring in Arkansas from 1914 through 1949. This is only an alphabetical listing of deaths occurring in Arkansas. The History Commission does not have copies of the death records. 
    • Cost: The cost of a death record is $7.00. Fees must be remitted by personal check, money order or Credi/Debit Card Online for the exact amount at the time the order is placed. No credit cards are accepted except online. If the record is not on file, one fee is retained to cover the expense of the search. Please do not send cash in the mail.
    • Processing Time: 4-6 weeks when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY
    • Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREE
  • Marriage Certificates: Orleans Parish records only from Vital Records Registry or the Louisiana State Archives. For other parishes, certified copies are available from the Clerk of the Court in the parish where the license was issued.
  • Divorce Certificates: Divorce records are available from Clerk of Court in parish where divorce was granted. Fees vary. Call Civil District Court, (504) 592-9100.

Order By Mail: SUBMIT APPLICATION, COPY OF STATE OR FEDERAL PHOTO ID AND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO: Vital Records Registry, P.O. Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160. Please do not send cash in the mail. IF NO RECORD IS FOUND, YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED AND FEES WILL BE RETAINED FOR THE SEARCH PER R.S. 40:40.
Order On-Line:  To obtain a certified copy of a vital record by on-line purchase with a credit card, please link to VitalChek.

There are a few online marriage databases which include:Louisiana Statewide Death Index, 1900-1949, New Orleans, Louisiana Birth Records Index, 1790-1899, New Orleans, Louisiana Marriage Records Index, 1831-1925, New Orleans, Louisiana Death Records Index, 1804-1949 and New Orleans Deaths, 1840-1970

Below is a list of online resources for Bienville Parish Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Bienville Parish Vital Records by clicking the link below:

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Bienville Parish Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records

Search Online Click Here to Search Louisiana Voter Lists & Census Records! - Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable.

  Parishwide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Bienville Parish, Louisiana are 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your family tree in Bienville Parish, Louisiana are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880.

  Statewide Records that exist for Louisiana are 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. After the 1803 purchase of Louisiana it became an American possession; therefore, the first federal census report taken for the state was 1810.

Caution should be used particularly with the AIS indexes for Louisiana. Many of the French and Spanish names were transcribed wrong and numerous omissions exist. Many of these population schedules have been published. See Louisiana Census Records. Volume I: Avoyelles and St. Landry Parishes, 1810 and 1820 & Louisiana Census Records. Volume II: Iberville, Natchitoches, Pointe Coupee, and Rapides Parishes, 1810 and 1820 by Robert Bruce L. Ardoin & The Census Tables for the French Colony of Louisiana from 1699 Through 1732 by Charles R. Maduell, Jr. These books are on 1 Family Archive CD

As early as 1860 the federal government began attempts to identify Native Americans. In 1900 and 1910 it created a special Indian schedule. The first page was the same as the population census only it had “Indian Population” as its heading. The second page provided for such important information as: tribal affiliation, the tribe of each parent, the person's Indian blood quantum, and—if not full blooded —their precise racial mixture. These schedules will be found at the end of the ward or district in which the Native American resided.

  There are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Union Veterans Schedules were conducted in 1890.

Below is a list of online resources for Bienville Parish Census Records. Email us with websites containing Bienville Parish Census Records by clicking the link below:

  • Bienville Parish, Louisiana Census Books at Amazon.com

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Bienville Parish Maps & Atlases

   Genealogy Atlas has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for Louisiana and other states.
   You can view rotating animated maps for Louisiana showing all the parish boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in parish boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps
   You can view rotating animated maps for Louisiana showing all the parish boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in parish boundaries . You can view a list of maps for other states and State Department of Transportation Maps at County Maps.

Below is a list of online resources for Bienville Parish Maps. Email us with websites containing Bienville Parish Maps by clicking the link below:

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Bienville Parish Military Records

See Also Military Records in Louisiana

Search Online Click Here to Search Louisiana Military Records! - Military and civil service records provide unique facts and insights into the lives of men and women who have served their country at home and abroad.

   The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design.

Below is a list of online resources for Bienville Parish Military Records. Email us with websites containing Bienville Parish Military Records by clicking the link below:

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Bienville Parish Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

   Tax records are a valuable but little-used source. Almost everything was taxed: household and personal goods, livestock, slaves, and property. Tax lists can be used as a substitute census, to create complete neighborhoods for a neighborhood study, establish relationships, locate land, and so on. Unfortunately, most of these lists no longer exist in Louisiana, but those that are extant are usually found in the tax assessor's office in the Bienville Parish courthouse.

Below is a list of online resources for Bienville Parish Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Bienville Parish Tax Records by clicking the link below:

  • Bienville Parish, Louisiana Tax Books at Amazon.com

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Bienville Parish Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Louisiana Genealogical Addresses

   The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be more generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Below is a list of online resources for Bienville Parish Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Bienville Parish Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

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Bienville Parish Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Louisiana

Search Online Click Here to Search Louisiana Obituary Records! - This database is a compilation of obituaries published in U.S. newspapers, collected from various online sources. Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

   There are many churches and cemeteries in Bienville Parish. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Bienville Parish Tombstone Transcription Project.

Most Catholic church registers are still in the local parish church. Many of them have been translated and published. 

The recording of cemetery inscriptions in Louisiana has long been a project of the DAR and numerous genealogical societies. Genealogical publications continually print these inscriptions in their issues.

Below is a list of online resources for Bienville Parish Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Bienville Parish Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

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Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

Search Online Click Here to Search Louisiana Family Tree Records! - The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

   When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Bienville Parish Family Trees, web forums and other family type information . Email us with websites containing Bienville Parish Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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County History

    By: Sharon O. Kleinpeter

It is doubtful if LaSalle in his 1687 exploration of Louisiana ever set foot in Bienville Parish. But, in 1690 the area was explored by Don Domingo Teran DeRios who was sent from Mexico to scout the complete area of the Caddo Federation of Indians. He was considered the first white leader to sight Lake Bistineau. Father Masinettes, who was with the expedition, established a mission called "Mission Loretteto". This site is believed to be near present day Ringgold, Louisiana.

In 1700, Bienville and St. Denis explored the areas west of the Mississippi River. In 1714, St. Dennis founded Natchitoches, the first permanent settlement in present Louisiana. Bienville Parish was part of Natchitoches County.

Originally, Bienville Parish was a part of the Territory of Orleans, then it was known as the Catholic Parish of St. Francis. In 1805 it became part of Natchitoches County which was changed to Natchitoches Parish in 1807. In 1828 old Natchitoches was divided and portions of it (including present Bienville Parish)became Claiborne Parish. In 1848 the lower part of Claiborne became Bienville Parish, it being named in honor of the "Father of Louisiana", Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Bienville. Legislative Act 183, creating Bienville Parish, was enacted during the administration of Governor Isaac Johnson.

Mt. Lebanon became the first permanent stable community in Bienville Parish. Reuben Drake came to the area, scouting land for his South Carolina families. A church and school were at the top of their priority list. For many years these people and their descendants led the state in Christianity and education. Mt.Lebanon University and its Female College branch were the pride of the region and owed their existence to the Louisiana Baptists. The college was moved to Pineville in 1907 and became Louisiana College.

The town of Sparta was the first parish seat. It was the cultural and political center of the parish until the late nineteenth century. It was built on an incredibly sandy, eight-acre tract of federal land which was transferred to the parish. Wagon roads led to Sparta from almost all the communities in the parish as early as the 1850's and perhaps sooner. Despite its centralized location, Sparta proved to be a remote community. Unfortunately, Sparta was located far away from any navigable watercourse. Merchants had to haul their goods from Lake Bistineau, 18 miles away, or from the Ouachita River. But it was the coming oft he railroad that doomed Sparta. The railroad was constructed in the northern part of the parish thus cutting off the town of Sparta. Arcadia and Gibsland, 20 miles north of Sparta, became boom towns and the economic focus of the parish began to shift.

In 1890 citizens of Arcadia and Gibsland petitioned the state legislature for permission to hold a referendum to decide whether or not to move the parish seat. In the third referendum, Arcadia carried the election by 65 votes eliminating other candidates, Bienville and Gibsland.

Controversy still surrounds what the residents call "the midnight raid". Approximately thirty minutes after the final tabulation of the ballots six wagons, loaded with Arcadians, surrounded the deserted Sparta courthouse. Some of the Arcadians entered the building and tossed out most of the parochial records to their waiting companions. In a wild chase which ensued, it is more than likely that some records were lost.Many newspaper articles referred to that night in 1893 as the night "Bienville government was stolen".

Undoubtedly, the early settlers envisioned a prosperous land as a legacy to future generations. But the road to prosperity took a sharp turn with the beginning of the Civil War. Dr. Philip C. Cook in his article "Bienville Parish: A History of Progress" gives the following account of that period of Bienville Parish history. "Religious, social and educational institutions were becoming a familiar part of BienvilleParish life, along with the government and political activities that were characteristic of the older regions.All evidence points toward a Bienville Parish in 1860 that was well on its way toward fulfilling the dreams and ambition of its settlers. Yet that same year marked the beginning of a disastrous war that would destroy this progress and long retard the entire region.

While human losses were high, the Civil War took a much greater toll in the economy of the parish.The boom years of the 1850's and the strong demand for cotton had led everyone who could possibly do so to stake everything on cotton farms and slaves. Fortunes large and small were lost and more significantly, away of life was 'gone with the wind'. Although genteel plantation culture never existed to a great extent in Bienville Parish, the hopes and dreams of the more numerous common farmers were oriented that way.Instead, the abolition of slavery ended those dreams and produced a somewhat leveling effect, wiping out wealth and reducing many of the previously affluent struggling for survival."

Economic recovery was slow as a nation torn apart by war had to heal many wounds and find new ways of doing business. The dependence on cotton had lulled innovative minds to sleep. But the drastic decline in cotton prices in 1877 was a chilling wake-up call. King cotton was dethroned.

The coming of the railroad infused new hope in a tired land. The rails opened up markets for a natural resource that had been overlooked - timber. Sawmills came into the parish to harvest virgin timber.Sawmills brought jobs. Jobs and the sale of timber supplemented the income derived from cotton farming.The timber industry continues to dominate the economy of Bienville parish today.

In 1934 Bienville Parish became famous as the location where law officers gunned down the infamous criminals "Bonnie and Clyde". The back-country outlaws were accused of killing 12 people, nine of them policemen. In 1967 Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway portrayed the outlaws in a movie. Local residents have mixed emotions about the notoriety gained for the parish. Many feel that the movie glamorized the outlaws who were really cold-blooded murderers.

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