St. Charles Parish

A brief history of St. Charles Parish

    In 1805, two years after the Louisiana Purchase, "Louisiana" only consisted of the current land west of the Mississippi River and the Isle of Orleans (the land on the east bank of the Mississippi River and south of Bayou Manchac). Our state was known as the Territory of Orleans and it's governing body, the Legislative Council, divided the territory into twelve counties:  Acadia, Attakapas, Concordia, German Coast, Iberville, Lafourche, Natchitoches, Opelousas, Orleans, Ouachita, Pointe-Coupée, and Rapides.  German Coast County included the Catholic Church parishes of St. Charles Borromeo and St. John the Baptist, commonly called the first and second German Coasts.
    On March 31, 1807 the Legislative Council of the Territory of Orleans redivided the original twelve counties into nineteen parishes, based on the ecclesiastical boundaries of the period of Spanish government.
    At this point German Coast county was divided into St. Charles Parish and St. John the Baptist Parish.  The courthouse was established on the west bank near Hahnville.  The Territory of Orleans along with the West Florida Republic became the state of Louisiana in 1812.  By 1861 the current boundaries of St. Charles Parish were in place.

| Courthouse | Churches | Libraries | Plantations | Towns |

COURTHOUSE

St. Charles Parish Clerk of Court Charles J. Oubre, Jr. 15045 River Road P.O. Box 424 Hahnville, Louisiana 70057 (985) 783-6632 Phone (985) 783-2005 Fax

More info about researching in the courthouse soon!

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CHURCHES

   By understanding the history of the Catholic Church in St. Charles Parish, tracing your genealogy can be rather easy.  This section will provide you with the information needed to research your St. Charles Parish ancestors.
Please note that Genealogical research for Catholic Sacramental Records can be found for 1718-1825 in the Archdiocese of New Orleans Sacramental Records books which can be ordered from the Archives Department of the Archdiocese of New Orleans or found in most local libraries.  For periods 1826-1900 you must write to the Archdiocese Archives for information.  The procedure is listed on their website.  For records from 1900-current you must write to the individual churches below.  Please use P.O. Boxes where given for mailing purposes.  Each church establishes it's own procedures for genealogical research.
In the near future this information will be updated to give specific holdings of each church and the records available for that parish.

St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church 13396 Hwy 48 (River Road) P.O. Box 428 Destrehan, Louisiana 70047-0428 (985) 764-6383
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church 15169 Hwy 18 (River Road) 1 Rectory Lane Hahnville, Louisiana 70057-2161 (985) 783-1199			Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church 401 Spruce Street P.O. Box 515 Norco, Louisiana 70079-0515 (985) 764-6503
St. Mark Catholic Church 10771 Hwy 18 (River Road) P.O. Box 556 Ama, Louisiana 70031-0556 (985) 431-8505	St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church 234 Angus Drive Luling, Louisiana 70070-4427 (985) 785-8885	St. Gertrude Catholic Church 17292 Old Hwy 90 P.O. Box 767 Des Allemands, Louisiana 70030-0767 (985) 758-7542
	Holy Family Catholic Church 155 Holy Family Lane Luling, Louisiana 70070-6103 (985) 785-8585	St. John the Baptist Catholic Church 421 Hwy 306 P.O. Box 1498 Paradis, Louisiana  70080-1498 (985) 758-2668

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LIBRARIES

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PLANTATIONS

Destrehan Destrehan, Louisiana

Home Place Hahnville, Louisiana

Ormond New Sarpy, Louisiana

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TOWNS

    In this section we hope to provide as much history and some photos from throughout the communities in this parish.  Local landmarks, old buildings, schools, and business with local German-Acadian Coast names.  More information will be provided soon.

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