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Does Anyone Ever Look at All This Stuff II?
Richard P. Sevier
July 2008
NOTE: This is an update to the article that appeared in January 2008 and covers the period June 2007-June 2008

Shortly after I became Administrator/Coordinator for the Madison Parish LaGenWeb website in 1997 and the Madison Parish Archives website in 1998, I began to wonder if anyone was really looking at these sites. In 1999 to answer these questions I put “counters” on each site’s Home Page and also on selected sub-sites. See the examples below:

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Graph showing the weekly and cumulative visits (“hits”) to the Madison Parish LaGenWeb site

Between 2000 and 2008 the weekly accesses (commonly known as “hits”) to the LaGenWeb website varied from a low of less than 40 per week to a high of almost 200 per week. At the beginning of the year 2000, the average (yellow line) number of accesses per week was about 55. By 2008 this rate had grown to over 100—a substantial increase—and is still on the rise.

madison count_7475_image003.gif
Graph showing the weekly and cumulative accesses (“hits”) to the Madison Parish Archives site

In contrast, activity for the Madison Parish Archives website has had its ups and downs. At the beginning of 1999 the number of “hits” per week was about 23. This increased to a high of about 31 during 2002-2004 but has since dropped down to about 15-20, sometimes barely averaging 2 per day. Content and format on the Archives site is much more restrictive than that of the LaGenWeb, and for that reason the LaGenWeb site is much more popular. However, since the two sites are hyperlinked together, each site can find the other.

Activity graphs of some of the more popular LaGenWeb/Laarchives sub-sites are shown below:

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So it appears that these websites are being viewed fairly regularly after all. But then I began to wonder where these people lived who visited the Madison websites. Did any of them live in a foreign country? How did they find the websites in the first place? What were they really looking for? How many of the sub-sites or pages did they visit and how long did they stay? When did they visit? Etc.

In late June 2007 I found the answer to most of these questions in the form of a service called Sitemeter. Sitemeter pretty much answered all of my questions. Sitemeter does not identify the individual making the “hit”, and the location is “unknown” on about 18% of the “hits”, but it gives quite a bit of interesting data. For instance from June 2007 through July 1, 2008 there have been 325 attempts (“hits”) in 176 cities in 54 foreign countries to access either the Madison Parish LaGenWeb or LaArchives websites. A detail of this is shown below:

Foreign Country List

Foreign City List

Different

Total

Times

Times

Cities

Cities

Visited

Visited

Angola

1

1

Angola, Luanda

1

Germany, Wittlich

1

Argentina

1

1

Argentina, Buenos Aires

1

Guam, Hagatna

1

Australia

13

42

Australia, Adelaide

1

Guam, Santa Rita

1

Austria

1

3

Australia, Canberra

2

Hong Kong, Central District

1

Bahamas

1

1

Australia, Devonport

1

Hungary, Budapest

1

Barbados

1

1

Australia, Ebbw Vale

11

India, Bombay

1

Belgium

2

3

Australia, Hexham

1

India, Palam

1

Brazil

2

2

Australia, Kingston Park

1

India, Unknown

1

Bulgaria

1

1

Australia, Manly

1

Indonesia, Jakarta

3

Canada

28

59

Australia, Melbourne

16

Iran, Iran

1

Chile

2

2

Australia, Melton

1

Ireland, Dublin

23

China

2

2

Australia, Pendle Hills

1

Ireland, Louth

30

Costa Rica

1

1

Australia, Perth

1

Israel, Bet Dagan

1

Cote D'Ivoire

2

2

Australia, Sydney

3

Italy, Falconara Marittima

1

Croatia

1

1

Australia, Unknown

2

Italy, Milano

1

Czech Republic

3

4

Austria, Vienna

3

Italy, Oristano

1

Denmark

1

2

Bahamas, Nassau

1

Italy, Rome

2

Egypt

1

1

Barbados, Bridgetown

1

Italy, Spilamberto

1

Finland

1

1

Belgium, Aalst

2

Italy, Verona

1

France

9

11

Belgium, Antwerp

1

Japan, Unknown

2

Germany

15

17

Brazil, Curitiba

1

Japan, Urayasu

1

Guam

2

2

Brazil, Piracicaba

1

Korea, Unknown

2

Hong Kong

1

1

Bulgaria, Plovdiv

1

Lithuania, Siauliai

1

Hungary

1

1

Canada, Ajax

1

Mexico, Aguascalientes

2

India

3

3

Canada, Burnaby

4

Mexico, Mexico

1

Indonesia

1

3

Canada, Calgary

3

Mexico, Monclova

1

Iran

1

1

Canada, Canmore

1

Mexico, Mrida

1

Ireland

2

53

Canada, Charlottetown

1

Netherlands, Amsterdam

1

Israel

1

1

Canada, Creston

1

Netherlands, Arnhem

1

Italy

6

7

Canada, Dawson Creek

1

Netherlands, Austerlitz

1

Japan

2

3

Canada, Edmonton

2

Netherlands, Cuijk

1

Korea

1

2

Canada, Etobicoke

1

Netherlands, Delft

1

Lithuania

1

1

Canada, Guelph

1

Netherlands, Den Haag

1

Mexico

4

5

Canada, Halifax

1

Netherlands, Ermelo

1

Netherlands

10

10

Canada, Harriston

1

Netherlands, Nederhorst Den Berg

1

Norway

2

2

Canada, Mississauga

1

Netherlands, Ommen

1

Poland

3

3

Canada, Montreal

1

Netherlands, Rotterdam

1

Portugal

1

1

Canada, Oakville

6

Norway, Fornebu

1

Puerto Rico

1

2

Canada, Port Coquitlam

6

Norway, Trondheim

1

Romania

1

1

Canada, Port Credit

1

Poland, Police

1

Russian Federation

3

5

Canada, Port Moody

9

Poland, Poznan

1

Saudi Arabia

1

1

Canada, Prince George

1

Poland, Radom

1

Slovakia

1

2

Canada, Quebec

2

Portugal, Lisboa

1

Spain

7

14

Canada, Saint John

1

Puerto Rico, San Juan

2

Sri Lanka

1

1

Canada, Surrey

1

Romania,  Suceava

1

Sudan

1

1

Canada, Toronto

2

Russian Federation, Moscow

2

Sweden

2

2

Canada, Vancouver

5

Russian Federation, Rostov-na-Donu

2

Switzerland

1

1

Canada, Victoria

1

Russian Federation, Unknown

1

Thailand

2

2

Canada, Waterloo

1

Saudi Arabia, Riyadh

1

Trinidad and Tobago

1

1

Canada, Windsor

2

Slovakia, Bratislava

2

Turkey

1

1

Canada, Winnipeg

1

Spain, Barcelona

3

United Kingdom

20

32

Chile, Lampa

1

Spain, Madrid

6

Vietnam

1

1

Chile, Unknown

1

Spain, Mejorada Del Campo

1

Yemen

1

1

China, Chaoyang

1

Spain, Ministerio

1

China, Peking

1

Spain, Sevilla

1

54 countries

176

325

Costa Rica, San Jose

1

Spain, Unknown

1

Cote D'Ivoire, Abidjan

1

Spain, Vigo

1

Cote D'Ivoire, Unknown

1

Sri Lanka, Unknown

1

Croatia, Zagreb

1

Sudan, Unknown

1

Czech Republic, Ceska

1

Sweden, Gteborg

1

Czech Republic, Losan

1

Sweden, Nykping

1

Czech Republic, Prague

2

Switzerland, Unknown

1

Denmark, Copenhagen

2

Thailand, Bangkok

1

Egypt, Unknown

1

Thailand, Nonthaburi

1

Finland, Helsinki

1

Trinidad and Tobago, Mucurapo

1

France, Angoulme

1

Turkey, Ankara

1

France, Argenteuil

1

United Kingdom, Aberdeen

1

France, Bourges

1

United Kingdom, Cambridge

2

France, Marseille

1

United Kingdom, Cardiff

1

France, Moulineaux

1

United Kingdom, Chelmsford

1

France, Paris

1

United Kingdom, Gateshead

1

France, Roissy-en-Brie

3

United Kingdom, Glasgow

1

France, Ste

1

United Kingdom, Halesowen

1

France, Unknown

1

United Kingdom, Kingston upon Hull

1

Germany, Dortmund

1

United Kingdom, Leeds

1

Germany, Fellbach

1

United Kingdom, Liverpool

1

Germany, Frth

1

United Kingdom, London

3

Germany, Heidelberg

1

United Kingdom, Manchester

1

Germany, Kassel

2

United Kingdom, Saint Albans

2

Germany, Lnen

1

United Kingdom, Slough

1

Germany, Munich

1

United Kingdom, Southampton

1

Germany, Nienburg

1

United Kingdom, Tiverton

1

Germany, Oberursel

1

United Kingdom, Unknown

9

Germany, Sindelfingen

1

United Kingdom, Urmston

1

Germany, Trebur

1

United Kingdom, Winchester

1

Germany, Trittenheim

1

United Kingdom, Wrexham

1

Germany, Unknown

2

Vietnam, Ha Noi

1

Germany, Velbert

1

Yemen, Sana

1


It is really surprising that within this one year period so many people from overseas would be interested in Madison Parish. The reason for most searches was not apparent because, once they entered the website it was hard to tell which pages they visited. Most identifiable searches were for information on the Battle of Milliken’s Bend (about 10% of the total LaGenWeb) which occurred on June 7, 1863. In fact there were so many Battle of Milliken’s Bend searches that I started a separate chart that has had as many as 35 “hits” per week. Many others were interested in cemetery data, especially obituaries. Some even visited the Tallulah High School photo section.

Now what about the United States? During this one year period, people from every state in the union searched for information on Madison Parish. The table below shows the state, number of different cities and the total number of U. S. cities from which inquiries have been received. The five top states in number of “hits” were: Louisiana (1713), Texas (752), Mississippi (364), California (304), and Illinois (219).

Different

Total

Different

Total

Different

Total

Different

Total

State

Cities

"Hits"

State

Cities

"Hits"

State

Cities

"Hits"

State

Cities

"Hits"

 Alabama

25

64

 Idaho

5

6

 Montana

3

7

 South Carolina

12

35

 Alaska

2

2

 Illinois

36

219

 Nebraska

5

15

 South Dakota

3

4

 Arizona

13

110

 Indiana

11

40

 Nevada

6

79

 Tennessee

30

132

 Arkansas

43

118

 Iowa

10

19

 New Hampshire

4

4

 Texas

114

752

 Armed Forces Europe

1

1

 Kansas

19

41

 New Jersey

30

40

 Utah

7

12

 Armed Forces Pacific

1

2

 Kentucky

14

25

 New Mexico

7

14

 Vermont

3

4

 California

101

304

 Louisiana

146

1713

 New York

35

144

 Virginia

30

85

 Colorado

12

46

 Maine

2

2

 North Carolina

31

100

 Washington

16

81

 Connecticut

11

19

 Maryland

23

53

 North Dakota

1

8

 West Virginia

4

5

 Delaware

3

3

 Massachusetts

34

49

 Ohio

28

82

 Wisconsin

17

51

 District of Columbia

1

18

 Michigan

33

54

 Oklahoma

19

121

 Wyoming

3

4

 Florida

53

147

 Minnesota

6

22

 Oregon

11

23

 Georgia

43

116

 Mississippi

85

364

 Pennsylvania

37

47

 Unknown

1227

 Hawaii

2

4

 Missouri

23

196

 Rhode Island

2

4

TOTAL

1216

6837


And how about the individual cities? People from 1216 different U. S. cities requested genealogical or historical information about Madison Parish. This included 6,837 “hits”, on which 1227 (18%) cities and/or states were unidentified, and thus are not shown in the tables. In addition to the unidentified cities and states, no “hits” are ever recorded when a Madison website is accessed directly by bypassing the “Home Page” sites or sub-sites that are not monitored. Many people have their computers set not to be recognized at all by services such as Sitemeter, and therefore have not been counted. Also, America Online (AOL) never reports a city name. In addition they often make each “hit” show up as two “hits”, thereby creating the appearance that twice as many people are using AOL.

The top ten cities were: Baton Rouge, LA (294), Shreveport, LA (247), Monroe, LA (209), Houston, TX (182), Oklahoma City, OK (93), Dallas, TX (92), New Orleans, LA (90), St. Louis, MO (88), Las Vegas, NV (65), and Jackson, MS (63).

When this article was first written in January 2008 it appeared that there were no visits from anyone in Tallulah, Madison Parish’s Parish Seat. All of the surrounding cities such as Lake Providence, Delhi, Rayville, Crowville, Oak Grove, Ferriday, Winnsboro and Start were there, but no Tallulah.  It has since been learned that BellSouth for some reason has lumped their Tallulah internet subscribers with several towns in northwestern Louisiana, so that the name Tallulah never shows up. Many of the “hits” listed below as coming from Minden, Heflin, Jamestown, Ashland, Castor, etc were actually from Tallulah. Tallulah BellSouth subscribers should complain.

City

"Hits"

City

"Hits"

City

"Hits"

Anniston, Alabama

3

Albany, Louisiana

1

Baldwinsville, New York

1

Auburn, Alabama

1

Alexandria, Louisiana

17

Binghamton, New York

1

Birmingham, Alabama

11

Amite, Louisiana

2

Bronx, New York

2

Blountsville, Alabama

1

Arcadia, Louisiana

7

Brooklyn, New York

5

Decatur, Alabama

1

Ashland, Louisiana

16

Buffalo, New York

8

Dothan, Alabama

2

Avery Island, Louisiana

4

Clinton Corners, New York

1

Enterprise, Alabama

1

Baker, Louisiana

6

Cornwall, New York

1

Florala, Alabama

2

Bastrop, Louisiana

7

Floral Park, New York

1

Florence, Alabama

1

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

294

Garden City, New York

5

Hartselle, Alabama

1

Belle Chasse, Louisiana

2

Geneva, New York

1

Hazel Green, Alabama

1

Bentley, Louisiana

1

Horseheads, New York

1

Huntsville, Alabama

8

Benton, Louisiana

2

Jamaica, New York

50

Madison, Alabama

1

Bienville, Louisiana

23

Levittown, New York

3

Mobile, Alabama

11

Bossier City, Louisiana

30

Melville, New York

1

Montgomery, Alabama

8

Broussard, Louisiana

1

Middletown, New York

1

Moulton, Alabama

1

Bunkie, Louisiana

1

Millwood, New York

1

Northport, Alabama

1

Cade, Louisiana

1

Morrisville, New York

1

Selma, Alabama

1

Calhoun, Louisiana

1

Nanuet, New York

1

Smiths Station, Alabama

2

Carencro, Louisiana

1

New York, New York

26

Springville, Alabama

1

Castor, Louisiana

26

Newburgh, New York

1

Summerdale, Alabama

1

Centerville, Louisiana

1

North Collins, New York

1

Talladega, Alabama

1

Chataignier, Louisiana

1

Phelps, New York

3

Trinity, Alabama

1

Chatham, Louisiana

7

Pittsford, New York

1

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

1

Church Point, Louisiana

1