Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:
- That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
- We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
- On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.
By learning about Alva (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.
As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Alva. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.
Neighboring Counties ...
When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.
For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.
So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived: their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the west contained birth and death records; the county to the south contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Alva is located in Montgomery County.
To see how the shape of Mississippi's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Montgomery County: Attala, Carroll, Choctaw, Grenada & Webster.
Below are the counties that are near Alva. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Alva:
- Montgomery County (The home county of Alva)
- The following are listed by their distance from Alva, with the one closest to Alva listed first.
- Sweatman
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Sweatman is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweatman
- Minerva
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Minerva is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minerva
- Duck Hill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Duck Hill is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duck Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,760 people
- Eskridge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Eskridge is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eskridge
- Kilmichael
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Kilmichael is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kilmichael
- Population from the 2020 Census: 538 people
- Sibleyton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Sibleyton is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sibleyton
- Sibleyton has also been known as:
- Sibleton
- Winona
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Attala County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alva, with the one closest to Alva listed first.
- Langley ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Langley is located in Attala County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langley
- Auris ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Auris is located in Attala County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auris
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alva, with the one closest to Alva listed first.
- Slate Spring
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Slate Spring is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slate Spring
- Slate Springs
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Slate Springs is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slate Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Big Creek
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Big Creek is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 146 people
- Benela
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Benela is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benela
- Calhoun City
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Derma
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Derma is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derma
- Population from the 2020 Census: 961 people
- Pittsboro
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Pittsboro is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 188 people
- Vardaman
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bruce
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Loyd
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Loyd is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyd
- Carroll County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alva, with the one closest to Alva listed first.
- Jefferson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Jefferson is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jefferson
- Vaiden
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Carrollton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- North Carrollton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- North Carrollton is located in Carroll County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Carrollton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 419 people
- Chickasaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alva, with the one closest to Alva listed first.
- Woodland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Woodland is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Anchor
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Anchor is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anchor
- Choctaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alva, with the one closest to Alva listed first.
- Bankston ‑ Historic
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Bankston is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bankston
- French Camp
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Reform
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Reform is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reform
- Williams
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Williams is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williams
- Weir
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Ackerman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Grenada County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alva, with the one closest to Alva listed first.
- Elliott
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Elliott is located in Grenada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliott
- Grenada
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Memphis Junction
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Memphis Junction is located in Grenada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Memphis Junction
- Oktibbeha County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alva, with the one closest to Alva listed first.
- Maben
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Maben is located in Oktibbeha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maben
- Population from the 2020 Census: 817 people
- Double Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Double Springs is located in Oktibbeha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Double Springs
- Tallahatchie County
- Rosebloom
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Rosebloom is located in Tallahatchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosebloom
- Webster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alva, with the one closest to Alva listed first.
- Walthall
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Walthall is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walthall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- Eupora
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Montevista
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Montevista is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montevista
- Fame
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Fame is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fame
- Sapa
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Sapa is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sapa
- Clarkson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Clarkson is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkson
- Hohenlinden
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Hohenlinden is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hohenlinden
- Mathiston
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Cumberland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Cumberland is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
- Mantee
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Mantee is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mantee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 215 people
- Yalobusha County
- The following are listed by their distance from Alva, with the one closest to Alva listed first.
- Coffeeville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Velma
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Velma is located in Yalobusha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Velma
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Alva, see our County-by-County Page for Alva.
Cemeteries Near Alva ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Alva.
This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.
Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Alva - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Alva covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Alva, with the one closest to Alva listed first.
- Parker Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Ingrams Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Dunn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Cox & Carver Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Harmony Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- New Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Chapel Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Edgeworth Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Roberts Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Pryor Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Center Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Shiloh Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (412 more) ...
- Spring Hill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Hightower Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Lowrimore Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
Nearby Communities in 1895 ...
We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<2>
While we didn't find Alva in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Alva.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Alva, with the one closest to Alva listed first.
- Sweatman
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Sweatman is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweatman
- Cadaretta
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Cadaretta is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadaretta
- Lodi
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Lodi is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodi
- Misterton
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Misterton is located in Grenada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Misterton
- Minerva
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Minerva is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minerva
- Embry
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Embry is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Embry
- Sabougla
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Sabougla is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sabougla
- Slate Spring
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Slate Spring is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slate Spring
- Eskridge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Eskridge is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eskridge
- Bellefontaine
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Bellefontaine is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bellefontaine
- Duck Hill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Duck Hill is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duck Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,760 people
- Kilmichael
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Kilmichael is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kilmichael
- Population from the 2020 Census: 538 people
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Stewart
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Stewart is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stewart
- Walthall
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Walthall is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walthall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- Grady
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Grady is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grady
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Alva. See our List of 1890's Communities around Alva.
Newspapers Published in Alva ...
An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).
To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.
Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 67 newspapers that have been published in the area around Alva.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Alva, there are papers which were published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Alva.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.
To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Alva:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to Montgomery County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Attala County
- Calhoun County
- Carroll County
- Chickasaw County
- Choctaw County
- Grenada County
- Oktibbeha County
- Tallahatchie County
- Webster County
- Yalobusha County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Mississippi
Footnotes ...
| <1> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <2> | We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Alva, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Alva) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |