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 Athens (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 Athens. 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 northwest 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 north.
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 north 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.
Athens is located in Monroe 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 Monroe County: Lamar (AL), Chickasaw, Clay, Itawamba, Lee & Lowndes.
Below are the counties that are near Athens. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Athens:
- Monroe County (The home county of Athens)
- The following are listed by their distance from Athens, with the one closest to Athens listed first.
- Acker ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Acker is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acker
- Aberdeen
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Greenwood Springs
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Hatley
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Hatley is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 458 people
- Amory
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Cotton Gin Port ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Cotton Gin Port is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotton Gin Port
- Floyton ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Floyton is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floyton
- Hamilton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Ales ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Ales is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ales
- Gattman
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Gattman is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gattman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 89 people
- Splunge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Splunge is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Splunge
- Wren
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Wren is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wren
- Chickasaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Athens, with the one closest to Athens listed first.
- Egypt
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Egypt is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
- Okolona
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sycamore ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Sycamore is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Van Vleet
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Van Vleet is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Vleet
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Athens, with the one closest to Athens listed first.
- Vinton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Vinton is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vinton
- Whites
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Whites is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whites
- Waverly
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Waverly is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
- West Point
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Una
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Una is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Una
- Abbott
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Abbott is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbott
- Siloam
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Siloam is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siloam
- Mhoons Valley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Mhoons Valley is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mhoons Valley
- Griffith
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Griffith is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffith
- Cedar Bluff
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cedar Bluff is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Bluff
- Beasley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Beasley is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beasley
- Montpelier
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Montpelier is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montpelier
- Holmes County
- Egypt
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Egypt is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
- Itawamba County
- The following are listed by their distance from Athens, with the one closest to Athens listed first.
- Carolina
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Carolina is located in Itawamba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carolina
- Abney
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Abney is located in Itawamba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abney
- Greenwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Greenwood is located in Itawamba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
- Ballardsville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Ballardsville is located in Itawamba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ballardsville
- Fulton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Tremont
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Clay
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Clay is located in Itawamba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clay
- Oakland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Oakland is located in Itawamba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Athens, with the one closest to Athens listed first.
- Richmond
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Richmond is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
- Shannon
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Plantersville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Verona
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mooreville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Mooreville is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mooreville
- Tupelo
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lowndes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Athens, with the one closest to Athens listed first.
- Caledonia
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Kolola Springs
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Kolola Springs is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kolola Springs
- Columbus
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- New Hope
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- New Hope is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
- Bent Oak
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Bent Oak is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bent Oak
- Fayette County (AL)
- Bluff
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Bluff is located in Fayette County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bluff
- Lamar County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Athens, with the one closest to Athens listed first.
- Bedford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Bedford is located in Lamar County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bedford
- Sulligent
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Detroit
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Vernon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Hightogy
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Hightogy is located in Lamar County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hightogy
- Beaverton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Fernbank
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fernbank is located in Lamar County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fernbank
- Millport
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Marion County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Athens, with the one closest to Athens listed first.
- Pikeville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pikeville is located in Marion County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pikeville
- Weston
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Weston is located in Marion County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Athens, see our County-by-County Page for Athens.
Cemeteries Near Athens ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Athens.
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 Athens - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Athens covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Athens, with the one closest to Athens listed first.
- Howell Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Burns Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Beeks Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Camp Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- County Home Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Greenbrier Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Posey Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Lackey Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- New Prospect Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jones Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Center Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Continue List (409 more) ...
- Buckingham Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Seely Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seely Cemetery
- The Seely Cemetery has also been known as:
- Berry Cemetery
- Seeley Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #1474223 <2>
- Easter Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.<3>
While we didn't find Athens in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Athens.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Athens, with the one closest to Athens listed first.
- Greenbrier ‑ Historic
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Greenbrier is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenbrier
- Acker ‑ Historic
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Acker is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acker
- Beeks ‑ Historic
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Beeks is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beeks
- Quincy
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Quincy is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quincy
- Aberdeen
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Grubb Springs ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Grubb Springs is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grubb Springs
- Amory
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Hamilton
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Bigbee
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Bigbee is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bigbee
- Sykes ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sykes is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sykes
- Binford
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Binford is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Binford
- Gattman
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Gattman is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gattman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 89 people
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Splunge
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Splunge is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Splunge
- Smithville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Central Grove
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Central Grove is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Grove
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Athens. See our List of 1890's Communities around Athens.
Newspapers Published in Athens ...
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 71 newspapers that have been published in the area around Athens.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Athens, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Athens.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either 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 Athens:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to Monroe County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Chickasaw County
- Clay County
- Holmes County
- Itawamba County
- Lee County
- Lowndes County
- Fayette County
- Lamar County
- Marion 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> | The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com. |
| <3> | 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 Athens, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Athens) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |