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 Bellefontaine (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 Bellefontaine. 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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the east. 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 east 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.
Bellefontaine is located in Webster 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 Webster County: Calhoun, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Clay, Montgomery & Oktibbeha.
Below are the counties that are near Bellefontaine. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bellefontaine:
- Webster County (The home county of Bellefontaine)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bellefontaine, with the one closest to Bellefontaine listed first.
- Walthall
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Walthall is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walthall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- Montevista
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Montevista is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montevista
- Fame
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Fame is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fame
- Eupora
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Clarkson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Clarkson is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkson
- Sapa
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sapa is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sapa
- Hohenlinden
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Hohenlinden is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hohenlinden
- Cumberland
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Cumberland is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
- Mathiston
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Mantee
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Mantee is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mantee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 215 people
- Attala County
- McCool
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- McCool is located in Attala County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McCool
- Population from the 2020 Census: 123 people
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bellefontaine, with the one closest to Bellefontaine listed first.
- Slate Spring
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Slate Spring is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slate Spring
- Slate Springs
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Slate Springs is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slate Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Benela
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Benela is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benela
- Calhoun City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Derma
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Derma is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derma
- Population from the 2020 Census: 961 people
- Big Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Big Creek is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 146 people
- Vardaman
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Pittsboro
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Pittsboro is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 188 people
- Loyd
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Loyd is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyd
- Bruce
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Banner
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Chickasaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bellefontaine, with the one closest to Bellefontaine listed first.
- Woodland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Woodland is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Anchor
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Anchor is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anchor
- Houston
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Thelma
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Thelma is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thelma
- Sycamore ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Sycamore is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Choctaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bellefontaine, with the one closest to Bellefontaine listed first.
- Bankston ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Bankston is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bankston
- Reform
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Reform is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reform
- Williams
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Williams is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williams
- Ackerman
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- French Camp
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Weir
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bellefontaine, with the one closest to Bellefontaine listed first.
- Montpelier
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Montpelier is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montpelier
- Pheba
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Beasley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Beasley is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beasley
- Cedar Bluff
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Cedar Bluff is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Bluff
- Griffith
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Griffith is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffith
- Abbott
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Abbott is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbott
- Una
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Una is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Una
- Grenada County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bellefontaine, with the one closest to Bellefontaine listed first.
- Elliott
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Elliott is located in Grenada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elliott
- Grenada
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Memphis Junction
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Memphis Junction is located in Grenada County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Memphis Junction
- Montgomery County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bellefontaine, with the one closest to Bellefontaine listed first.
- Sweatman
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Sweatman is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweatman
- Minerva
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Minerva is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minerva
- Sibleyton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Sibleyton is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sibleyton
- Sibleyton has also been known as:
- Sibleton
- Kilmichael
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Kilmichael is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kilmichael
- Population from the 2020 Census: 538 people
- Duck Hill
(23 miles [37 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
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Eskridge is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eskridge
- Winona
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Oktibbeha County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bellefontaine, with the one closest to Bellefontaine listed first.
- Maben
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Maben is located in Oktibbeha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maben
- Population from the 2020 Census: 817 people
- Double Springs
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Double Springs is located in Oktibbeha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Double Springs
- Adaton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Adaton is located in Oktibbeha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adaton
- Sturgis
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Bradley
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bradley is located in Oktibbeha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradley
- Longview
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Longview is located in Oktibbeha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longview
- Yalobusha County
- Coffeeville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bellefontaine, see our County-by-County Page for Bellefontaine.
Cemeteries Near Bellefontaine ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bellefontaine.
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 Bellefontaine - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bellefontaine covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bellefontaine, with the one closest to Bellefontaine listed first.
- Ford Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Quinn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- North Union Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Bluff Springs Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lovette Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Sand Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Embry Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Pilgrim Rest Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Webster Memorial Gardens
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Hays Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hays Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Hays Cemetery is located outside and to the south of Walthall.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #59774 <2>
- Jordons Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Old Field Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (363 more) ...
- Old Shady Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Shady Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Edward Springs Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Bellefontaine had a population of 107 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bellefontaine, with the one closest to Bellefontaine listed first.
- Walthall
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Walthall is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walthall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- Embry
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Embry is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Embry
- Montevista
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Montevista is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montevista
- Eupora
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Slate Spring
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Slate Spring is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slate Spring
- Bently
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Bently is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bently
- Grady
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Grady is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grady
- Sapa
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sapa is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sapa
- Clarkson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Clarkson is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkson
- Cadaretta
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Cadaretta is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cadaretta
- Hohenlinden
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Hohenlinden is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hohenlinden
- Benela
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Benela is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benela
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Sabougla
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Sabougla is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sabougla
- Lodi
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Lodi is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lodi
- Mathiston
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bellefontaine. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bellefontaine.
Newspapers Published in Bellefontaine ...
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 42 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bellefontaine.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bellefontaine, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bellefontaine.
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 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 Bellefontaine:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to Webster County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Attala County
- Calhoun County
- Chickasaw County
- Choctaw County
- Clay County
- Grenada County
- Montgomery County
- Oktibbeha 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> | 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 Bellefontaine, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Bellefontaine) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |