Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Bells. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Bells to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Bells, please Contact Us.
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 Bells (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 Bells. 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Bells is historic, it would have been located within present day Noxubee 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 Noxubee County: Pickens (AL), Sumter (AL), Kemper, Lowndes, Oktibbeha & Winston.
Below are the counties that are near Bells. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bells:
- Noxubee County (The home county of Bells)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bells, with the one closest to Bells listed first.
- Macon
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Shuqualak
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Shuqualak is located in Noxubee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shuqualak
- Population from the 2020 Census: 422 people
- Harlan ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Harlan is located in Noxubee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harlan
- Mashulaville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Mashulaville is located in Noxubee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mashulaville
- Brooksville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Deerbrook
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Deerbrook is located in Noxubee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerbrook
- Cooksville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Cooksville is located in Noxubee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooksville
- Hashuqua ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Hashuqua is located in Noxubee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hashuqua
- Ravine
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Ravine is located in Noxubee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravine
- Fairport ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Fairport is located in Noxubee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairport
- Kemper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bells, with the one closest to Bells listed first.
- Wahalak
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Wahalak is located in Kemper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahalak
- Binnsville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Binnsville is located in Kemper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Binnsville
- Scooba
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Giles
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Giles is located in Kemper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Giles
- Lynville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Lynville is located in Kemper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynville
- De Kalb
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Electric Mills
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Electric Mills is located in Kemper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Electric Mills
- Sucarnoochee
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Sucarnoochee is located in Kemper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sucarnoochee
- Porterville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Porterville is located in Kemper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Porterville
- Narkeeta ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Narkeeta is located in Kemper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Narkeeta
- Spinks ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Spinks is located in Kemper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spinks
- Lowndes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bells, with the one closest to Bells listed first.
- Crawford
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Artesia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Artesia is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artesia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 420 people
- Bent Oak
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Bent Oak is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bent Oak
- Neshoba County
- Bogue Chitto
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bogue Chitto is located in Neshoba County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bogue Chitto
- Oktibbeha County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bells, with the one closest to Bells listed first.
- Sessums
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Clayton Village
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Clayton Village is located in Oktibbeha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton Village
- Longview
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Longview is located in Oktibbeha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longview
- Starkville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Winston County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bells, with the one closest to Bells listed first.
- Fearns Springs
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Fearns Springs is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fearns Springs
- Handle
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Handle is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Handle
- Randalls Bluff ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Randalls Bluff is located in Winston County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Randalls Bluff
- Louisville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Noxapater
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Greene County (AL)
- West Greene
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- West Greene is located in Greene County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Greene
- Pickens County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bells, with the one closest to Bells listed first.
- Memphis
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Memphis is located in Pickens County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Memphis
- Population from the 2020 Census: 26 people
- Pickensville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Pickensville is located in Pickens County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pickensville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 572 people
- Garden
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Garden is located in Pickens County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden
- McMullen
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- McMullen is located in Pickens County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McMullen
- Population from the 2020 Census: 9 people
- Beaver Town
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Beaver Town is located in Pickens County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Town
- Aliceville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Archer
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Archer is located in Pickens County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Archer
- Carrollton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Carrollton is located in Pickens County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carrollton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 935 people
- Macedonia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Macedonia is located in Pickens County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macedonia
- Sumter County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bells, with the one closest to Bells listed first.
- Panola
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Panola is located in Sumter County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panola
- Geiger
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Geiger is located in Sumter County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geiger
- Population from the 2020 Census: 142 people
- Emelle
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Emelle is located in Sumter County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emelle
- Population from the 2020 Census: 46 people
- Bethel ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bethel is located in Sumter County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethel
- Gainesville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Gainesville is located in Sumter County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gainesville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 182 people
- Sledge ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Sledge is located in Sumter County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sledge
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bells, see our County-by-County Page for Bells.
Cemeteries Near Bells ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bells.
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 Bells - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bells covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bells, with the one closest to Bells listed first.
- Odd Fellows Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Salem Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Martin Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- DeJarnate Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Zion Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Cotton Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Shuqualak Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Halls Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Macedonia Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Slaughter Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Pine Turkey Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Bell Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Continue List (283 more) ...
- McLeod Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Calhoun Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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.
While we didn't find Bells in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bells.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bells, with the one closest to Bells listed first.
- Macon
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Shuqualak
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Shuqualak is located in Noxubee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shuqualak
- Population from the 2020 Census: 422 people
- Paulette
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Paulette is located in Noxubee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paulette
- Harlan ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Harlan is located in Noxubee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harlan
- Mashulaville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Mashulaville is located in Noxubee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mashulaville
- Wahalak
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Wahalak is located in Kemper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahalak
- Brooksville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Prairie Point
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Prairie Point is located in Noxubee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prairie Point
- Gholson
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Gholson is located in Noxubee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gholson
- Deerbrook
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Deerbrook is located in Noxubee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerbrook
- Cooksville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Cooksville is located in Noxubee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooksville
- Hashuqua ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Hashuqua is located in Noxubee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hashuqua
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Brazelia ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Brazelia is located in Noxubee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brazelia
- Cliftonville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cliftonville is located in Noxubee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cliftonville
- Lynn Creek
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Lynn Creek is located in Noxubee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynn Creek
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bells. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bells.
Newspapers Published in Bells ...
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 30 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bells.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bells, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bells.
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 Bells:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to Noxubee County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Kemper County
- Lowndes County
- Neshoba County
- Oktibbeha County
- Winston County
- Greene County
- Pickens County
- Sumter County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Mississippi
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 Bells, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Bells) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |