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 Bethel (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 Bethel. 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 northeast 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 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 east 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.
Bethel is located in Benton 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 Benton County: Marshall, Tippah, Union, Fayette (TN) & Hardeman (TN).
Below are the counties that are near Bethel. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bethel:
- Benton County (The home county of Bethel)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Pine Grove
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Grove is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Grove
- Ashland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Hickory Flat
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Snow Lake Shores
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Snow Lake Shores is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Lake Shores
- Population from the 2020 Census: 291 people
- Canaan
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Canaan is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canaan
- Michigan City
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Alcorn County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Hightown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Hightown is located in Alcorn County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hightown
- Kossuth
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Lafayette County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Abbeville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lafayette Springs
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Lafayette Springs is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafayette Springs
- Altus
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Altus is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altus
- Lee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Corrona
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Corrona is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corrona
- Boggan Bend
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Boggan Bend is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boggan Bend
- Jug Fork
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Jug Fork is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jug Fork
- Birmingham
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Birmingham is located in Lee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birmingham
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Potts Camp
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Cornersville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cornersville is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornersville
- Hudsonville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hudsonville is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hudsonville
- Atway
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Atway is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atway
- Holly Springs
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Slayden
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Slayden is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slayden
- Red Banks
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Mount Pleasant
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Laws Hill
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Laws Hill is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laws Hill
- Marianna
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Marianna is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marianna
- Taska
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Taska is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taska
- Chulahoma
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Chulahoma is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chulahoma
- Pontotoc County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Ecru
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Cherry Creek
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Cherry Creek is located in Pontotoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Creek
- Thaxton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Possum Trot
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Possum Trot is located in Pontotoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Possum Trot
- Turnpike
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Turnpike is located in Pontotoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnpike
- Sherman
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Prentiss County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Jumpertown
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Jumpertown is located in Prentiss County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumpertown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 477 people
- Blackland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Blackland is located in Prentiss County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackland
- Geeville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Geeville is located in Prentiss County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geeville
- Pisgah
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Pisgah is located in Prentiss County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
- Tippah County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Gravestown
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Gravestown is located in Tippah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravestown
- Whitten Town
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Whitten Town is located in Tippah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitten Town
- Lowrey
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lowrey is located in Tippah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowrey
- Blue Mountain
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Blue Mountain is located in Tippah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Mountain
- Population from the 2020 Census: 933 people
- Ripley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Clarysville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Clarysville is located in Tippah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarysville
- Falkner
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Dumas
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Dumas is located in Tippah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dumas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 474 people
- Tiplersville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Tiplersville is located in Tippah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tiplersville
- Walnut
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Myrtle
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Darden
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Darden is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darden
- Glenfield
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Glenfield is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenfield
- Molino
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Molino is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Molino
- New Albany
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Fairview
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Fairview is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Ingomar
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Ingomar is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingomar
- Graham
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Graham is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graham
- Mound City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mound City is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound City
- Alpine
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Alpine is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpine
- Ellistown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Ellistown is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellistown
- Blue Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Fayette County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Grand Junction
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- La Grange
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- La Grange is located in Fayette County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Grange
- Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
- Forty Five
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Forty Five is located in Fayette County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forty Five
- Moscow
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Hardeman County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Saulsbury
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Saulsbury is located in Hardeman County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saulsbury
- Population from the 2020 Census: 90 people
- Rogers Springs
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Rogers Springs is located in Hardeman County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rogers Springs
- Essary Springs
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Essary Springs is located in Hardeman County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Essary Springs
- Middleton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Hickory Valley
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Hickory Valley is located in Hardeman County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Valley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 92 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bethel, see our County-by-County Page for Bethel.
Cemeteries Near Bethel ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bethel.
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 Bethel - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bethel covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Bethel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Collins Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Duncan Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Hudspeth Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Pine Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Minter Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Elliott Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Beech Hill Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Curtis Creek Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Pleasant Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Smith Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Shelby Creek Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (474 more) ...
- Bluff Springs Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jordan Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Ayers Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
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 Bethel in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Bethel.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Pine Grove
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Grove is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Grove
- Lowrey
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lowrey is located in Tippah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowrey
- Blue Mountain
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Blue Mountain is located in Tippah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Mountain
- Population from the 2020 Census: 933 people
- Hickory Flat
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Ashland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Ripley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Potts Camp
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Myrtle
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Cotton Plant
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cotton Plant is located in Tippah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotton Plant
- Colbert ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Colbert is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Colbert
- Bethlehem
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bethlehem is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bethlehem
- Cornersville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Cornersville is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornersville
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Falkner
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Canaan
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Canaan is located in Benton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canaan
- Darden
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Darden is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darden
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bethel. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bethel.
Newspapers Published in Bethel ...
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 38 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bethel.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bethel, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bethel.
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 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 Bethel:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to Benton County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Alcorn County
- Lafayette County
- Lee County
- Marshall County
- Pontotoc County
- Prentiss County
- Tippah County
- Union County
- Fayette County
- Hardeman 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 Bethel, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or 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- Bethel) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |