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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and 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.
Bethel is located in Covington 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 Covington County: Forrest, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Lamar, Simpson & Smith.
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:
- Covington County (The home county of Bethel)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Hot Coffee
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Hot Coffee is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hot Coffee
- Kola
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Kola is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kola
- Seminary
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Collins
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Sanford
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Sanford is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sanford
- Williamsburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Williamsburg is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsburg
- Lux
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Lux is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lux
- Arbo
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Arbo is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbo
- Mount Olive
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Olive is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Population from the 2020 Census: 896 people
- Forrest County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Petal
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hattiesburg
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Goodluck
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Goodluck is located in Forrest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodluck
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Moss
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Moss is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss
- Moss has also been known as:
- Mossville
- Stringer
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bay Springs
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Vernon ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Vernon is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
- Lake Como
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Como is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Como
- Acme ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Acme is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acme
- Hamlet ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Hamlet is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlet
- Stevens ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Stevens is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stevens
- Waldrup ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Waldrup is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldrup
- Turnerville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Turnerville is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnerville
- Heidelberg
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Louin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Louin is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 262 people
- Jefferson Davis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Melba
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Melba is located in Jefferson Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melba
- Bassfield
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bassfield is located in Jefferson Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bassfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Prentiss
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Jones County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Soso
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Soso is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Soso
- Population from the 2020 Census: 396 people
- Ellisville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Amy
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Amy is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amy
- Service
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Service is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Service
- Laurel
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Antioch
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Antioch is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
- Errata
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Errata is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Errata
- Sandersville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Sandersville is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandersville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 721 people
- Ovett
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Ovett is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ovett
- Lamar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Sumrall
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- West Hattiesburg
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- West Hattiesburg is located in Lamar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Hattiesburg
- Simpson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Coats
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Coats is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coats
- Jaynesville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Jaynesville is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jaynesville
- Magee
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Sanatorium
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Sanatorium is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sanatorium
- Smith County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bethel, with the one closest to Bethel listed first.
- Taylorsville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Mize
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Mineral Springs
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Mineral Springs is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Springs
- Bezer
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Bezer is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bezer
- Sylvarena
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Sylvarena is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvarena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 106 people
- Raleigh
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
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.
- County Line Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Geiger Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Knight Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Leaf River Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Eminence Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Eminence Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Bethel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Pickering Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Willow Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Speed Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Lebanon Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Kelly Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Continue List (567 more) ...
- Walters Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- New Bethany Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Centreville Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 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.<4>
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.
- Moscos
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Moscos is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscos
- Ora
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Ora is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ora
- Soso
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Soso is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Soso
- Population from the 2020 Census: 396 people
- Gitano
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Gitano is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gitano
- Williamsburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Williamsburg is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsburg
- Moselle
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Moselle is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moselle
- Ellisville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Bunker Hill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Bunker Hill is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunker Hill
- Amy
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Amy is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amy
- Taylorsville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Eastabuchie
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Eastabuchie is located in Forrest County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastabuchie
- Laurel
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Mount Olive
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Mount Olive is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Population from the 2020 Census: 896 people
- Mize
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Errata
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Errata is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Errata
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 42 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 22 miles [35.4 km]<2>. 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 like to 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 Covington County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Forrest County
- Jasper County
- Jefferson Davis County
- Jones County
- Lamar County
- Simpson County
- Smith 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> | 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- Bethel) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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. |