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 Busey (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 Busey. 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 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.
Busey is located in Bolivar 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 Bolivar County: Desha (AR), Coahoma, Sunflower & Washington.
Below are the counties that are near Busey. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Busey:
- Bolivar County (The home county of Busey)
- The following are listed by their distance from Busey, with the one closest to Busey listed first.
- Choctaw
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Longshot
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Longshot is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longshot
- Shaw
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Shaw is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaw
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,655 people
- Grapeland
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Grapeland is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grapeland
- Benoit
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Dahomy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Dahomy is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahomy
- Lake Vista
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Lake Vista is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Vista
- Boyle
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lamont
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Lamont is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamont
- Scott
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Scott is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott
- Cleveland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Mound City
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Mound City is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound City
- Humphreys County
- The following are listed by their distance from Busey, with the one closest to Busey listed first.
- Isola
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Isola is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 591 people
- Jaketown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Jaketown is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jaketown
- Leflore County
- The following are listed by their distance from Busey, with the one closest to Busey listed first.
- McNutt
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- McNutt is located in Leflore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McNutt
- Schlater
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Schlater is located in Leflore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schlater
- Population from the 2020 Census: 280 people
- Sunflower County
- The following are listed by their distance from Busey, with the one closest to Busey listed first.
- Heathman
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Heathman is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heathman
- Faisonia
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Faisonia is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faisonia
- Roundaway
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Roundaway is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roundaway
- Indianola
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Halstead
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Halstead is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halstead
- White City
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- White City is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
- Sunflower
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Sunflower is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunflower
- Population from the 2020 Census: 960 people
- Baird
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Baird is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baird
- Doddsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Doddsville is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doddsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 72 people
- New Town
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- New Town is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Moorhead
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Moorhead is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moorhead
- Population from the 2020 Census: 2,059 people
- Inverness
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Inverness is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Inverness
- Population from the 2020 Census: 852 people
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Busey, with the one closest to Busey listed first.
- Napanee
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Napanee is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napanee
- Helm
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Helm is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helm
- Dunleith
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Dunleith is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunleith
- Stoneville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Stoneville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoneville
- Leland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Metcalfe
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Metcalfe is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metcalfe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 935 people
- Greenville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Wilmot
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Wilmot is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmot
- Arcola
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Arcola is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 315 people
- Forrest City ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Forrest City is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forrest City
- Avon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Avon is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Hollandale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Chicot County (AR)
- Lake Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Desha County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Busey, with the one closest to Busey listed first.
- Arkansas City
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Arkansas City is located in Desha County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkansas City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
- Napoleon ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Napoleon is located in Desha County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napoleon
- Rohwer
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Kelso
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Kelso is located in Desha County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelso
- McArthur
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- McArthur is located in Desha County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McArthur
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Busey, see our County-by-County Page for Busey.
Cemeteries Near Busey ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Busey.
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 Busey - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Busey covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Busey, with the one closest to Busey listed first.
- Helm Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mexican Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Shaw Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaw Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Shaw Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the west of Shaw.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #155979 <2>
- Heads Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Strangers Rest Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Asia Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Forkland Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Mt. Calvary Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Dickerson Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Mt. Cazy Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Union Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (167 more) ...
- Egypt Ridge Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Dean Ridge Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Christian Life Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 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>
While we didn't find Busey in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Busey.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Busey, with the one closest to Busey listed first.
- Choctaw
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Helm
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Helm is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helm
- Shaw
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Shaw is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaw
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,655 people
- Stoneville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Stoneville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoneville
- Elizabeth
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Elizabeth is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elizabeth
- Magenta
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Magenta is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magenta
- Leland
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Holly Ridge
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Holly Ridge is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holly Ridge
- O'Reilly
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- O'Reilly is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for O'Reilly
- Dahomy
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Dahomy is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahomy
- Benoit
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Heathman
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Heathman is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heathman
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Lake Vista
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Lake Vista is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Vista
- Lobdell
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Lobdell is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lobdell
- Boyle
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Busey. See our List of 1890's Communities around Busey.
Newspapers Published in Busey ...
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 51 newspapers that have been published in the area around Busey.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Busey, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Busey.
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 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 Busey:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to Bolivar County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Humphreys County
- Leflore County
- Sunflower County
- Washington County
- Chicot County
- Desha 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 Busey, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Busey) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |