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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 Center (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 Center. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.

Center is located in Union 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 Union County: Benton, Lafayette, Lee, Pontotoc, Prentiss & Tippah.

Below are the counties that are near Center. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Center:

  • Union County     (The home county of Center)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center, with the one closest to Center listed first.
    • Mound City
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Mound City is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound City
    • Ellistown
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
      • Ellistown is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellistown
    • Blue Springs
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • New Albany
      (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
    • Alpine
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Alpine is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpine
    • Molino
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Molino is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Molino
    • Glenfield
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Glenfield is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenfield
    • Ingomar
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Ingomar is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingomar
    • Graham
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Graham is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graham
    • Fairview
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Fairview is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
    • Myrtle
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Darden
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Darden is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darden
  • Alcorn County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center, with the one closest to Center listed first.
    • Hightown
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Hightown is located in Alcorn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hightown
    • Rienzi
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Rienzi is located in Alcorn County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rienzi
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 304 people
  • Benton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center, with the one closest to Center listed first.
    • Hickory Flat
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Pine Grove
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Pine Grove is located in Benton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Grove
    • Ashland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Snow Lake Shores
      (30 miles [48.3 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
  • Chickasaw County
    • New Houlka
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • New Houlka is located in Chickasaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Houlka
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 601 people
      • Former names for New Houlka:
      • Houlka
      • Old Houlka
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for New Houlka <1>
  • Itawamba County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center, with the one closest to Center listed first.
    • Kirkville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Kirkville is located in Itawamba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirkville
    • Mantachie
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Ballardsville
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Ballardsville is located in Itawamba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ballardsville
    • Greenwood
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Greenwood is located in Itawamba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
    • Abney
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Abney is located in Itawamba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abney
  • Lafayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center, with the one closest to Center listed first.
    • Lafayette Springs
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Lafayette Springs is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafayette Springs
    • Cornish
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Cornish is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornish
    • Altus
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Altus is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altus
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center, with the one closest to Center listed first.
    • Jug Fork
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Jug Fork is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jug Fork
    • Boggan Bend
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Boggan Bend is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boggan Bend
    • Corrona
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Corrona is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corrona
    • Birmingham
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Birmingham is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birmingham
    • Saltillo
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Guntown
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
    • Bissell
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Bissell is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bissell
    • Indian Hills
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Indian Hills is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Hills
    • Tupelo
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Verona
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Plantersville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Mooreville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Mooreville is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mooreville
  • Marshall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center, with the one closest to Center listed first.
    • Cornersville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
      • Cornersville is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornersville
    • Potts Camp
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
  • Pontotoc County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center, with the one closest to Center listed first.
    • Sherman
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Cherry Creek
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Cherry Creek is located in Pontotoc County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Creek
    • Ecru
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Ecru is located in Pontotoc County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ecru
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,067 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ecru <1>
    • Nixon
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Nixon is located in Pontotoc County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixon
    • Possum Trot
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Possum Trot is located in Pontotoc County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Possum Trot
    • Pontotoc
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
    • Turnpike
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Turnpike is located in Pontotoc County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnpike
    • Thaxton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Algoma
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Toccopola
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Toccopola is located in Pontotoc County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toccopola
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 258 people
    • Pannell
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Pannell is located in Pontotoc County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pannell
    • Goodford
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Goodford is located in Pontotoc County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodford
  • Prentiss County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center, with the one closest to Center listed first.
    • Geeville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Geeville is located in Prentiss County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geeville
    • Baldwyn
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
    • Blackland
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Blackland is located in Prentiss County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackland
    • Wheeler
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Wheeler is located in Prentiss County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
    • Jumpertown
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Jumpertown is located in Prentiss County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jumpertown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 477 people
    • Booneville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Lake City
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Lake City is located in Prentiss County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
    • Marietta
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Marietta is located in Prentiss County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marietta
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 253 people
    • Pisgah
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Pisgah is located in Prentiss County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pisgah
    • New Site
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • New Site is located in Prentiss County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Site
    • Altitude
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Altitude is located in Prentiss County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altitude
  • Tippah County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Center, with the one closest to Center listed first.
    • Clarysville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Clarysville is located in Tippah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarysville
    • Dumas
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
      • Dumas is located in Tippah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dumas
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 474 people
    • Blue Mountain
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Blue Mountain is located in Tippah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Mountain
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 933 people
    • Lowrey
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Lowrey is located in Tippah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lowrey
    • Ripley
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Gravestown
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Gravestown is located in Tippah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gravestown
    • Whitten Town
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Whitten Town is located in Tippah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitten Town
    • Falkner
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Tiplersville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Tiplersville is located in Tippah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tiplersville

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Center, see our County-by-County Page for Center.

Cemeteries Near Center ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Center.

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 Center - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Center covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Center, with the one closest to Center listed first.

  • Hopewell Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Center Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Miears Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Stone Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Bell Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Stack Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  • Adair Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Lebanon Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Wallersville Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Baker Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Locust Grove Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Mt. Gilead Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (462 more) ...
    • Dunlap Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Snider Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Baker Cemetery
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)

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 Center in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Center.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Center, with the one closest to Center listed first.

  • Wallerville
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Wallerville is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallerville
  • Baker
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Baker is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baker
  • Ellistown
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
    • Ellistown is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellistown
  • Blue Springs
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Keownville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Keownville is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Keownville
  • New Albany
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Ingomar
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Ingomar is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingomar
  • Molino
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Molino is located in Union County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Molino
  • Cherry Creek
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Cherry Creek is located in Pontotoc County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Creek
  • Sherman
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
  • Ecru
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Ecru is located in Pontotoc County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ecru
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,067 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ecru <1>
  • Birmingham
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Birmingham is located in Lee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birmingham
  • Continue List   (19 more) ...
    • Corrona
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Corrona is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corrona
    • Graham
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Graham is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graham
    • Fairview
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Fairview is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Center. See our List of 1890's Communities around Center.

Newspapers Published in Center ...

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 49 newspapers that have been published in the area around Center.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Center, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Center.

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 Center:

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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Center) 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 Center, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.