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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 Clear Springs (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 Clear Springs. 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.

Name Variations for Clear Springs ...

When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.

Although we can't give a definitive list, hopefully the following will give you a feel for the variations that might occur.

For example, a typical abbreviation for Clear Springs: Clear Spgs. (or less commonly used: Clear Spngs. or Clear Sprngs.)

You might be interested in other communities that are also named Clear Springs. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Clear Springs.

If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.

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 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.

Clear Springs is located in Smith 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 Smith County: Covington, Jasper, Jones, Newton, Rankin, Scott & Simpson.

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

  • Smith County     (The home county of Clear Springs)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clear Springs, with the one closest to Clear Springs listed first.
    • Sylvarena
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Sylvarena is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvarena
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 106 people
    • Burns
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Burns is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burns
    • Raleigh
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Mineral Springs
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
      • Mineral Springs is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Springs
    • Bezer
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Bezer is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bezer
    • Trenton
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Trenton is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trenton
    • Polkville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Polkville is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polkville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 819 people
    • Taylorsville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
    • Mize
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Daniel
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Daniel is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daniel
  • Clarke County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clear Springs, with the one closest to Clear Springs listed first.
    • Barnett
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Barnett is located in Clarke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnett
    • Pachuta
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Pachuta is located in Clarke County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pachuta
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 227 people
    • Enterprise
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
  • Covington County
    • Hot Coffee
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Hot Coffee is located in Covington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hot Coffee
  • Jasper County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clear Springs, with the one closest to Clear Springs listed first.
    • Success ‑ Historic
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
      • Success is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Success
    • Montrose
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
      • Montrose is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
    • Louin
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Louin is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 262 people
    • Stevens ‑ Historic
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Stevens is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stevens
    • Verba ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Verba is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verba
    • Hamlet ‑ Historic
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Hamlet is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlet
    • Baxter ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
      • Baxter is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baxter
    • Turnerville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
      • Turnerville is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnerville
    • Bay Springs
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Garlandsville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Garlandsville is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garlandsville
    • McNeal ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • McNeal is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McNeal
    • Ras
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Ras is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ras
    • Gridley ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Gridley is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gridley
  • Jones County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clear Springs, with the one closest to Clear Springs listed first.
    • Amy
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Amy is located in Jones County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amy
    • Soso
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Soso is located in Jones County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Soso
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 396 people
    • Service
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Service is located in Jones County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Service
    • Sandersville
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Sandersville is located in Jones County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sandersville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 721 people
  • Newton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clear Springs, with the one closest to Clear Springs listed first.
    • Six Towns ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Six Towns is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Six Towns
    • Newton
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Pine Bluff
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Pine Bluff is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Bluff
    • Conehatta
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Conehatta is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conehatta
    • Hickory
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Hickory is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 515 people
    • Decatur
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Lucern
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Lucern is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucern
    • Chunky
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Stamper ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Stamper is located in Newton County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stamper
  • Rankin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clear Springs, with the one closest to Clear Springs listed first.
    • Galilee
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Galilee is located in Rankin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galilee
    • Puckett
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Puckett is located in Rankin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puckett
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
    • Pelahatchie
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Scott County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clear Springs, with the one closest to Clear Springs listed first.
    • Lake
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Forest
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Hunter Town
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Hunter Town is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter Town
    • Raworth
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Raworth is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raworth
    • Kalem
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Kalem is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kalem
    • Cooperville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Cooperville is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperville
    • Morton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Harperville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Harperville is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harperville
    • Clifton
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Clifton is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
    • Sebastopol
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
    • Branch
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Branch is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branch
    • Beach
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Beach is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach
  • Simpson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Clear Springs, with the one closest to Clear Springs listed first.
    • Coats
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Coats is located in Simpson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coats
    • Magee
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Magee is located in Simpson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magee
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,094 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Magee <1>
    • Sanatorium
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Sanatorium is located in Simpson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sanatorium

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

Cemeteries Near Clear Springs ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Clear Springs.

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 Clear Springs - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

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

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

  • Montrose
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Montrose is located in Jasper County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
  • Sylvarena
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Sylvarena is located in Smith County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvarena
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 106 people
  • Hamlet ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Hamlet is located in Jasper County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlet
  • Jewells Hill ‑ Historic
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Jewells Hill is located in Jasper County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewells Hill
  • Shongelo
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Shongelo is located in Smith County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shongelo
  • Turnerville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Turnerville is located in Jasper County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnerville
  • Norris
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Norris is located in Scott County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norris
  • Homewood
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Homewood is located in Scott County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homewood
  • Burns
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Burns is located in Smith County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burns
  • Raleigh
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Garlandsville
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Garlandsville is located in Jasper County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garlandsville
  • Lake
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Bezer
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Bezer is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bezer
    • Lake Como
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Lake Como is located in Jasper County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Como
    • Lawrence
      (14 miles [22.5 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 Clear Springs. See our List of 1890's Communities around Clear Springs.

Newspapers Published in Clear Springs ...

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 29 newspapers that have been published in the area around Clear Springs.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Clear Springs, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Clear Springs.

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 either 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 Clear Springs:

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- Clear Springs) 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 Clear Springs, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.