Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Congress. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Congress to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Congress, please Contact Us.
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 Congress (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 Congress. 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 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.
Although our information shows that the community of Congress is historic, it would have been located within present day Chickasaw 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 Chickasaw County: Calhoun, Clay, Lee, Monroe, Pontotoc & Webster.
Below are the counties that are near Congress. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Congress:
- Chickasaw County (The home county of Congress)
- The following are listed by their distance from Congress, with the one closest to Congress listed first.
- Woodland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Woodland is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Anchor
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Anchor is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anchor
- Houston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Thelma
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Thelma is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thelma
- Sycamore ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Sycamore is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Van Vleet
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Van Vleet is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Vleet
- New Houlka
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- 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 <2>
- Egypt
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Egypt is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
- Okolona
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Congress, with the one closest to Congress listed first.
- Vardaman
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Benela
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Benela is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benela
- Derma
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Derma is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derma
- Population from the 2020 Census: 961 people
- Calhoun City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Loyd
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Loyd is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyd
- Slate Spring
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Slate Spring is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slate Spring
- Slate Springs
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Slate Springs is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slate Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Pittsboro
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Pittsboro is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 188 people
- Big Creek
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Big Creek is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 146 people
- Bruce
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Sarepta
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Sarepta is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sarepta
- Banner
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Choctaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Congress, with the one closest to Congress listed first.
- Reform
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Reform is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reform
- Williams
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Williams is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williams
- Bankston ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Bankston is located in Choctaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bankston
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Congress, with the one closest to Congress listed first.
- Montpelier
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Montpelier is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montpelier
- Beasley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Beasley is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beasley
- Pheba
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Una
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Una is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Una
- Griffith
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Griffith is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffith
- Abbott
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Abbott is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbott
- Cedar Bluff
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Cedar Bluff is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Bluff
- Siloam
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Siloam is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siloam
- Mhoons Valley
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mhoons Valley is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mhoons Valley
- West Point
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Whites
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Whites is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whites
- Holmes County
- Egypt
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Egypt is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Congress, with the one closest to Congress listed first.
- Gibson
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Gibson is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson
- Muldon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Muldon is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muldon
- New Wren
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- New Wren is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Wren
- Montgomery County
- Sweatman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Sweatman is located in Montgomery County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sweatman
- Oktibbeha County
- The following are listed by their distance from Congress, with the one closest to Congress listed first.
- Maben
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Maben is located in Oktibbeha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maben
- Population from the 2020 Census: 817 people
- Double Springs
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Double Springs is located in Oktibbeha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Double Springs
- Adaton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Adaton is located in Oktibbeha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adaton
- Starkville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Longview
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Longview is located in Oktibbeha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longview
- Bradley
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Bradley is located in Oktibbeha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradley
- Clayton Village
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Clayton Village is located in Oktibbeha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton Village
- Sturgis
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Pontotoc County
- The following are listed by their distance from Congress, with the one closest to Congress listed first.
- Goodford
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Goodford is located in Pontotoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodford
- Pannell
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Pannell is located in Pontotoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pannell
- Algoma
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Webster County
- The following are listed by their distance from Congress, with the one closest to Congress listed first.
- Mantee
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mantee is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mantee
- Population from the 2020 Census: 215 people
- Hohenlinden
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Hohenlinden is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hohenlinden
- Cumberland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Cumberland is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
- Clarkson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Clarkson is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkson
- Fame
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Fame is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fame
- Montevista
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Montevista is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montevista
- Mathiston
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Walthall
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Walthall is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walthall
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- Sapa
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Sapa is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sapa
- Eupora
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Congress, see our County-by-County Page for Congress.
Cemeteries Near Congress ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Congress.
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 Congress - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Congress covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Congress, with the one closest to Congress listed first.
- Friendship Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- New Hope Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Woodland Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Old Pleasant Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Pleasant Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Cross Roads Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Cousin Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Midway Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Hope Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Wake Forest Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Pine Bluff Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Continue List (316 more) ...
- Prairie Creek Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Midway Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 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.
Congress itself is historic and was described in the Rand McNally Atlas as having a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Congress, with the one closest to Congress listed first.
- Woodland
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Woodland is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
- Atlanta
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Atlanta is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Atlanta
- Hohenlinden
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Hohenlinden is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hohenlinden
- Sparta
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Sparta is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparta
- Tabbville
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Tabbville is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tabbville
- Bowles ‑ Historic
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Bowles is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowles
- Sonora
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Sonora is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sonora
- Montpelier
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Montpelier is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montpelier
- Bently
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Bently is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bently
- Montevista
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Montevista is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montevista
- Clarkson
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Clarkson is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkson
- Cumberland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Cumberland is located in Webster County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cumberland
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Beasley
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Beasley is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beasley
- Houston
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Hollis
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
- Hollis is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollis
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Congress. See our List of 1890's Communities around Congress.
Newspapers Published in Congress ...
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 50 newspapers that have been published in the area around Congress.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Congress, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Congress.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Congress:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to Chickasaw County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Calhoun County
- Choctaw County
- Clay County
- Holmes County
- Monroe County
- Montgomery County
- Oktibbeha County
- Pontotoc County
- Webster County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Mississippi
Footnotes ...
| <1> | 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 Congress, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <2> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <3> | 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 from Point A (ie- Congress) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |