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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 Dorsey (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 Dorsey. 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 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.

Dorsey is located in Itawamba 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 Itawamba County: Franklin (AL), Marion (AL), Lee, Monroe, Prentiss & Tishomingo.

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

  • Itawamba County     (The home county of Dorsey)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dorsey, with the one closest to Dorsey listed first.
    • Ballardsville
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Ballardsville is located in Itawamba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ballardsville
    • Greenwood
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Greenwood is located in Itawamba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenwood
    • Abney
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Abney is located in Itawamba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abney
    • Mantachie
      (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
    • Fulton
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Clay
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Clay is located in Itawamba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clay
    • Carolina
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
      • Carolina is located in Itawamba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carolina
    • Kirkville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Kirkville is located in Itawamba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirkville
    • Tremont
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
    • Oakland
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Oakland is located in Itawamba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakland
    • Eastman
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Eastman is located in Itawamba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eastman
    • Bounds Crossroads
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
      • Bounds Crossroads is located in Itawamba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bounds Crossroads
  • Chickasaw County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dorsey, with the one closest to Dorsey listed first.
    • Okolona
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Egypt
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Egypt is located in Chickasaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
    • Van Vleet
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Van Vleet is located in Chickasaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Vleet
  • Holmes County
    • Egypt
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Egypt is located in Holmes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dorsey, with the one closest to Dorsey listed first.
    • Mooreville
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Mooreville is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mooreville
    • Richmond
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Richmond is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond
    • Plantersville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Indian Hills
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Indian Hills is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Hills
    • Tupelo
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Verona
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
    • Saltillo
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Shannon
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Guntown
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Bissell
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
      • Bissell is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bissell
    • Birmingham
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Birmingham is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birmingham
    • Boggan Bend
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Boggan Bend is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boggan Bend
    • Jug Fork
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Jug Fork is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jug Fork
  • Monroe County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dorsey, with the one closest to Dorsey listed first.
    • Nettleton
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Smithville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Ales ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Ales is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ales
    • Amory
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
    • Floyton ‑ Historic
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Floyton is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floyton
    • Cotton Gin Port ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Cotton Gin Port is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotton Gin Port
    • Hatley
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Hatley is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 458 people
    • New Wren
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • New Wren is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Wren
    • Wren
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Wren is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wren
    • Riggins
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Riggins is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riggins
    • Acker ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Acker is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acker
    • Splunge
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Splunge is located in Monroe County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Splunge
    • Greenwood Springs
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Pontotoc County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dorsey, with the one closest to Dorsey listed first.
    • Sherman
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Goodford
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Goodford is located in Pontotoc County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodford
    • Nixon
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Nixon is located in Pontotoc County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixon
    • Cherry Creek
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Cherry Creek is located in Pontotoc County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Creek
    • Pontotoc
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Algoma
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
    • Ecru
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • 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>
  • Prentiss County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dorsey, with the one closest to Dorsey listed first.
    • Marietta
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Marietta is located in Prentiss County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marietta
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 253 people
    • Baldwyn
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
    • New Site
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • New Site is located in Prentiss County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Site
    • Wheeler
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Wheeler is located in Prentiss County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wheeler
    • Geeville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Geeville is located in Prentiss County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geeville
    • Lake City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Lake City is located in Prentiss County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake City
    • Blackland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Blackland is located in Prentiss County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blackland
    • Booneville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
    • Burton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
      • Burton is located in Prentiss County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burton
    • Altitude
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Altitude is located in Prentiss County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altitude
  • Tishomingo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dorsey, with the one closest to Dorsey listed first.
    • Belmont
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Golden
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Dennis
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Dennis is located in Tishomingo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dennis
    • Tishomingo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Union County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dorsey, with the one closest to Dorsey listed first.
    • Alpine
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Alpine is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpine
    • Blue Springs
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
    • Ellistown
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Ellistown is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellistown
    • Graham
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Graham is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Graham
    • Mound City
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Mound City is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound City
    • Molino
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Molino is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Molino
  • Franklin County (AL)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dorsey, with the one closest to Dorsey listed first.
    • Red Bay
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Red Bay is located in Franklin County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bay
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,108 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Red Bay <1>
    • Vina
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Vina is located in Franklin County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vina
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 358 people
    • Burntout
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Burntout is located in Franklin County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burntout
      • Burntout has also been known as:
      • Burn Out
      • Burnout
      • Burnt Out
  • Lamar County (AL)
    • Detroit
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
  • Marion County (AL)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Dorsey, with the one closest to Dorsey listed first.
    • Weston
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Weston is located in Marion County (AL)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weston
    • Hamilton
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)

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

Cemeteries Near Dorsey ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Dorsey.

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

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

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

  • Dorsey Memorial Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  • Francis Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Duvall Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Walton Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Files Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
  • Pound Family Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Gregory Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Andrews Chapel Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
  • Cook Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
  • Hussey Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Boguefala Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Payne Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (509 more) ...
    • Whiteside Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
    • Keys Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
    • Shiloh Cemetery
      (4 miles [6.4 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.<2>

While we didn't find Dorsey in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Dorsey.

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

  • Ballardsville
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Ballardsville is located in Itawamba County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ballardsville
  • Abney
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Abney is located in Itawamba County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abney
  • Mooreville
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Mooreville is located in Lee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mooreville
  • Mantachie
    (5 miles [8 km] to the north)
  • Evergreen
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Evergreen is located in Itawamba County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evergreen
  • Fulton
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Plantersville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
  • Cardsville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Cardsville is located in Itawamba County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cardsville
  • Ratliff
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Ratliff is located in Itawamba County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ratliff
  • Tilden
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Tilden is located in Itawamba County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilden
  • Tupelo
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Nettleton
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Kirkville
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Kirkville is located in Itawamba County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirkville
    • Saltillo
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Shannon
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)

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

Newspapers Published in Dorsey ...

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 36 newspapers that have been published in the area around Dorsey.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Dorsey, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Dorsey.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin 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 Dorsey:

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>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 Dorsey, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Dorsey) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.