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 Francis (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 Francis. 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.
Francis 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 Francis. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Francis:
- Bolivar County (The home county of Francis)
- The following are listed by their distance from Francis, with the one closest to Francis listed first.
- Round Lake
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Round Lake is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Lake
- Deeson
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Deeson is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deeson
- Duncan
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Duncan is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 376 people
- Alligator
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Alligator is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alligator
- Population from the 2020 Census: 182 people
- Hushpuckena
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hushpuckena is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hushpuckena
- Perthshire
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Perthshire is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perthshire
- Shelby
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Gunnison
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Gunnison is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunnison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
- Winstonville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Winstonville is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winstonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 163 people
- Waxhaw
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Waxhaw is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waxhaw
- Mound Bayou
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Wright
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Wright is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright
- Merigold
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Coahoma County
- The following are listed by their distance from Francis, with the one closest to Francis listed first.
- Sunflower Landing
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sunflower Landing is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunflower Landing
- Africa ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Africa is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Africa
- Roundaway
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Roundaway is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roundaway
- Hopson
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Hopson is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopson
- Clarksdale
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Clarksdale is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksdale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14,470 people
- Claremont
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Claremont is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claremont
- Dublin
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Dublin is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dublin
- Lyon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Lyon is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 279 people
- Clover Hill
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Clover Hill is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover Hill
- Friars Point
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Friars Point is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friars Point
- Population from the 2020 Census: 990 people
- Eagles Nest
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Eagles Nest is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagles Nest
- Coahoma
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Jonestown
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Quitman County
- Vance
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Vance is located in Quitman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vance
- Sunflower County
- The following are listed by their distance from Francis, with the one closest to Francis listed first.
- Rome
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Rome is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rome
- Whitney
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Whitney is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitney
- Drew
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Halstead
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Halstead is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halstead
- White City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- White City is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
- Ruleville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Tallahatchie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Francis, with the one closest to Francis listed first.
- Tutwiler
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Sumner
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Sumner is located in Tallahatchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumner
- Population from the 2020 Census: 264 people
- Webb
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Webb is located in Tallahatchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webb
- Population from the 2020 Census: 468 people
- Arkansas County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Francis, with the one closest to Francis listed first.
- Ethel
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Ethel is located in Arkansas County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ethel
- Tichnor
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Saint Charles
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Gillett
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Desha County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Francis, with the one closest to Francis listed first.
- Snow Lake
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Snow Lake is located in Desha County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Lake
- Napoleon ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Napoleon is located in Desha County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napoleon
- Watson
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Pea Ridge
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Pea Ridge is located in Desha County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pea Ridge
- Kelso
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Kelso is located in Desha County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelso
- Phillips County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Francis, with the one closest to Francis listed first.
- Crumrod
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Crumrod is located in Phillips County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumrod
- Mellwood
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Mellwood is located in Phillips County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mellwood
- Elaine
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Lambrook
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Lambrook is located in Phillips County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lambrook
- Old Town
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Old Town is located in Phillips County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
- Wabash
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Wabash is located in Phillips County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wabash
- Lakeview
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Lakeview is located in Phillips County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeview
- Population from the 2020 Census: 349 people
- Oneida
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Oneida is located in Phillips County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oneida
- Turner
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Turner is located in Phillips County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turner
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Francis, see our County-by-County Page for Francis.
Cemeteries Near Francis ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Francis.
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 Francis - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Francis covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Francis, with the one closest to Francis listed first.
- Round Lake Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Booker Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- White Parker Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- St. Joseph Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- New Ashley Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Jerusalem Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Luke Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Person Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pickett Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Turners Chapel Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Peters Rock Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Continue List (201 more) ...
- Concordia Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- The Place of Prayer Memorial Garden
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Sanders Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
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 Francis in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Francis.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Francis, with the one closest to Francis listed first.
- Round Lake
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Round Lake is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Lake
- Hillhouse
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hillhouse is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillhouse
- Deeson
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Deeson is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deeson
- Laconia
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Laconia is located in Desha County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laconia
- Duncan
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Duncan is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 376 people
- Sunflower Landing
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sunflower Landing is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunflower Landing
- Hushpuckena
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hushpuckena is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hushpuckena
- Alligator
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Alligator is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alligator
- Population from the 2020 Census: 182 people
- Green Grove
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Green Grove is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Grove
- Perthshire
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Perthshire is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perthshire
- Concordia
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Concordia is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concordia
- Henrico ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Henrico is located in Desha County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrico
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Gunnison
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Gunnison is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunnison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
- Shelby
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Bobo
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Bobo is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bobo
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Francis. See our List of 1890's Communities around Francis.
Newspapers Published in Francis ...
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 35 newspapers that have been published in the area around Francis.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Francis, there are papers which were published within 24 miles [38.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Francis.
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 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 Francis:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to Bolivar County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Coahoma County
- Quitman County
- Sunflower County
- Tallahatchie County
- Arkansas County
- Desha County
- Phillips 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> | 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 Francis, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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- Francis) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |