Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
So far, we found very little information about Gum Ridge. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>
We've added Gum Ridge to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Gum Ridge, 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 Gum Ridge (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 Gum Ridge. 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 Gum Ridge ...
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 Gum Ridge: Gum Rdg. (or less commonly used: Gum Rdge. or Gum Ridg.)
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Gum Ridge. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Gum Ridge.
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/Parishes ...
When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties/parishes.
For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals 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/parishes 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/parishes, 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 Gum Ridge is historic, it would have been located within present day Jefferson 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 Jefferson County: Tensas (LA), Adams, Claiborne, Copiah, Franklin & Lincoln.
Below are the counties/parishes that are near Gum Ridge. For each of these counties/parishes, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Gum Ridge:
- Jefferson County (The home county of Gum Ridge)
- The following are listed by their distance from Gum Ridge, with the one closest to Gum Ridge listed first.
- Rodney
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rodney is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodney
- Fayette
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Harriston
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Red Lick
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Red Lick is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Lick
- Adams County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gum Ridge, with the one closest to Gum Ridge listed first.
- Selma
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Selma is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Selma
- Washington
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Washington is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washington
- Natchez
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Jeannette
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Jeannette is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jeannette
- Carthage
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Carthage is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carthage
- Cloverdale
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Cloverdale is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
- Claiborne County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gum Ridge, with the one closest to Gum Ridge listed first.
- Westside
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Westside is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westside
- Port Gibson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Grand Gulf
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Grand Gulf is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand Gulf
- Ingleside
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Ingleside is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingleside
- Willows
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Willows is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willows
- Saint Elmo
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Elmo is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Elmo
- Carlisle
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Carlisle is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carlisle
- Franklin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Gum Ridge, with the one closest to Gum Ridge listed first.
- Hamburg
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hamburg is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamburg
- Roxie
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- White Apple
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- White Apple is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Apple
- Knoxville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Knoxville is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knoxville
- Garden City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Garden City is located in Franklin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden City
- Meadville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Catahoula Parish (LA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Gum Ridge, with the one closest to Gum Ridge listed first.
- Greenville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Greenville is located in Catahoula Parish (LA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenville
- Wildwood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Wildwood is located in Catahoula Parish (LA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood
- Sicily Island
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Sicily Island is located in Catahoula Parish (LA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sicily Island
- Population from the 2020 Census: 438 people
- Concordia Parish (LA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Gum Ridge, with the one closest to Gum Ridge listed first.
- Clayton
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Vidalia
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Ridgecrest
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Ridgecrest is located in Concordia Parish (LA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridgecrest
- Population from the 2020 Census: 585 people
- Sycamore
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Sycamore is located in Concordia Parish (LA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
- Ferriday
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- West Ferriday
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- West Ferriday is located in Concordia Parish (LA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Ferriday
- Dunbarton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Dunbarton is located in Concordia Parish (LA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunbarton
- Franklin Parish (LA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Gum Ridge, with the one closest to Gum Ridge listed first.
- Elam
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Elam is located in Franklin Parish (LA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elam
- Wisner
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Gilbert
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Tensas Parish (LA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Gum Ridge, with the one closest to Gum Ridge listed first.
- Waterproof
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Saint Joseph
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Highland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Highland is located in Tensas Parish (LA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
- Newellton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Yucatan Landing
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Yucatan Landing is located in Tensas Parish (LA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yucatan Landing
- Newlight
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Newlight is located in Tensas Parish (LA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newlight
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Gum Ridge, see our County-by-County Page for Gum Ridge.
Cemeteries Near Gum Ridge ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Gum Ridge.
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 Gum Ridge - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Gum Ridge covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Gum Ridge, with the one closest to Gum Ridge listed first.
- Green Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Brooks Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Green Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Logan Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Wood Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Bullen Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Painters Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Adams Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Bell Grove Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Laurel Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rodney Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (280 more) ...
- Drake - Magruder Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Jefferson Chapel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Chamberlin Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.
Gum Ridge itself is historic and was described in the Rand McNally Atlas as having a population of 29 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Gum Ridge, with the one closest to Gum Ridge listed first.
- Rodney
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Rodney is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rodney
- Goldman
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Goldman is located in Tensas Parish (LA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goldman
- Waterproof
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Saint Joseph
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Cannonsburg
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Cannonsburg is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cannonsburg
- Westside
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Westside is located in Claiborne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westside
- Gibson Landing
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Gibson Landing is located in Concordia Parish (LA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson Landing
- Stanton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Stanton is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stanton
- Fayette
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Stampley
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Stampley is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stampley
- Foster
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Foster is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Foster
- Harriston
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Stonington
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Stonington is located in Jefferson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stonington
- Washington
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Washington is located in Adams County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Washington
- Highland
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Highland is located in Tensas Parish (LA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Highland
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Gum Ridge. See our List of 1890's Communities around Gum Ridge.
Newspapers Published in Gum Ridge ...
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 132 newspapers that have been published in the area around Gum Ridge.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Gum Ridge, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Gum Ridge.
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 Gum Ridge:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to Jefferson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Adams County
- Claiborne County
- Franklin County
- Catahoula Parish
- Concordia Parish
- Franklin Parish
- Tensas Parish
- 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 Gum Ridge, 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 '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- Gum Ridge) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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. |