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 Independence (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 Independence. 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 southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals and doctors were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Independence is located in Scott 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 Scott County: Jasper, Leake, Neshoba, Newton, Rankin & Smith.
Below are the counties that are near Independence. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Independence:
- Scott County (The home county of Independence)
- The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Hunter Town
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Hunter Town is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter Town
- Morton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Cooperville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Cooperville is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperville
- Kalem
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Kalem is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kalem
- Raworth
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Raworth is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raworth
- Branch
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Branch is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branch
- Forest
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Clifton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Clifton is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
- Beach
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Beach is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach
- Harperville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Harperville is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harperville
- Lake
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Cash
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Cash is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cash
- Hinds County
- The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- North Town Plaza
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- North Town Plaza is located in Hinds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Town Plaza
- Jackson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Success ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Success is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Success
- Montrose
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Montrose is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- Louin
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Louin is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 262 people
- Hamlet ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hamlet is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlet
- Stevens ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Stevens is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stevens
- Baxter ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Baxter is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baxter
- Verba ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Verba is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verba
- Bay Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Leake County
- The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Lena
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Tuscola
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Tuscola is located in Leake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuscola
- Walnut Grove
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- High Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- High Hill is located in Leake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Hill
- Standing Pine
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Standing Pine is located in Leake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Standing Pine
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Madisonville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Madisonville is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madisonville
- Madison
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ridgeland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Sharon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Sharon is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon
- Newton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Six Towns ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Six Towns is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Six Towns
- Conehatta
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Conehatta is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conehatta
- Newton
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Pine Bluff
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Pine Bluff is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Bluff
- Lucern
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Lucern is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucern
- Rankin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Pelahatchie
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Puckett
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Puckett is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puckett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
- Galilee
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Galilee is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galilee
- Cato
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Cato is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cato
- Fannin
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Fannin is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fannin
- Goshen Springs
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Goshen Springs is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen Springs
- Sand Hill
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Sand Hill is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Hill
- Brandon
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Greenfield
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Greenfield is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
- Flowood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Pearl
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Pearson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Pearson is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearson
- Simpson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- D'Lo
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- D'Lo is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for D'Lo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 442 people
- Braxton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Braxton is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braxton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 179 people
- Mendenhall
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Sanatorium
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Sanatorium is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sanatorium
- Magee
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Coats
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Coats is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coats
- Smith County
- The following are listed by their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Polkville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Polkville is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polkville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 819 people
- Trenton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Trenton is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trenton
- Daniel
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Daniel is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daniel
- Burns
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Burns is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burns
- Raleigh
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Bezer
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Bezer is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bezer
- Sylvarena
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Sylvarena is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvarena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 106 people
- Mineral Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mineral Springs is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Springs
- Mize
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Independence, see our County-by-County Page for Independence.
Cemeteries Near Independence ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Independence.
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 Independence - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Independence covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Springfield Baptist Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Independence Methodist Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Mt. Olive Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Searcy Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pulaski Independent Methodist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Sims Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Walker Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Line Creek Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Piney Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Warren's Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Warren's Cemetery
- The Warren's Cemetery has also been known as:
- Luther Chapel Cemetery
- Brassel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- East Morton Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Continue List (361 more) ...
- Thornhill Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Polkville Pentecostal Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- New Goodhope Baptist Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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 Independence in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Independence.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Independence, with the one closest to Independence listed first.
- Pulaski
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Pulaski is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pulaski
- Morton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Polkville
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Polkville is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polkville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 819 people
- Raworth
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Raworth is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raworth
- Trenton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Trenton is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trenton
- Pelahatchie
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Homewood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Homewood is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homewood
- Lynwood ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lynwood is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynwood
- Daniel
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Daniel is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daniel
- Burns
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Burns is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burns
- Forest
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Norris
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Norris is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norris
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Gunn
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Gunn is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunn
- Johns
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Johns is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johns
- Shongelo
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Shongelo is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shongelo
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Independence. See our List of 1890's Communities around Independence.
Newspapers Published in Independence ...
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 23 newspapers that have been published in the area around Independence.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Independence, there are papers which were published within 20 miles [32.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Independence.
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 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 Independence:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to Scott County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Hinds County
- Jasper County
- Leake County
- Madison County
- Newton County
- Rankin County
- Simpson County
- Smith 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 Independence, 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' (or 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- Independence) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |