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 Marathon (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 Marathon. 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 and hospitals 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.
Marathon is located in Washington 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 Washington County: Chicot (AR), Bolivar, Humphreys, Issaquena, Sharkey & Sunflower.
Below are the counties that are near Marathon. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Marathon:
- Washington County (The home county of Marathon)
- The following are listed by their distance from Marathon, with the one closest to Marathon listed first.
- Hampton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hampton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampton
- Byrne City
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Byrne City is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byrne City
- James
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- James is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for James
- Forrest City ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Forrest City is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forrest City
- Avon
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Avon is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Overby
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Overby is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Overby
- Hollandale
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Willet
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Willet is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willet
- Arcola
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Arcola is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 315 people
- Murphy
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Murphy is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Murphy
- Wilmot
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Wilmot is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmot
- Greenville
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Leland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Hinds County
- Delta City
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Delta City is located in Hinds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delta City
- Humphreys County
- The following are listed by their distance from Marathon, with the one closest to Marathon listed first.
- Gooden Lake
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Gooden Lake is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gooden Lake
- Louise
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Louise is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louise
- Population from the 2020 Census: 166 people
- Isola
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Isola is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Isola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 591 people
- Silver City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Silver City is located in Humphreys County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 279 people
- Issaquena County
- The following are listed by their distance from Marathon, with the one closest to Marathon listed first.
- Booth
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Booth is located in Issaquena County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Booth
- Mayersville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Mayersville is located in Issaquena County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayersville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 517 people
- Tallula
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Tallula is located in Issaquena County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tallula
- Sharkey County
- The following are listed by their distance from Marathon, with the one closest to Marathon listed first.
- Panther Burn
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Panther Burn is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther Burn
- Nitta Yuma
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Nitta Yuma is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nitta Yuma
- Lorenzen
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lorenzen is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorenzen
- Anguilla
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mont Helena
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Mont Helena is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mont Helena
- Riverside Junction
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Riverside Junction is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside Junction
- Rolling Fork
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Richey
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Richey is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richey
- Auter
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Auter is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auter
- Cary
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Cary is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cary
- Population from the 2020 Census: 264 people
- Issaquena
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Issaquena is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Issaquena
- Blanton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Blanton is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blanton
- Onward
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Onward is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Onward
- Sunflower County
- New Town
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- New Town is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Yazoo County
- Kearney
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Kearney is located in Yazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kearney
- Ashley County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Marathon, with the one closest to Marathon listed first.
- Parkdale
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Portland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Chicot County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Marathon, with the one closest to Marathon listed first.
- Eudora
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Lake Village
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- East Carroll Parish (LA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Marathon, with the one closest to Marathon listed first.
- Lake Providence
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Transylvania
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- West Carroll Parish (LA)
- The following are listed by their distance from Marathon, with the one closest to Marathon listed first.
- Kilbourne
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Oak Grove
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Forest
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Forest is located in West Carroll Parish (LA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest
- Population from the 2020 Census: 335 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Forest <1>
- Fiske
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Fiske is located in West Carroll Parish (LA)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fiske
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Marathon, see our County-by-County Page for Marathon.
Cemeteries Near Marathon ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Marathon.
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 Marathon - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Marathon covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Marathon, with the one closest to Marathon listed first.
- Canaan Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Metcalfe Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Georgia Bend Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Vickland Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Golden Link Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Cameta Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Section 16 Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Huddleston Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Clitonia Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Bellamy Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Graymound Cemetery
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (106 more) ...
- Centrana Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Vicks Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Delta City Cemetery
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
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.<3>
While we didn't find Marathon in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Marathon.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Marathon, with the one closest to Marathon listed first.
- Glen Allan
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Glen Allan is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glen Allan
- Hampton
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Hampton is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hampton
- Erwin
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Erwin is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erwin
- Grace
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Grace is located in Issaquena County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grace
- Chatham
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Chatham is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatham
- Longwood
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Longwood is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longwood
- Lake Washington ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Lake Washington is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Washington
- Panther Burn
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Panther Burn is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther Burn
- Percy
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Percy is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Percy
- Sterling ‑ Historic
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Sterling is located in Chicot County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sterling
- James
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- James is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for James
- Lorenzen
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Lorenzen is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorenzen
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Nitta Yuma
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Nitta Yuma is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nitta Yuma
- Mayersville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Mayersville is located in Issaquena County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayersville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 517 people
- Overby
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Overby is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Overby
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Marathon. See our List of 1890's Communities around Marathon.
Newspapers Published in Marathon ...
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 39 newspapers that have been published in the area around Marathon.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Marathon, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Marathon.
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 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 Marathon:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to Washington County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Hinds County
- Humphreys County
- Issaquena County
- Sharkey County
- Sunflower County
- Yazoo County
- Ashley County
- Chicot County
- East Carroll Parish
- West Carroll Parish
- 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> | 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. |
| <3> | 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 Marathon, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Marathon) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |