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 Merit (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 Merit. 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 hospitals and 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.
Merit is located in Simpson 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 Simpson County: Copiah, Covington, Hinds, Jefferson Davis, Lawrence, Rankin & Smith.
Below are the counties that are near Merit. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Merit:
- Simpson County (The home county of Merit)
- The following are listed by their distance from Merit, with the one closest to Merit listed first.
- Mendenhall
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- D'Lo
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- D'Lo is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for D'Lo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 442 people
- Westville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Westville is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westville
- Sanatorium
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Sanatorium is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sanatorium
- Braxton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Braxton is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braxton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 179 people
- Magee
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Shivers
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Shivers is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shivers
- Coats
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Coats is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coats
- Jaynesville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Jaynesville is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jaynesville
- Copiah County
- The following are listed by their distance from Merit, with the one closest to Merit listed first.
- Georgetown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Georgetown is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Hopewell
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Hopewell is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
- Sardis
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Sardis is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sardis
- Crystal Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Hazlehurst
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Martinsville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Martinsville is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsville
- Covington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Merit, with the one closest to Merit listed first.
- Mount Olive
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Mount Olive is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Population from the 2020 Census: 896 people
- Arbo
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Arbo is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbo
- Williamsburg
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Williamsburg is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsburg
- Collins
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hot Coffee
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Hot Coffee is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hot Coffee
- Kola
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Kola is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kola
- Hinds County
- The following are listed by their distance from Merit, with the one closest to Merit listed first.
- Terry
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Byram
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Choctaw Village
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Choctaw Village is located in Hinds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choctaw Village
- Jackson
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Jefferson Davis County
- Prentiss
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Merit, with the one closest to Merit listed first.
- New Hebron
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Grange ‑ Historic
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Grange is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grange
- Hooker
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Hooker is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooker
- Silver Creek
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Tryus
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Tryus is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tryus
- Rosella
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Rosella is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosella
- Monticello
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Arm
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Arm is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arm
- Nola
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Nola is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nola
- Rankin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Merit, with the one closest to Merit listed first.
- Cato
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Cato is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cato
- Galilee
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Galilee is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galilee
- Puckett
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Puckett is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puckett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
- King
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- King is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for King
- Alonzo
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Alonzo is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alonzo
- Clear Branch
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Clear Branch is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Branch
- Whites
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Whites is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whites
- Florence
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Greenfield
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Greenfield is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
- Brandon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Richland
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Pearson
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Pearson is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearson
- Pearl
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Merit, with the one closest to Merit listed first.
- Cooperville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Cooperville is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperville
- Hunter Town
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Hunter Town is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter Town
- Smith County
- The following are listed by their distance from Merit, with the one closest to Merit listed first.
- Daniel
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Daniel is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daniel
- Mize
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Polkville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Polkville is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polkville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 819 people
- Raleigh
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Bezer
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Bezer is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bezer
- Trenton
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Trenton is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trenton
- Burns
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Burns is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burns
- Mineral Springs
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Mineral Springs is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Springs
- Taylorsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Merit, see our County-by-County Page for Merit.
Cemeteries Near Merit ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Merit.
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 Merit - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Merit covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Merit, with the one closest to Merit listed first.
- Merit Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Finley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Boggan Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Macedonia Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bishop Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Pinola Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Westville Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- D'Lo Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- New Zion Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Reed Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Rials Creek Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Gum Springs Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (519 more) ...
- Old Gum Springs Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Poplar Springs Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Strong River Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
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 Merit in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Merit.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Merit, with the one closest to Merit listed first.
- Westville
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Westville is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westville
- D'Lo
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- D'Lo is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for D'Lo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 442 people
- Braxton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Braxton is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braxton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 179 people
- Everett
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Everett is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everett
- Shivers
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Shivers is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shivers
- Magee
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Harrisville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Harrisville is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrisville
- Cato
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Cato is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cato
- Jaynesville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Jaynesville is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jaynesville
- Puckett
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Puckett is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puckett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
- Johns
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Johns is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johns
- Georgetown
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Georgetown is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Thomasville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Thomasville is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomasville
- Gunn
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Gunn is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunn
- Dobson ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Dobson is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dobson
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Merit. See our List of 1890's Communities around Merit.
Newspapers Published in Merit ...
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 19 newspapers that have been published in the area around Merit.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Merit, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Merit.
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 Merit:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to Simpson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Copiah County
- Covington County
- Hinds County
- Jefferson Davis County
- Lawrence County
- Rankin County
- Scott 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 Merit, 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- Merit) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |