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 Niles (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 Niles. 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 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 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, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Niles 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 Niles. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Niles:
- Bolivar County (The home county of Niles)
- The following are listed by their distance from Niles, with the one closest to Niles listed first.
- Wright
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Wright is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright
- Waxhaw
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Waxhaw is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waxhaw
- Beulah
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Beulah is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beulah
- Population from the 2020 Census: 329 people
- Rosedale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Christmas
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Christmas is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christmas
- Mound City
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Mound City is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound City
- Gunnison
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Gunnison is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunnison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
- Pace
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pace is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pace
- Population from the 2020 Census: 238 people
- Perthshire
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Perthshire is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perthshire
- Victor
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Victor is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Victor
- Deeson
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Deeson is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deeson
- Dahomy
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Dahomy is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahomy
- Coahoma County
- The following are listed by their distance from Niles, with the one closest to Niles listed first.
- Africa ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Africa is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Africa
- Sunflower Landing
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Sunflower Landing is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunflower Landing
- Roundaway
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Roundaway is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roundaway
- Claremont
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Claremont is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claremont
- Dublin
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- Dublin is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dublin
- Sunflower County
- The following are listed by their distance from Niles, with the one closest to Niles listed first.
- Halstead
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Halstead is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halstead
- White City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- White City is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
- Drew
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Ruleville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Whitney
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Whitney is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitney
- Roundaway
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Roundaway is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roundaway
- Rome
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Rome is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rome
- Doddsville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Doddsville is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doddsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 72 people
- Quiver ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Quiver is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quiver
- Faisonia
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Faisonia is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Faisonia
- Washington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Niles, with the one closest to Niles listed first.
- Napanee
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Napanee is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napanee
- Helm
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Helm is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helm
- Metcalfe
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Metcalfe is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metcalfe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 935 people
- Dunleith
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Dunleith is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dunleith
- Stoneville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Stoneville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoneville
- Arkansas County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Niles, with the one closest to Niles listed first.
- Tichnor
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Gillett
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Desha County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Niles, with the one closest to Niles listed first.
- Napoleon ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Napoleon is located in Desha County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napoleon
- Snow Lake
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Snow Lake is located in Desha County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Lake
- Watson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Kelso
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Kelso is located in Desha County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelso
- Rohwer
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Arkansas City
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Arkansas City is located in Desha County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkansas City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
- Pea Ridge
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Pea Ridge is located in Desha County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pea Ridge
- McArthur
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- McArthur is located in Desha County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McArthur
- McGehee
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hopedale ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Hopedale is located in Desha County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopedale
- Reed
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Reed is located in Desha County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reed
- Population from the 2020 Census: 146 people
- Dumas
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Drew County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Niles, with the one closest to Niles listed first.
- Tillar
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Tillar is located in Drew County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tillar
- Population from the 2020 Census: 210 people
- Winchester
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Winchester is located in Drew County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winchester
- Population from the 2020 Census: 160 people
- Phillips County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Niles, with the one closest to Niles listed first.
- Crumrod
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Crumrod is located in Phillips County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumrod
- Mellwood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Mellwood is located in Phillips County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mellwood
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Niles, see our County-by-County Page for Niles.
Cemeteries Near Niles ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Niles.
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 Niles - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Niles covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Niles, with the one closest to Niles listed first.
- New Hope Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Anns Tabernacle Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Scotland Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Martin Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Beulah Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Sharewell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Scott Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Rosedale Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Waldon Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Gunnison Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Clark Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (171 more) ...
- Aycock Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- El Bethel Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Concordia Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
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 Niles in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Niles.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Niles, with the one closest to Niles listed first.
- Wright
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Wright is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright
- Rosedale
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- Christmas
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Christmas is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Christmas
- Mound City
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Mound City is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound City
- Gunnison
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Gunnison is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunnison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
- White River
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- White River is located in Desha County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White River
- Perthshire
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Perthshire is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perthshire
- Concordia
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Concordia is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concordia
- Lobdell
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Lobdell is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lobdell
- Henrico ‑ Historic
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Henrico is located in Desha County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Henrico
- Dahomy
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Dahomy is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahomy
- Shelby
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Deeson
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Deeson is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deeson
- Merigold
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Mound Bayou
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Niles. See our List of 1890's Communities around Niles.
Newspapers Published in Niles ...
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 25 newspapers that have been published in the area around Niles.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Niles, 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 Niles.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Niles:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to Bolivar County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Coahoma County
- Sunflower County
- Washington County
- Arkansas County
- Desha County
- Drew 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 Niles, 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 obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Niles) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |