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 Paris (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 Paris. 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 northwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. 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 west 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.
Paris is located in Lafayette 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 Lafayette County: Calhoun, Marshall, Panola, Pontotoc, Tate, Union & Yalobusha.
Below are the counties that are near Paris. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Paris:
- Lafayette County (The home county of Paris)
- The following are listed by their distance from Paris, with the one closest to Paris listed first.
- Delay
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Delay is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delay
- Cornish
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Cornish is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornish
- Taylor
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Springdale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Springdale is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
- Altus
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Altus is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altus
- Oxford
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Lafayette Springs
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lafayette Springs is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafayette Springs
- Alesville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Alesville is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alesville
- Abbeville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Harmontown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Harmontown is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmontown
- Calhoun County
- The following are listed by their distance from Paris, with the one closest to Paris listed first.
- Banner
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sarepta
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Sarepta is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sarepta
- Bruce
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Pittsboro
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Pittsboro is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsboro
- Population from the 2020 Census: 188 people
- Loyd
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Loyd is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyd
- Big Creek
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Big Creek is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Creek
- Population from the 2020 Census: 146 people
- Calhoun City
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Derma
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Derma is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derma
- Population from the 2020 Census: 961 people
- Benela
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Benela is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benela
- Vardaman
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Slate Spring
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Slate Spring is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slate Spring
- Slate Springs
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Slate Springs is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Slate Springs
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Chickasaw County
- The following are listed by their distance from Paris, with the one closest to Paris listed first.
- New Houlka
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- New Houlka is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Houlka
- Population from the 2020 Census: 601 people
- Former names for New Houlka:
- Houlka
- Old Houlka
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for New Houlka <1>
- Thelma
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Thelma is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thelma
- Marshall County
- The following are listed by their distance from Paris, with the one closest to Paris listed first.
- Cornersville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cornersville is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornersville
- Laws Hill
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Laws Hill is located in Marshall County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laws Hill
- Panola County
- The following are listed by their distance from Paris, with the one closest to Paris listed first.
- Terza
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Terza is located in Panola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terza
- Courtland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Courtland is located in Panola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Courtland
- Population from the 2020 Census: 504 people
- Pope
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Pope is located in Panola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pope
- Population from the 2020 Census: 245 people
- Batesville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Pontotoc County
- The following are listed by their distance from Paris, with the one closest to Paris listed first.
- Toccopola
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Toccopola is located in Pontotoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toccopola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 258 people
- Thaxton
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Pannell
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Pannell is located in Pontotoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pannell
- Turnpike
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Turnpike is located in Pontotoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnpike
- Possum Trot
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Possum Trot is located in Pontotoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Possum Trot
- Algoma
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Pontotoc
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Ecru
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Nixon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Nixon is located in Pontotoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixon
- Goodford
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Goodford is located in Pontotoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodford
- Cherry Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Cherry Creek is located in Pontotoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Creek
- Union County
- The following are listed by their distance from Paris, with the one closest to Paris listed first.
- Fairview
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Fairview is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
- Darden
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Darden is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darden
- Ingomar
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Ingomar is located in Union County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingomar
- Yalobusha County
- The following are listed by their distance from Paris, with the one closest to Paris listed first.
- Water Valley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Velma
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Velma is located in Yalobusha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Velma
- Coffeeville
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Oakland
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Tillatoba
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Tillatoba is located in Yalobusha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tillatoba
- Population from the 2010 Census: 91 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Paris, see our County-by-County Page for Paris.
Cemeteries Near Paris ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Paris.
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 Paris - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Paris covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Paris, with the one closest to Paris listed first.
- Paris Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Crocker Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Drivers Flat Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Mt. Liberty Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Keel Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Union Grove Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Webb Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Holt Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Young Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Pilgrim Rest Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)
- New El Bethel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Pine Flat Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (319 more) ...
- McGonigal Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Humphreys Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Jumpers Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Paris had a population of 100 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Paris, with the one closest to Paris listed first.
- Delay
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Delay is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delay
- Tula
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Tula is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tula
- Banner
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Pine Valley
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Pine Valley is located in Yalobusha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Valley
- Taylor
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Springdale
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Springdale is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
- Water Valley
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Sarepta
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
- Sarepta is located in Calhoun County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sarepta
- Denmark
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Denmark is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark
- Velma
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Velma is located in Yalobusha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Velma
- Oxford
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- University
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Toccopola
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Toccopola is located in Pontotoc County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toccopola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 258 people
- Lafayette Springs
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Lafayette Springs is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafayette Springs
- Alesville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Alesville is located in Lafayette County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alesville
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Paris. See our List of 1890's Communities around Paris.
Newspapers Published in Paris ...
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 67 newspapers that have been published in the area around Paris.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Paris, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Paris.
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 Paris:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to Lafayette County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Calhoun County
- Chickasaw County
- Marshall County
- Panola County
- Pontotoc County
- Union County
- Yalobusha 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> | 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 Paris, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Paris) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |