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 Pearl (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 Pearl. 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 doctors and 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.
Pearl 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 Pearl. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Pearl:
- Simpson County (The home county of Pearl)
- The following are listed by their distance from Pearl, with the one closest to Pearl listed first.
- Braxton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Braxton is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braxton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 179 people
- D'Lo
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- D'Lo is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for D'Lo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 442 people
- Westville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Westville is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westville
- Shivers
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Shivers is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shivers
- Mendenhall
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Sanatorium
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Sanatorium is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sanatorium
- Magee
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Jaynesville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jaynesville is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jaynesville
- Coats
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Coats is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coats
- Copiah County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pearl, with the one closest to Pearl listed first.
- Hopewell
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Hopewell is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
- Georgetown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Georgetown is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Crystal Springs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Hazlehurst
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sardis
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Sardis is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sardis
- Martinsville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Martinsville is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martinsville
- Glancy
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Glancy is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glancy
- Beauregard
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
- Beauregard is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beauregard
- Population from the 2020 Census: 322 people
- Wesson
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Bowerton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Bowerton is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowerton
- Carpenter
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Carpenter is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carpenter
- Myles
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Myles is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Myles
- Hinds County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pearl, with the one closest to Pearl listed first.
- Terry
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Byram
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Midway
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Midway is located in Hinds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- Thompsonville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Thompsonville is located in Hinds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thompsonville
- Choctaw Village
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Choctaw Village is located in Hinds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choctaw Village
- Palestine
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Palestine is located in Hinds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palestine
- Bear Creek
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Bear Creek is located in Hinds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bear Creek
- Jackson
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Raymond
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Adams
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Adams is located in Hinds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adams
- Oakley
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Oakley is located in Hinds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakley
- Learned
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pearl, with the one closest to Pearl listed first.
- Tryus
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Tryus is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tryus
- New Hebron
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Grange ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Grange is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grange
- Hooker
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Hooker is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooker
- Nola
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Nola is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nola
- Rosella
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Rosella is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosella
- Silver Creek
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Lincoln County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pearl, with the one closest to Pearl listed first.
- Montgomery
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Montgomery is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery
- New Sight
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- New Sight is located in Lincoln County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Sight
- Madison County
- Ridgeland
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Rankin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Pearl, with the one closest to Pearl listed first.
- Alonzo
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Alonzo is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alonzo
- Clear Branch
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Clear Branch is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clear Branch
- Whites
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Whites is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whites
- King
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- King is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for King
- Florence
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Richland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Pearson
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Pearson is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearson
- Cato
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Cato is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cato
- Pearl
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Greenfield
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Greenfield is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
- Brandon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Flowood
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Smith County
- Daniel
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Daniel is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daniel
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Pearl, see our County-by-County Page for Pearl.
Cemeteries Near Pearl ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Pearl.
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 Pearl - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Pearl covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Pearl, with the one closest to Pearl listed first.
- Zion Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Lewis Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Antioch Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Palestine Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Poplar Springs Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Bridges Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- St. Paul Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hopewell Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Hopewell Cemetery is a large cemetery that is located outside and to the west of Hopewell.
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #60001 <2>
- Old Ruby Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Brushy Creek Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy Creek Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Brushy Creek Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery is located less than 2 miles<3> to the south of Hopewell.
- The Brushy Creek Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery has also been known as:
- Brushy Creek Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #58313 <2>
- Pine Ridge Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Clear Branch Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Continue List (372 more) ...
- Harmony Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Brown Hill Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 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.<4>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Pearl had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Pearl, with the one closest to Pearl listed first.
- Beech Grove
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Beech Grove is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beech Grove
- Whites
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Whites is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whites
- Harrisville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Harrisville is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harrisville
- King
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- King is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for King
- Terry
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Georgetown
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Georgetown is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
- Crystal Springs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Gallman
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Gallman is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallman
- Braxton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Braxton is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braxton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 179 people
- Ashley
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Ashley is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ashley
- Rockport
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Rockport is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rockport
- Monterey
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Monterey is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
- Continue List (17 more) ...
- Hazlehurst
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Thomasville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Thomasville is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomasville
- Midway
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Midway is located in Hinds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Pearl. See our List of 1890's Communities around Pearl.
Newspapers Published in Pearl ...
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 136 newspapers that have been published in the area around Pearl.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Pearl, 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 Pearl.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we like to start 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 Pearl:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to Simpson County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Copiah County
- Hinds County
- Lawrence County
- Lincoln County
- Madison County
- Rankin 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> | 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> | 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 from Point A (ie- Pearl) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <4> | 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 Pearl, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |