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 Penton (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 Penton. 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.
Penton is located in DeSoto 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 DeSoto County: Crittenden (AR), Marshall, Tate, Tunica & Shelby (TN).
Below are the counties that are near Penton. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Penton:
- DeSoto County (The home county of Penton)
- The following are listed by their distance from Penton, with the one closest to Penton listed first.
- Newport
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Newport is located in DeSoto County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
- Lake Cormorant
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Memphis
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Memphis is located in DeSoto County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Memphis
- Norfolk
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Norfolk is located in DeSoto County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norfolk
- Eudora
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Eudora is located in DeSoto County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eudora
- Glover
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Glover is located in DeSoto County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glover
- Walls
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Walls is located in DeSoto County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,441 people
- Former name for Walls:
- Alpika
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Walls <1>
- Cub Lake
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cub Lake is located in DeSoto County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cub Lake
- Lynchburg
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Lynchburg is located in DeSoto County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynchburg
- Southhaven
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Southhaven is located in DeSoto County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Southhaven
- Aldens
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Aldens is located in DeSoto County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aldens
- Nesbit
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Horn Lake
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Coahoma County
- The following are listed by their distance from Penton, with the one closest to Penton listed first.
- Powell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Powell is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powell
- Lula
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Panola County
- The following are listed by their distance from Penton, with the one closest to Penton listed first.
- Askew
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Askew is located in Panola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Askew
- Crenshaw
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Longtown
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Longtown is located in Panola County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longtown
- Como
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Quitman County
- Sledge
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Sledge is located in Quitman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sledge
- Population from the 2020 Census: 472 people
- Tate County
- The following are listed by their distance from Penton, with the one closest to Penton listed first.
- Arkabutla
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Arkabutla is located in Tate County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkabutla
- Goode
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Goode is located in Tate County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goode
- Coldwater
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Senatobia
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Antioch
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Antioch is located in Tate County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Antioch
- Poagville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Poagville is located in Tate County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poagville
- New Town
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- New Town is located in Tate County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Tunica County
- The following are listed by their distance from Penton, with the one closest to Penton listed first.
- Banks
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Banks is located in Tunica County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Banks
- Mhoon Landing ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Mhoon Landing is located in Tunica County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mhoon Landing
- North Tunica
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- North Tunica is located in Tunica County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Tunica
- Tunica
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Evansville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Evansville is located in Tunica County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evansville
- Austin
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Austin is located in Tunica County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Austin
- Clayton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Clayton is located in Tunica County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton
- Peyton ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Peyton is located in Tunica County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peyton
- Crittenden County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Penton, with the one closest to Penton listed first.
- Seyppel
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Seyppel is located in Crittenden County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seyppel
- Horseshoe Lake
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Horseshoe Lake is located in Crittenden County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horseshoe Lake
- Population from the 2020 Census: 270 people
- Pinckney
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Pinckney is located in Crittenden County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinckney
- Anthonyville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Anthonyville is located in Crittenden County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anthonyville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 148 people
- Amanca
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Amanca is located in Crittenden County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amanca
- Edmondson
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Edmondson is located in Crittenden County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edmondson
- Population from the 2020 Census: 378 people
- Proctor
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Hulbert
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Hulbert is located in Crittenden County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hulbert
- West Memphis
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Jennette
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Jennette is located in Crittenden County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jennette
- Population from the 2020 Census: 117 people
- Mound City
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Mound City is located in Crittenden County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound City
- Crawfordsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Marion
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Marion is located in Crittenden County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marion
- Population from the 2020 Census: 12,290 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Marion <1>
- Lee County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Penton, with the one closest to Penton listed first.
- Peters
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Peters is located in Lee County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peters
- Bledsoe
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Bledsoe is located in Lee County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bledsoe
- Winona ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Winona is located in Lee County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winona
- Brickeys
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Brickeys is located in Lee County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brickeys
- Phillips Bayou
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Phillips Bayou is located in Lee County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phillips Bayou
- Marianna
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- LaGrange
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- LaGrange is located in Lee County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for LaGrange
- Population from the 2020 Census: 69 people
- Felton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Felton is located in Lee County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Felton
- Haynes
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Haynes is located in Lee County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haynes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 121 people
- Phillips County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Penton, with the one closest to Penton listed first.
- Helena
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- West Helena
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Helena - West Helena
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Helena - West Helena is located in Phillips County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Helena - West Helena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 10,032 people
- Saint Francis County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Penton, with the one closest to Penton listed first.
- Hughes
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Hughes is located in Saint Francis County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hughes
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,200 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hughes <1>
- Rawlinson
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Rawlinson is located in Saint Francis County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rawlinson
- Heth
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Widener
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Widener is located in Saint Francis County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Widener
- Population from the 2020 Census: 243 people
- Madison
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
- Madison is located in Saint Francis County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 678 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Madison <1>
- Bonair
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Bonair is located in Saint Francis County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonair
- Forrest City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Shelby County (TN)
- The following are listed by their distance from Penton, with the one closest to Penton listed first.
- Memphis
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Oakville
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Oakville is located in Shelby County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oakville
- Capleville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Capleville is located in Shelby County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Capleville
- Hunt Village
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hunt Village is located in Shelby County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunt Village
- Estimated population in 2014: 1,234 people
- Parkway Village
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Parkway Village is located in Shelby County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Parkway Village
- Binghampton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Binghampton is located in Shelby County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Binghampton
- The Village
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- The Village is located in Shelby County (TN)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for The Village
- Germantown
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Penton, see our County-by-County Page for Penton.
Cemeteries Near Penton ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Penton.
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 Penton - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Penton covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Penton, with the one closest to Penton listed first.
- Morning Star Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Rodgers Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- St. Peters Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Bethlehem Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Johnson Chapel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Locust Grove Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- Happy Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Rainey Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Clear Lake Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Shiloh Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Macedonia Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (263 more) ...
- Corinth Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- New Mt. Zion Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Nebo Cemetery
(10 miles [16.1 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>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Penton had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Penton, with the one closest to Penton listed first.
- Seyppel
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Seyppel is located in Crittenden County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Seyppel
- Robinsonville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Robinsonville is located in Tunica County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Robinsonville
- Lake Cormorant
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bowdre
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Bowdre is located in Tunica County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bowdre
- Commerce
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Commerce is located in Tunica County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
- Norfolk
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Norfolk is located in DeSoto County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Norfolk
- Pinckney
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Pinckney is located in Crittenden County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinckney
- Eudora
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Eudora is located in DeSoto County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eudora
- Glover
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Glover is located in DeSoto County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glover
- Hollywood
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hollywood is located in Tunica County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollywood
- Cub Lake
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Cub Lake is located in DeSoto County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cub Lake
- Walls
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Walls is located in DeSoto County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,441 people
- Former name for Walls:
- Alpika
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Walls <1>
- Continue List (18 more) ...
- Peters
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Peters is located in Lee County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peters
- Pleasant Hill
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Pleasant Hill is located in DeSoto County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasant Hill
- Days
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Days is located in DeSoto County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Days
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Penton. See our List of 1890's Communities around Penton.
Newspapers Published in Penton ...
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 22 newspapers that have been published in the area around Penton.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Penton, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Penton.
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 helpful 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 Penton:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to DeSoto County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Coahoma County
- Panola County
- Quitman County
- Tate County
- Tunica County
- Crittenden County
- Lee County
- Phillips County
- Saint Francis County
- Shelby 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 Penton, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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 from Point A (ie- Penton) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |