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 Polkville (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 Polkville. 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 and doctors 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.
Polkville is located in Smith 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 Smith County: Covington, Jasper, Jones, Newton, Rankin, Scott & Simpson.
Below are the counties that are near Polkville. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Polkville:
- Smith County (The home county of Polkville)
- The following are listed by their distance from Polkville, with the one closest to Polkville listed first.
- Trenton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Trenton is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trenton
- Daniel
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Daniel is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daniel
- Burns
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Burns is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burns
- Raleigh
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Bezer
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Bezer is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bezer
- Mineral Springs
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Mineral Springs is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Springs
- Sylvarena
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sylvarena is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvarena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 106 people
- Mize
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Taylorsville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Covington County
- Mount Olive
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Mount Olive is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Population from the 2020 Census: 896 people
- Hinds County
- The following are listed by their distance from Polkville, with the one closest to Polkville listed first.
- North Town Plaza
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- North Town Plaza is located in Hinds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Town Plaza
- Jackson
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Polkville, with the one closest to Polkville listed first.
- Success ‑ Historic
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Success is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Success
- Louin
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
- Louin is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 262 people
- Hamlet ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Hamlet is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlet
- Stevens ‑ Historic
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Stevens is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stevens
- Montrose
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Montrose is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- Bay Springs
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Baxter ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Baxter is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Baxter
- Turnerville
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Turnerville is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnerville
- Verba ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Verba is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verba
- Leake County
- Lena
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Polkville, with the one closest to Polkville listed first.
- Madisonville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Madisonville is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madisonville
- Madison
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Ridgeland
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Newton County
- The following are listed by their distance from Polkville, with the one closest to Polkville listed first.
- Six Towns ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Six Towns is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Six Towns
- Conehatta
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Conehatta is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conehatta
- Rankin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Polkville, with the one closest to Polkville listed first.
- Puckett
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Puckett is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puckett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
- Galilee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Galilee is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galilee
- Pelahatchie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Cato
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cato is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cato
- Brandon
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Fannin
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Fannin is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fannin
- Greenfield
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Greenfield is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
- Goshen Springs
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Goshen Springs is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen Springs
- Sand Hill
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Sand Hill is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Hill
- Pearl
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Florence
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Flowood
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Polkville, with the one closest to Polkville listed first.
- Cooperville
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Cooperville is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperville
- Hunter Town
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Hunter Town is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter Town
- Morton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Kalem
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Kalem is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kalem
- Raworth
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Raworth is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raworth
- Branch
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Branch is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branch
- Forest
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Clifton
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Clifton is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
- Beach
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Beach is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach
- Lake
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Harperville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Harperville is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harperville
- Ludlow
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Ludlow is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ludlow
- Simpson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Polkville, with the one closest to Polkville listed first.
- D'Lo
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- D'Lo is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for D'Lo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 442 people
- Mendenhall
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Braxton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Braxton is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braxton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 179 people
- Sanatorium
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- Sanatorium is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sanatorium
- Magee
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Coats
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Coats is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coats
- Westville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Westville is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westville
- Jaynesville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Jaynesville is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jaynesville
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Polkville, see our County-by-County Page for Polkville.
Cemeteries Near Polkville ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Polkville.
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 Polkville - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Polkville covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Polkville, with the one closest to Polkville listed first.
- Old Polkville Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Polkville Cemetery
- The Old Polkville Cemetery has also been known as:
- Polkville Cemetery
- Old Stubbs Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Polkville First Baptist Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Oak Grove Church of God Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Haile Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Polkville Pentecostal Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- James Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Piney Grove Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- New Prospect Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Prospect Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Concord Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Walters Grove Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (385 more) ...
- Rock Bluff Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- New Chapel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- New Chapel Cemetery
(5 miles [8 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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Polkville had a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Polkville had a population of 819 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Polkville, with the one closest to Polkville listed first.
- Daniel
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Daniel is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daniel
- Trenton
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Trenton is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trenton
- Lynwood ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Lynwood is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynwood
- Gunn
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Gunn is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunn
- Pulaski
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Pulaski is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pulaski
- Puckett
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Puckett is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puckett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
- Johns
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
- Johns is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johns
- Burns
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Burns is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burns
- Pelahatchie
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Homewood
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Homewood is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homewood
- Morton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Cato
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cato is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cato
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Shongelo
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Shongelo is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shongelo
- Dobson ‑ Historic
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Dobson is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dobson
- Everett
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Everett is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everett
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Polkville. See our List of 1890's Communities around Polkville.
Newspapers Published in Polkville ...
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 28 newspapers that have been published in the area around Polkville.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Polkville, there are papers which were published within 23 miles [37 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Polkville.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to 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 Polkville:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to Smith County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Covington County
- Hinds County
- Jasper County
- Leake County
- Madison County
- Newton County
- Rankin County
- Scott County
- Simpson 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 Polkville, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | 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- Polkville) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |