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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 Progress (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 Progress. 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.

Progress is located in Jefferson Davis 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 Jefferson Davis County: Covington, Lamar, Lawrence, Marion & Simpson.

Below are the counties that are near Progress. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Progress:

  • Jefferson Davis County     (The home county of Progress)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Progress, with the one closest to Progress listed first.
    • Prentiss
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Prentiss is located in Jefferson Davis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prentiss
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 925 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Prentiss <1>
    • Oak Vale
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Oak Vale is located in Jefferson Davis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Vale
    • Bassfield
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Bassfield is located in Jefferson Davis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bassfield
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
    • Melba
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Melba is located in Jefferson Davis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melba
  • Copiah County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Progress, with the one closest to Progress listed first.
    • Georgetown
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Georgetown is located in Copiah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 268 people
    • Beauregard
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Beauregard is located in Copiah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beauregard
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 322 people
    • Sardis
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Sardis is located in Copiah County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sardis
    • Wesson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Covington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Progress, with the one closest to Progress listed first.
    • Williamsburg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Williamsburg is located in Covington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsburg
    • Arbo
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Arbo is located in Covington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbo
    • Mount Olive
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Mount Olive is located in Covington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 896 people
    • Collins
      (23 miles [37 km] to the east)
    • Kola
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Kola is located in Covington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kola
    • Seminary
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Sanford
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Sanford is located in Covington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sanford
  • Lamar County
    • Sumrall
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
  • Lawrence County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Progress, with the one closest to Progress listed first.
    • Arm
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
      • Arm is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arm
    • Silver Creek
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Hooker
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Hooker is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooker
    • Tilton
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Tilton is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilton
    • Grange ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
      • Grange is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grange
    • Monticello
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
    • Rosella
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Rosella is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rosella
    • New Hebron
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Tryus
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Tryus is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tryus
    • Nola
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Nola is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nola
    • Verna
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Verna is located in Lawrence County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verna
  • Lincoln County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Progress, with the one closest to Progress listed first.
    • Wellman
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Wellman is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wellman
    • Brookhaven
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
    • Montgomery
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Montgomery is located in Lincoln County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montgomery
  • Marion County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Progress, with the one closest to Progress listed first.
    • Goss
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Goss is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goss
    • Expose
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Expose is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Expose
    • Columbia
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Kokomo
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Pinebur
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Pinebur is located in Marion County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pinebur
  • Pike County
    • Topisaw
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Topisaw is located in Pike County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Topisaw
  • Simpson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Progress, with the one closest to Progress listed first.
    • Shivers
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Shivers is located in Simpson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shivers
    • Jaynesville
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Jaynesville is located in Simpson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jaynesville
    • Westville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Westville is located in Simpson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westville
    • Coats
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Coats is located in Simpson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coats
    • Sanatorium
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Sanatorium is located in Simpson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sanatorium
    • Magee
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Magee is located in Simpson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magee
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,094 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Magee <1>
    • Mendenhall
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Walthall County
    • Sartinville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Sartinville is located in Walthall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sartinville

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Progress, see our County-by-County Page for Progress.

Cemeteries Near Progress ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Progress.

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 Progress - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Progress covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Progress, with the one closest to Progress listed first.

  • Progress Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  • Taylor Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  • Burkett Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • South Pleasant Hill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Oatis Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Taylor Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Bourne Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Speights Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
  • Nichols Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Burkett Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Burkett Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
  • Butler Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (527 more) ...
    • Palestine Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Blackwell Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Stamps Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)

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 Progress in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Progress.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Progress, with the one closest to Progress listed first.

  • Oak Vale
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • Oak Vale is located in Jefferson Davis County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Vale
  • Silver Creek
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Tilton
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Tilton is located in Lawrence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tilton
  • Hooker
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Hooker is located in Lawrence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hooker
  • Grange ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Grange is located in Lawrence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grange
  • Monticello
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
  • Goss
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Goss is located in Marion County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goss
  • Tryus
    (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
    • Tryus is located in Lawrence County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tryus
  • Shivers
    (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Shivers is located in Simpson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shivers
  • Jaynesville
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Jaynesville is located in Simpson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jaynesville
  • Fair River
    (19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
    • Fair River is located in Lincoln County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair River
  • Columbia
    (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (13 more) ...
    • Williamsburg
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Williamsburg is located in Covington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsburg
    • Westville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Westville is located in Simpson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westville
    • Ora
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Ora is located in Covington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ora

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Progress. See our List of 1890's Communities around Progress.

Newspapers Published in Progress ...

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 23 newspapers that have been published in the area around Progress.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Progress, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Progress.

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 professional and volunteer 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 Progress:

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 Progress, 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 things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Progress) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.