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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 Randolph (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 Randolph. 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 southwest 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 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 west 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.

Randolph is located in Pontotoc 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 Pontotoc County: Calhoun, Chickasaw, Lafayette, Lee & Union.

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

  • Pontotoc County     (The home county of Randolph)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Randolph, with the one closest to Randolph listed first.
    • Pannell
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Pannell is located in Pontotoc County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pannell
    • Toccopola
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Toccopola is located in Pontotoc County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toccopola
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 258 people
    • Algoma
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Turnpike
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
      • Turnpike is located in Pontotoc County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnpike
    • Thaxton
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
    • Possum Trot
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Possum Trot is located in Pontotoc County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Possum Trot
    • Pontotoc
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Goodford
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
      • Goodford is located in Pontotoc County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodford
    • Nixon
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Nixon is located in Pontotoc County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nixon
    • Ecru
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Ecru is located in Pontotoc County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ecru
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,067 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ecru <1>
    • Cherry Creek
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Cherry Creek is located in Pontotoc County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Creek
    • Sherman
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Benton County
    • Hickory Flat
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Calhoun County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Randolph, with the one closest to Randolph listed first.
    • Sarepta
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Sarepta is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sarepta
    • Banner
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Loyd
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
      • Loyd is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyd
    • Bruce
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Bruce is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bruce
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,798 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Bruce <1>
    • Pittsboro
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Pittsboro is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsboro
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 188 people
    • Vardaman
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
    • Calhoun City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Derma
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
      • Derma is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derma
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 961 people
    • Benela
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Benela is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Benela
    • Big Creek
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Big Creek is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Creek
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 146 people
  • Chickasaw County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Randolph, with the one closest to Randolph listed first.
    • New Houlka
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • 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
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Thelma is located in Chickasaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thelma
    • Van Vleet
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Van Vleet is located in Chickasaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Vleet
    • Houston
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Sycamore ‑ Historic
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Sycamore is located in Chickasaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sycamore
    • Anchor
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Anchor is located in Chickasaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Anchor
    • Okolona
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Woodland
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Woodland is located in Chickasaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 133 people
  • Lafayette County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Randolph, with the one closest to Randolph listed first.
    • Lafayette Springs
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Lafayette Springs is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafayette Springs
    • Cornish
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Cornish is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornish
    • Delay
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Delay is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delay
    • Altus
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Altus is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altus
    • Oxford
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Oxford is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oxford
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 28,635 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Oxford <1>
    • Taylor
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Springdale
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Springdale is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
    • Alesville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Alesville is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alesville
    • Abbeville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Randolph, with the one closest to Randolph listed first.
    • Bissell
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Bissell is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bissell
    • Verona
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Shannon
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Tupelo
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
    • Birmingham
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Birmingham is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birmingham
    • Jug Fork
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Jug Fork is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jug Fork
    • Plantersville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
    • Indian Hills
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Indian Hills is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Hills
    • Boggan Bend
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Boggan Bend is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boggan Bend
    • Corrona
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Corrona is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Corrona
    • Saltillo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Marshall County
    • Cornersville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Cornersville is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornersville
  • Union County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Randolph, with the one closest to Randolph listed first.
    • Fairview
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
      • Fairview is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
    • Ingomar
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Ingomar is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingomar
    • Darden
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Darden is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darden
    • Blue Springs
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Glenfield
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Glenfield is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenfield
    • New Albany
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Mound City
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Mound City is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound City
    • Myrtle
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Ellistown
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Ellistown is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ellistown
    • Alpine
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Alpine is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alpine
  • Yalobusha County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Randolph, with the one closest to Randolph listed first.
    • Water Valley
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
    • Velma
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Velma is located in Yalobusha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Velma

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

Cemeteries Near Randolph ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Randolph.

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

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

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

  • Carey Springs Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Herndon Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Tutor Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Johnson Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  • Oak Forest Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Salmon Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  • Harrison - Tutor Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Bramlett Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
  • Guinn Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Indian Creek Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
  • Springhill Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the west)
  • Blount Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Continue List   (340 more) ...
    • Cooke Cemetery
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Hunters Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Indian Creek Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)

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 Randolph 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 Randolph, with the one closest to Randolph listed first.

  • Toccopola
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Toccopola is located in Pontotoc County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toccopola
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 258 people
  • Sarepta
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Sarepta is located in Calhoun County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sarepta
  • Algoma
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
  • Thaxton
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
  • Pontotoc
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Lafayette Springs
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Lafayette Springs is located in Lafayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafayette Springs
  • Tula
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Tula is located in Lafayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tula
  • Reid
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Reid is located in Calhoun County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reid
  • Esperanza
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Esperanza is located in Pontotoc County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Esperanza
  • Banner
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
  • New Houlka
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
    • 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>
  • Chiwapa
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Chiwapa is located in Pontotoc County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chiwapa
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Denmark
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Denmark is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark
    • Ecru
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Ecru is located in Pontotoc County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ecru
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,067 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ecru <1>
    • Delay
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Delay is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delay

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

Newspapers Published in Randolph ...

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 60 newspapers that have been published in the area around Randolph.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Randolph, 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 Randolph.

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 Randolph:

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 Randolph, 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- Randolph) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.