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 Rankin (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 Rankin. 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 hospitals and doctors 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.
Rankin is located in Rankin 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 Rankin County: Copiah, Hinds, Madison, Scott, Simpson & Smith.
Below are the counties that are near Rankin. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rankin:
- Rankin County (The home county of Rankin)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rankin, with the one closest to Rankin listed first.
- Brandon
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Pelahatchie
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Greenfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Greenfield is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
- Fannin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Fannin is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fannin
- Pearl
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Flowood
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Goshen Springs
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Goshen Springs is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen Springs
- Pearson
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Pearson is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearson
- Sand Hill
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Sand Hill is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Hill
- Cato
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Cato is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cato
- Puckett
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Puckett is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puckett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
- Florence
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Copiah County
- Hopewell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Hopewell is located in Copiah County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopewell
- Hinds County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rankin, with the one closest to Rankin listed first.
- North Town Plaza
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- North Town Plaza is located in Hinds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Town Plaza
- Jackson
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the west)
- Choctaw Village
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Choctaw Village is located in Hinds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choctaw Village
- Byram
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Clinton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Terry
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Midway
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Midway is located in Hinds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Midway
- Palestine
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Palestine is located in Hinds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palestine
- Raymond
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Leake County
- Lena
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rankin, with the one closest to Rankin listed first.
- Madison
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ridgeland
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Madisonville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
- Madisonville is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madisonville
- Twelve Oaks
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Twelve Oaks is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twelve Oaks
- Canton
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Mannsdale
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Mannsdale is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mannsdale
- Maris Town
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Maris Town is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maris Town
- Mill Town
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Mill Town is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Town
- Sharon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Sharon is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon
- Cobbville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Cobbville is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobbville
- Davis
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the north)
- Davis is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
- Flora
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rankin, with the one closest to Rankin listed first.
- Cooperville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
- Cooperville is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperville
- Morton
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Branch
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Branch is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branch
- Hunter Town
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Hunter Town is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter Town
- Kalem
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Kalem is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kalem
- Raworth
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Raworth is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raworth
- Beach
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Beach is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach
- Ludlow
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Ludlow is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ludlow
- Clifton
(23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
- Clifton is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
- Forest
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Cash
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Cash is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cash
- Harperville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Harperville is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harperville
- Simpson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rankin, with the one closest to Rankin listed first.
- Braxton
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Braxton is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braxton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 179 people
- D'Lo
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
- D'Lo is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for D'Lo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 442 people
- Mendenhall
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Sanatorium
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Sanatorium is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sanatorium
- Westville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Westville is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westville
- Magee
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Smith County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rankin, with the one closest to Rankin listed first.
- Polkville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Polkville is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polkville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 819 people
- Daniel
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Daniel is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daniel
- Trenton
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Trenton is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trenton
- Burns
(23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
- Burns is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burns
- Raleigh
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rankin, see our County-by-County Page for Rankin.
Cemeteries Near Rankin ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rankin.
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 Rankin - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rankin covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rankin, with the one closest to Rankin listed first.
- Mt. Carmel Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Williams Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Jordan Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- St. Hill Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Andrew Chapel Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Gulde Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Evergreen Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Friendship Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Pilgrim Rest Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Hebron Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mountain Ridge Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Brandon Memory Gardens
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Continue List (356 more) ...
- Shiloh Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Brandon Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Old Brandon Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
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, Rankin had railroad service and no post office.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rankin, with the one closest to Rankin listed first.
- Brandon
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Pelahatchie
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Lynwood ‑ Historic
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Lynwood is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynwood
- Greenfield
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Greenfield is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
- Dobson ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Dobson is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dobson
- Fannin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Fannin is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fannin
- Thomasville
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southwest)
- Thomasville is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomasville
- Johns
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Johns is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Johns
- Pearson
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Pearson is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearson
- Monterey
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Monterey is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Monterey
- Goshen Springs
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Goshen Springs is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen Springs
- Cato
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Cato is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cato
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Polkville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Polkville is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polkville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 819 people
- Puckett
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Puckett is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puckett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
- Daniel
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Daniel is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daniel
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Rankin. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rankin.
Newspapers Published in Rankin ...
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 140 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rankin.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rankin, there are papers which were published within 16 miles [25.7 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rankin.
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 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 Rankin:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to Rankin County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Copiah County
- Hinds County
- Leake County
- Madison County
- Scott County
- Simpson 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> | 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Rankin) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <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 Rankin, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |