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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 Ratliffs Ferry (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 Ratliffs Ferry. 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 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.

Ratliffs Ferry is located in Madison 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 Madison County: Attala, Hinds, Holmes, Leake, Rankin, Scott & Yazoo.

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

  • Madison County     (The home county of Ratliffs Ferry)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ratliffs Ferry, with the one closest to Ratliffs Ferry listed first.
    • Sharon
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Sharon is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon
    • Madisonville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Madisonville is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madisonville
    • Maris Town
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Maris Town is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maris Town
    • Cobbville
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Cobbville is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobbville
    • Canton
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Mill Town
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Mill Town is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Town
    • Davis
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Davis is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
    • Camden
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Sharpsburg
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Sharpsburg is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharpsburg
    • Madison
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
    • Twelve Oaks
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Twelve Oaks is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twelve Oaks
    • Ridgeland
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Attala County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ratliffs Ferry, with the one closest to Ratliffs Ferry listed first.
    • Newport
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Newport is located in Attala County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newport
    • Zemuly
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
      • Zemuly is located in Attala County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zemuly
    • Sallis
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
  • Hinds County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ratliffs Ferry, with the one closest to Ratliffs Ferry listed first.
    • North Town Plaza
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
      • North Town Plaza is located in Hinds County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Town Plaza
    • Jackson
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
  • Holmes County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ratliffs Ferry, with the one closest to Ratliffs Ferry listed first.
    • Pickens
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Goodman
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
    • Richland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Richland is located in Holmes County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richland
  • Leake County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ratliffs Ferry, with the one closest to Ratliffs Ferry listed first.
    • Lena
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
    • Saint Ann
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Saint Ann is located in Leake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Ann
    • Tuscola
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Tuscola is located in Leake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuscola
    • Carthage
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Redwater
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Redwater is located in Leake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redwater
    • Walnut Grove
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Standing Pine
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Standing Pine is located in Leake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Standing Pine
    • Coosa
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Coosa is located in Leake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coosa
    • High Hill
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • High Hill is located in Leake County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Hill
  • Rankin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ratliffs Ferry, with the one closest to Ratliffs Ferry listed first.
    • Sand Hill
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
      • Sand Hill is located in Rankin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Hill
    • Goshen Springs
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Goshen Springs is located in Rankin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen Springs
    • Fannin
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Fannin is located in Rankin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fannin
    • Pelahatchie
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Brandon
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Flowood
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Greenfield
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Greenfield is located in Rankin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
    • Pearl
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Pearl is located in Rankin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearl
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 26,560 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Pearl <1>
    • Pearson
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Pearson is located in Rankin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearson
  • Scott County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ratliffs Ferry, with the one closest to Ratliffs Ferry listed first.
    • Ludlow
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Ludlow is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ludlow
    • Beach
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Beach is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach
    • Branch
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Branch is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branch
    • Cash
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
      • Cash is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cash
    • Clifton
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Clifton is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
    • Morton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
    • Harperville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Harperville is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harperville
    • Kalem
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Kalem is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kalem
    • Raworth
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
      • Raworth is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raworth
    • Cooperville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Cooperville is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperville
    • Hunter Town
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Hunter Town is located in Scott County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter Town
    • Forest
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
  • Smith County
    • Polkville
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
      • Polkville is located in Smith County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polkville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 819 people
  • Yazoo County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ratliffs Ferry, with the one closest to Ratliffs Ferry listed first.
    • Vaughan
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
      • Vaughan is located in Yazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughan
    • Nod
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Nod is located in Yazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nod
    • Evans
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Evans is located in Yazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evans
    • Fordyke
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Fordyke is located in Yazoo County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fordyke
    • Bentonia
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)

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

Cemeteries Near Ratliffs Ferry ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ratliffs Ferry.

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 Ratliffs Ferry - one of the links might be able to help.

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

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

  • Pleasant Gift Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Lone Pine Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Lottville Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Pine Grove Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Hayes Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Pisgah Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Miracle Temple Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Eureka Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Eugene Garrett Memorial Garden Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Mark Church of God In Christ Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Prichard Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Zion Chapel Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Continue List   (365 more) ...
    • Pleasant Green MB Church Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
    • Midway Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
    • St. Elizabeth Cemetery
      (7 miles [11.3 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 Ratliffs Ferry in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Ratliffs Ferry.

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

  • Shoccoe
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
    • Shoccoe is located in Madison County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shoccoe
  • Eureka
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Eureka is located in Rankin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
  • Millville
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Millville is located in Madison County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millville
  • Ludlow
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Ludlow is located in Scott County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ludlow
  • Sharon
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Sharon is located in Madison County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon
  • Goshen Springs
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Goshen Springs is located in Rankin County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen Springs
  • Ofahoma
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Ofahoma is located in Leake County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ofahoma
  • Cobbville
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northwest)
    • Cobbville is located in Madison County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobbville
  • Canton
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Beach
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Beach is located in Scott County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach
  • Good Hope
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Good Hope is located in Leake County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Good Hope
  • Revive
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Revive is located in Madison County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Revive
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Davis
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Davis is located in Madison County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
    • Fannin
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Fannin is located in Rankin County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fannin
    • Lena
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)

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

Newspapers Published in Ratliffs Ferry ...

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 38 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ratliffs Ferry.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ratliffs Ferry, there are papers which were published within 21 miles [33.8 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ratliffs Ferry.

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 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 Ratliffs Ferry:

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 Ratliffs Ferry, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Ratliffs Ferry) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.