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 Refuge (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 Refuge. 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.
Refuge is located in Washington 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 Washington County: Chicot (AR), Bolivar, Humphreys, Issaquena, Sharkey & Sunflower.
Below are the counties that are near Refuge. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Refuge:
- Washington County (The home county of Refuge)
- The following are listed by their distance from Refuge, with the one closest to Refuge listed first.
- Avon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Avon is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Greenville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- James
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- James is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for James
- Metcalfe
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
- Metcalfe is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Metcalfe
- Population from the 2020 Census: 935 people
- Arcola
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Arcola is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 315 people
- Wilmot
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Wilmot is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmot
- Byrne City
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Byrne City is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Byrne City
- Forrest City ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southeast)
- Forrest City is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forrest City
- Leland
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Stoneville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Stoneville is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stoneville
- Hollandale
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Overby
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Overby is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Overby
- Bolivar County
- The following are listed by their distance from Refuge, with the one closest to Refuge listed first.
- Lamont
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Lamont is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lamont
- Scott
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Scott is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Scott
- Lake Vista
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Lake Vista is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Vista
- Mound Landing
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Mound Landing is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mound Landing
- Grapeland
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Grapeland is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grapeland
- Eutaw
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Eutaw is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eutaw
- Benoit
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Choctaw
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Dahomy
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Dahomy is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dahomy
- Longshot
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Longshot is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longshot
- Shaw
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
- Shaw is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shaw
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,655 people
- Hinds County
- Delta City
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Delta City is located in Hinds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delta City
- Issaquena County
- The following are listed by their distance from Refuge, with the one closest to Refuge listed first.
- Booth
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Booth is located in Issaquena County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Booth
- Mayersville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Mayersville is located in Issaquena County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mayersville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 517 people
- Sharkey County
- The following are listed by their distance from Refuge, with the one closest to Refuge listed first.
- Panther Burn
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the southeast)
- Panther Burn is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panther Burn
- Nitta Yuma
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Nitta Yuma is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nitta Yuma
- Lorenzen
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Lorenzen is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lorenzen
- Anguilla
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Mont Helena
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mont Helena is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mont Helena
- Riverside Junction
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Riverside Junction is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside Junction
- Auter
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Auter is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Auter
- Richey
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Richey is located in Sharkey County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richey
- Sunflower County
- The following are listed by their distance from Refuge, with the one closest to Refuge listed first.
- New Town
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- New Town is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
- Heathman
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Heathman is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heathman
- Indianola
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Ashley County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Refuge, with the one closest to Refuge listed first.
- Montrose
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Montrose is located in Ashley County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose
- Population from the 2020 Census: 298 people
- Portland
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Parkdale
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Wilmot
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Wilmot is located in Ashley County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilmot
- Population from the 2020 Census: 483 people
- Chicot County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Refuge, with the one closest to Refuge listed first.
- Lake Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Eudora
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Dermott
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Desha County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Refuge, with the one closest to Refuge listed first.
- Arkansas City
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Arkansas City is located in Desha County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arkansas City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 310 people
- McGehee
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- McArthur
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- McArthur is located in Desha County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McArthur
- Drew County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Refuge, with the one closest to Refuge listed first.
- Jerome
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Jerome is located in Drew County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
- Population from the 2020 Census: 34 people
- Collins
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Collins is located in Drew County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
- West Carroll Parish (LA)
- Kilbourne
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Refuge, see our County-by-County Page for Refuge.
Cemeteries Near Refuge ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Refuge.
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 Refuge - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Refuge covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Refuge, with the one closest to Refuge listed first.
- Old Refuge Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Old Lakeport Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Lakeport Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Red Leaf Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Lakeview Gardens Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Chinese Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Live Oaks Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Greenville Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Jewish Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Greenland Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Davies Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Liberty Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Continue List (148 more) ...
- Pleasant Hope Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Graymound Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Woodson Temple Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 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.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Refuge had a population of 30 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Refuge, with the one closest to Refuge listed first.
- Sunnyside
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Sunnyside is located in Chicot County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunnyside
- Lakeport
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Lakeport is located in Chicot County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lakeport
- Swiftwater
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Swiftwater is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swiftwater
- Wayside
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
- Wayside is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wayside
- Avon
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Avon is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Avon
- Lake Washington ‑ Historic
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Lake Washington is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Washington
- James
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- James is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for James
- Greenville
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Village
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Longwood
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
- Longwood is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longwood
- Burdette
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Burdette is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burdette
- Magenta
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
- Magenta is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magenta
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Chatham
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Chatham is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chatham
- Erwin
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Erwin is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erwin
- Arcola
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Arcola is located in Washington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arcola
- Population from the 2020 Census: 315 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Refuge. See our List of 1890's Communities around Refuge.
Newspapers Published in Refuge ...
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 31 newspapers that have been published in the area around Refuge.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Refuge, 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 Refuge.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit 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 Refuge:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to Washington County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Bolivar County
- Hinds County
- Issaquena County
- Sharkey County
- Sunflower County
- Ashley County
- Chicot County
- Desha County
- Drew County
- West Carroll Parish
- 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 Refuge, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Refuge) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |