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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 Ridgeland (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 Ridgeland. 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.

Ridgeland is located in Lafayette 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 Lafayette County: Calhoun, Marshall, Panola, Pontotoc, Tate, Union & Yalobusha.

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

  • Lafayette County     (The home county of Ridgeland)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ridgeland, with the one closest to Ridgeland listed first.
    • Oxford
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • 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>
    • Alesville
      (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
      • Alesville is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alesville
    • Taylor
      (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
    • Altus
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
      • Altus is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Altus
    • Delay
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
      • Delay is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delay
    • Springdale
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Springdale is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
    • Cornish
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Cornish is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornish
    • Abbeville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Lafayette Springs
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Lafayette Springs is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafayette Springs
    • Harmontown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Harmontown is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmontown
  • Benton County
    • Hickory Flat
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
  • Calhoun County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ridgeland, with the one closest to Ridgeland listed first.
    • Banner
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Sarepta
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Sarepta is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sarepta
    • Bruce
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • 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
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Pittsboro is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pittsboro
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 188 people
    • Loyd
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Loyd is located in Calhoun County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Loyd
  • Marshall County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ridgeland, with the one closest to Ridgeland listed first.
    • Laws Hill
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Laws Hill is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laws Hill
    • Cornersville
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Cornersville is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornersville
    • Chulahoma
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Chulahoma is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chulahoma
    • Potts Camp
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Marianna
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Marianna is located in Marshall County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marianna
    • Holly Springs
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Panola County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ridgeland, with the one closest to Ridgeland listed first.
    • Terza
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Terza is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terza
    • Batesville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Sardis
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
    • Courtland
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • Courtland is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Courtland
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 504 people
    • Pope
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
      • Pope is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pope
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 245 people
    • Como
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
      • Como is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Como
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,170 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Como <1>
    • Chapeltown
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Chapeltown is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapeltown
  • Pontotoc County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ridgeland, with the one closest to Ridgeland listed first.
    • Toccopola
      (18 miles [29 km] to the east)
      • Toccopola is located in Pontotoc County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Toccopola
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 258 people
    • Thaxton
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
    • Turnpike
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Turnpike is located in Pontotoc County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnpike
    • Possum Trot
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
      • Possum Trot is located in Pontotoc County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Possum Trot
    • Pannell
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Pannell is located in Pontotoc County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pannell
    • Ecru
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • 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>
    • Algoma
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Pontotoc
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Cherry Creek
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Cherry Creek is located in Pontotoc County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cherry Creek
  • Tate County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ridgeland, with the one closest to Ridgeland listed first.
    • Tyro
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Tyro is located in Tate County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tyro
    • Wyatte
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
      • Wyatte is located in Tate County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyatte
    • Aiken
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
      • Aiken is located in Tate County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aiken
    • Looxahoma
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Looxahoma is located in Tate County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Looxahoma
    • New Town
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
      • New Town is located in Tate County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
  • Union County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ridgeland, with the one closest to Ridgeland listed first.
    • Darden
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Darden is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darden
    • Fairview
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Fairview is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairview
    • Ingomar
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Ingomar is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ingomar
    • Myrtle
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Glenfield
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Glenfield is located in Union County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glenfield
  • Yalobusha County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Ridgeland, with the one closest to Ridgeland listed first.
    • Water Valley
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Velma
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Velma is located in Yalobusha County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Velma
    • Coffeeville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
    • Oakland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)

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

Cemeteries Near Ridgeland ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Ridgeland.

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

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

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

  • South Oxford Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Church Grove Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
  • Confederate Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Bowles Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Yellow Leaf Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
  • North Oxford Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
  • Pine Flat Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Mt. Zion Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • Kingdom Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Ship Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Holt Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
  • College Hill Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (352 more) ...

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>

While we didn't find Ridgeland in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Ridgeland.

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

  • University
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
  • Oxford
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • 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
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Alesville
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
    • Alesville is located in Lafayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alesville
  • College Hill
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
    • College Hill is located in Lafayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for College Hill
  • Delay
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
    • Delay is located in Lafayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Delay
  • Springdale
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Springdale is located in Lafayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Springdale
  • Paris
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Paris is located in Lafayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paris
  • Denmark
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
    • Denmark is located in Lafayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Denmark
  • Tula
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Tula is located in Lafayette County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tula
  • Water Valley
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Abbeville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Wallace
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Wallace is located in Panola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wallace
    • Lafayette Springs
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Lafayette Springs is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lafayette Springs
    • Harmontown
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
      • Harmontown is located in Lafayette County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmontown

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

Newspapers Published in Ridgeland ...

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 53 newspapers that have been published in the area around Ridgeland.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Ridgeland, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Ridgeland.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we start with 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 Ridgeland:

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