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 Rocky Ford (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 Rocky Ford. 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.
Name Variations for Rocky Ford ...
When searching records, keep in mind that names and their spelling can change over time. Our sources include documents like maps, railroad schedules, Travel, Express and Shipping Guides. Many of these documents date from the 1800's and it's common to find spelling differences.
For example, a typical abbreviation for Rocky Ford: Rocky Frd.
You might be interested in other communities that are also named Rocky Ford. More information can be found on our Tidbits & Trivia Page for Rocky Ford.
If you have information about these names (such as the reason for the change, date of change, the origin of the name), please Contact Us.
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 and hospitals 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.
Rocky Ford is located in Clay 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 Clay County: Chickasaw, Lowndes, Monroe, Oktibbeha & Webster.
Below are the counties that are near Rocky Ford. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Rocky Ford:
- Clay County (The home county of Rocky Ford)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Waverly
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Waverly is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
- Vinton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Vinton is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vinton
- West Point
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Whites
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Whites is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whites
- Mhoons Valley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Mhoons Valley is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mhoons Valley
- Siloam
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Siloam is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Siloam
- Abbott
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Abbott is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Abbott
- Cedar Bluff
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Cedar Bluff is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedar Bluff
- Griffith
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Griffith is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Griffith
- Una
(23 miles [37 km] to the northwest)
- Una is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Una
- Beasley
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Beasley is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beasley
- Pheba
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Montpelier
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Montpelier is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montpelier
- Chickasaw County
- Egypt
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Egypt is located in Chickasaw County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
- Holmes County
- Egypt
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Egypt is located in Holmes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt
- Lowndes County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Bent Oak
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Bent Oak is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bent Oak
- Columbus
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Kolola Springs
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Kolola Springs is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kolola Springs
- Artesia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Artesia is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artesia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 420 people
- New Hope
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- New Hope is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
- Caledonia
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Crawford
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Hamilton
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Muldon
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
- Muldon is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Muldon
- Aberdeen
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- Gibson
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Gibson is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson
- Acker ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Acker is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acker
- Greenwood Springs
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Gattman
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Gattman is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gattman
- Population from the 2020 Census: 89 people
- Cotton Gin Port ‑ Historic
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Cotton Gin Port is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cotton Gin Port
- New Wren
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- New Wren is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Wren
- Wren
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Wren is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wren
- Amory
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Hatley
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Hatley is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hatley
- Population from the 2020 Census: 458 people
- Noxubee County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Brooksville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Deerbrook
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Deerbrook is located in Noxubee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deerbrook
- Fairport ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Fairport is located in Noxubee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fairport
- Ravine
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Ravine is located in Noxubee County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravine
- Macon
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Oktibbeha County
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Sessums
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Clayton Village
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Clayton Village is located in Oktibbeha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clayton Village
- Starkville
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Adaton
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Adaton is located in Oktibbeha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Adaton
- Longview
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Longview is located in Oktibbeha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Longview
- Bradley
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Bradley is located in Oktibbeha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bradley
- Lamar County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Fernbank
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Fernbank is located in Lamar County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fernbank
- Millport
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Bedford
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Bedford is located in Lamar County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bedford
- Hightogy
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hightogy is located in Lamar County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hightogy
- Vernon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Pickens County (AL)
- The following are listed by their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Stafford
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Stafford is located in Pickens County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stafford
- Macedonia
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Macedonia is located in Pickens County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Macedonia
- Ethelsville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Ethelsville is located in Pickens County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ethelsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 73 people
- Archer
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Archer is located in Pickens County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Archer
- McShan
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- McShan is located in Pickens County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McShan
- Pickensville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Pickensville is located in Pickens County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pickensville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 572 people
- Coal Fire
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Coal Fire is located in Pickens County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coal Fire
- Beaver Town
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Beaver Town is located in Pickens County (AL)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beaver Town
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Rocky Ford, see our County-by-County Page for Rocky Ford.
Cemeteries Near Rocky Ford ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Rocky Ford.
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 Rocky Ford - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Rocky Ford covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Pitchlynn Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Lee Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Plymouth Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Waverley Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Young Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
- Tibbee Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Motley Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Memorial Gardens
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Memorial Gardens
- The Memorial Gardens has also been known as:
- Columbus Rest Haven Gardens
- Memorial Gardens of Columbus
- Pooles Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- St. Paul Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- St. Matthews Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Vinton Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Continue List (305 more) ...
- Mt. Ararat Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the south)
- Friendship Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sandfield Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
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 Rocky Ford in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Rocky Ford.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Rocky Ford, with the one closest to Rocky Ford listed first.
- Waverly
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Waverly is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waverly
- Tibbee
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Tibbee is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tibbee
- McIntyre ‑ Historic
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- McIntyre is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McIntyre
- Columbus
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Vinton
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Vinton is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vinton
- West Point
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Whites
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
- Whites is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whites
- Artesia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Artesia is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Artesia
- Population from the 2020 Census: 420 people
- Osborn
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Osborn is located in Oktibbeha County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osborn
- New Hope
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- New Hope is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Hope
- Steens
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Steens is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steens
- Mhoons Valley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Mhoons Valley is located in Clay County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mhoons Valley
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Binford
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the north)
- Binford is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Binford
- Sessums
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Trinity
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Trinity is located in Lowndes County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trinity
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Rocky Ford. See our List of 1890's Communities around Rocky Ford.
Newspapers Published in Rocky Ford ...
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 57 newspapers that have been published in the area around Rocky Ford.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Rocky Ford, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Rocky Ford.
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 either 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 Rocky Ford:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to Clay County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Chickasaw County
- Holmes County
- Lowndes County
- Monroe County
- Noxubee County
- Oktibbeha County
- Lamar County
- Pickens 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> | 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 Rocky Ford, 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- Rocky Ford) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |