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 Shelby (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 Shelby. 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.
Shelby is located in Bolivar 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 Bolivar County: Desha (AR), Coahoma, Sunflower & Washington.
Below are the counties that are near Shelby. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Shelby:
- Bolivar County (The home county of Shelby)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shelby, with the one closest to Shelby listed first.
- Winstonville
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Winstonville is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Winstonville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 163 people
- Hushpuckena
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Hushpuckena is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hushpuckena
- Mound Bayou
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Duncan
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Duncan is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 376 people
- Deeson
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Deeson is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deeson
- Round Lake
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Round Lake is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Lake
- Merigold
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Perthshire
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Perthshire is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perthshire
- Alligator
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Alligator is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alligator
- Population from the 2020 Census: 182 people
- Gunnison
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Gunnison is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunnison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
- Waxhaw
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
- Waxhaw is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waxhaw
- Pace
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Pace is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pace
- Population from the 2020 Census: 238 people
- Coahoma County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shelby, with the one closest to Shelby listed first.
- Africa ‑ Historic
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Africa is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Africa
- Roundaway
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Roundaway is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roundaway
- Sunflower Landing
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
- Sunflower Landing is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunflower Landing
- Dublin
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Dublin is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dublin
- Claremont
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Claremont is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Claremont
- Hopson
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hopson is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hopson
- Clarksdale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Clarksdale is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarksdale
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14,470 people
- Lyon
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lyon is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 279 people
- Clover Hill
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Clover Hill is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clover Hill
- Eagles Nest
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
- Eagles Nest is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagles Nest
- Friars Point
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Friars Point is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Friars Point
- Population from the 2020 Census: 990 people
- Leflore County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shelby, with the one closest to Shelby listed first.
- McNutt
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- McNutt is located in Leflore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McNutt
- Minter City
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Minter City is located in Leflore County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minter City
- Quitman County
- Vance
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Vance is located in Quitman County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vance
- Sunflower County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shelby, with the one closest to Shelby listed first.
- Whitney
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Whitney is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whitney
- Rome
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Rome is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rome
- Drew
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Halstead
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- Halstead is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Halstead
- White City
(18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
- White City is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White City
- Ruleville
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
- Doddsville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Doddsville is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Doddsville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 72 people
- Quiver ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Quiver is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quiver
- Roundaway
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Roundaway is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Roundaway
- Sunflower
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Sunflower is located in Sunflower County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunflower
- Population from the 2020 Census: 960 people
- Tallahatchie County
- The following are listed by their distance from Shelby, with the one closest to Shelby listed first.
- Tutwiler
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the east)
- Sumner
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Sumner is located in Tallahatchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sumner
- Population from the 2020 Census: 264 people
- Webb
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Webb is located in Tallahatchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Webb
- Population from the 2020 Census: 468 people
- Albin
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
- Albin is located in Tallahatchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Albin
- Glendora
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Swan Lake
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Swan Lake is located in Tallahatchie County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swan Lake
- Desha County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shelby, with the one closest to Shelby listed first.
- Snow Lake
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Snow Lake is located in Desha County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Lake
- Napoleon ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Napoleon is located in Desha County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Napoleon
- Watson
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Kelso
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
- Kelso is located in Desha County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kelso
- Phillips County (AR)
- The following are listed by their distance from Shelby, with the one closest to Shelby listed first.
- Crumrod
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Crumrod is located in Phillips County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crumrod
- Mellwood
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Mellwood is located in Phillips County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mellwood
- Elaine
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- Lambrook
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Lambrook is located in Phillips County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lambrook
- Old Town
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Old Town is located in Phillips County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
- Wabash
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Wabash is located in Phillips County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wabash
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Shelby, see our County-by-County Page for Shelby.
Cemeteries Near Shelby ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Shelby.
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 Shelby - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Shelby covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Shelby, with the one closest to Shelby listed first.
- The Place of Prayer Memorial Garden
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Shelby Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Peters Rock Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
- Zion Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Sanders Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Turners Chapel Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Hall Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- St. Joseph Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the north)
- New Hope Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- German Lane Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Union Temple Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Bellamy Chapel Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (178 more) ...
- Smith & Williams Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Mt. Evergreen Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Olive Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
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 in 1895, Shelby had railroad service and no post office. In 2020, Shelby had a population of 1,910 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Shelby, with the one closest to Shelby listed first.
- Hushpuckena
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Hushpuckena is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hushpuckena
- Mound Bayou
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Duncan
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- Duncan is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Duncan
- Population from the 2020 Census: 376 people
- Deeson
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Deeson is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Deeson
- Merigold
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Round Lake
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Round Lake is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Round Lake
- Perthshire
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Perthshire is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perthshire
- Alligator
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Alligator is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alligator
- Population from the 2020 Census: 182 people
- Concordia
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Concordia is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Concordia
- Gunnison
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Gunnison is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunnison
- Population from the 2020 Census: 399 people
- Hillhouse
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
- Hillhouse is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillhouse
- Renova
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Renova is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Renova
- Population from the 2020 Census: 761 people
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Laconia
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Laconia is located in Desha County (AR)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Laconia
- Bobo
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Bobo is located in Coahoma County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bobo
- Wright
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
- Wright is located in Bolivar County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wright
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Shelby. See our List of 1890's Communities around Shelby.
Newspapers Published in Shelby ...
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 34 newspapers that have been published in the area around Shelby.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Shelby, there are papers which were published within 22 miles [35.4 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Shelby.
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 helpful 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 Shelby:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to Bolivar County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Coahoma County
- Leflore County
- Quitman County
- Sunflower County
- Tallahatchie County
- Desha County
- Phillips 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 Shelby, 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 drawn from Point A (ie- Shelby) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |