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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 Sylvarena (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 Sylvarena. 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.

Sylvarena is located in Smith County.

To see how the shape of Mississippi's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Smith County: Covington, Jasper, Jones, Newton, Rankin, Scott & Simpson.

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

  • Smith County     (The home county of Sylvarena)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sylvarena, with the one closest to Sylvarena listed first.
    • Mineral Springs
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Bezer
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Bezer. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bezer
      • Bezer is located in Smith County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Bezer
      • From Sylvarena to Bezer
    • Raleigh
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Taylorsville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Taylorsville have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylorsville
      • Taylorsville is located in Smith County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,241 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Taylorsville <2>
    • Burns
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Burns. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burns
      • Burns is located in Smith County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Burns
      • From Sylvarena to Burns
    • Mize
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mize have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mize
      • Mize is located in Smith County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 323 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mize <2>
    • Daniel
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
    • Polkville
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Polkville have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polkville
      • Polkville is located in Smith County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 819 people
  • Clarke County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sylvarena, with the one closest to Sylvarena listed first.
    • Barnett
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Barnett. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barnett
      • Barnett is located in Clarke County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Barnett
      • From Sylvarena to Barnett
    • Pachuta
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Pachuta have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pachuta
      • Pachuta is located in Clarke County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 227 people
  • Covington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sylvarena, with the one closest to Sylvarena listed first.
    • Hot Coffee
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Mount Olive
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mount Olive have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
      • Mount Olive is located in Covington County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 896 people
    • Arbo
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Arbo. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbo
      • Arbo is located in Covington County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Arbo
      • From Sylvarena to Arbo
    • Kola
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Collins
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Collins have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Collins
      • Collins is located in Covington County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,417 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Collins <2>
    • Williamsburg
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Jasper County
  • Jones County
  • Newton County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sylvarena, with the one closest to Sylvarena listed first.
    • Six Towns ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Six Towns have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Six Towns
      • Six Towns is located in Newton County
    • Newton
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
    • Pine Bluff
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Hickory
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hickory have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory
      • Hickory is located in Newton County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 515 people
    • Conehatta
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
  • Rankin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sylvarena, with the one closest to Sylvarena listed first.
    • Galilee
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Galilee. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galilee
      • Galilee is located in Rankin County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Galilee
      • From Sylvarena to Galilee
    • Puckett
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Puckett have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puckett
      • Puckett is located in Rankin County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
    • Cato
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
  • Scott County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sylvarena, with the one closest to Sylvarena listed first.
    • Hunter Town
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Hunter Town have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter Town
      • Hunter Town is located in Scott County
    • Lake
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Forest
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
    • Cooperville
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Kalem
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Raworth
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Morton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Morton have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morton
      • Morton is located in Scott County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,522 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Morton <2>
  • Simpson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Sylvarena, with the one closest to Sylvarena listed first.
    • Coats
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Magee
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Magee have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Magee
      • Magee is located in Simpson County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 4,094 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Magee <2>
    • Sanatorium
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Jaynesville
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
    • Mendenhall
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mendenhall have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendenhall
      • Mendenhall is located in Simpson County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,393 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mendenhall <2>
    • D'Lo
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for D'Lo have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for D'Lo
      • D'Lo is located in Simpson County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 442 people

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

Cemeteries Near Sylvarena ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Sylvarena.

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.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

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

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

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.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Sylvarena had a population of 41 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Sylvarena had a population of 106 people.

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

  • Hamlet ‑ Historic
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Bezer
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Bezer. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bezer
    • Bezer is located in Smith County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Bezer
    • From Sylvarena to Bezer
  • Raleigh
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
  • Lake Como
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Turnerville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the east)
  • Shongelo
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Shongelo have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shongelo
    • Shongelo is located in Smith County
  • Montrose
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
  • Taylorsville
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Taylorsville have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylorsville
    • Taylorsville is located in Smith County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,241 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Taylorsville <2>
  • Acme ‑ Historic
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Acme. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acme
    • Acme is located in Jasper County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Acme
    • From Sylvarena to Acme
  • Burns
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Burns. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<1>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burns
    • Burns is located in Smith County
    • Google driving directions:
    • From your current location to Burns
    • From Sylvarena to Burns
  • Mize
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mize have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mize
    • Mize is located in Smith County
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 323 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Mize <2>
  • Jewells Hill ‑ Historic
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Jewells Hill have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jewells Hill
    • Jewells Hill is located in Jasper County
  • Continue List   (16 more) ...
    • Bunker Hill
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bunker Hill have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunker Hill
      • Bunker Hill is located in Smith County
    • Gitano
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gitano have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gitano
      • Gitano is located in Jones County
    • Amy
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)

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

Newspapers Published in Sylvarena ...

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 25 newspapers that have been published in the area around Sylvarena.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Sylvarena, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<6>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Sylvarena.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to 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 Sylvarena:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Sylvarena. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for State of Mississippi: https://www.ms.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<4>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.
<5>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 Sylvarena, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Sylvarena) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Sylvarena. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 32.0110, Longitude: -89.3808    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025