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 Union (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 Union. 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 northeast 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 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 east 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.
Union is located in Smith 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 Smith County: Covington, Jasper, Jones, Newton, Rankin, Scott & Simpson.
Below are the counties that are near Union. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Union:
- Smith County (The home county of Union)
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Bezer
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Bezer is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bezer
- Raleigh
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Mineral Springs
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Mineral Springs is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Springs
- Sylvarena
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Sylvarena is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvarena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 106 people
- Mize
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Burns
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Burns is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burns
- Taylorsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Trenton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Trenton is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trenton
- Daniel
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Daniel is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daniel
- Polkville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Polkville is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polkville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 819 people
- Covington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Hot Coffee
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
- Hot Coffee is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hot Coffee
- Mount Olive
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Olive is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Population from the 2020 Census: 896 people
- Arbo
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Arbo is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbo
- Collins
(23 miles [37 km] to the south)
- Kola
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Kola is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kola
- Williamsburg
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Williamsburg is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsburg
- Seminary
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Bay Springs
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Hamlet ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Hamlet is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlet
- Stevens ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Stevens is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stevens
- Louin
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Louin is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 262 people
- Stringer
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Lake Como
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Lake Como is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Como
- Turnerville
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Turnerville is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnerville
- Montrose
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Montrose is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- Acme ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Acme is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acme
- Success ‑ Historic
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Success is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Success
- McNeal ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- McNeal is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McNeal
- Vernon ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Vernon is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
- Verba ‑ Historic
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Verba is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Verba
- Jones County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Amy
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Amy is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amy
- Soso
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Soso is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Soso
- Population from the 2020 Census: 396 people
- Service
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Service is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Service
- Laurel
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
- Newton County
- Six Towns ‑ Historic
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
- Six Towns is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Six Towns
- Rankin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Galilee
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Galilee is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galilee
- Puckett
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Puckett is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puckett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
- Cato
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Cato is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cato
- Pelahatchie
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Hunter Town
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Hunter Town is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter Town
- Cooperville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cooperville is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperville
- Forest
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Kalem
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Kalem is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kalem
- Morton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Raworth
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
- Raworth is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raworth
- Lake
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Simpson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Coats
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Coats is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coats
- Magee
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Sanatorium
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Sanatorium is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sanatorium
- Jaynesville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Jaynesville is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jaynesville
- Mendenhall
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- D'Lo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- D'Lo is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for D'Lo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 442 people
- Westville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Westville is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westville
- Braxton
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
- Braxton is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braxton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 179 people
- Shivers
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Shivers is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shivers
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Union, see our County-by-County Page for Union.
Cemeteries Near Union ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Union.
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 Union - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Union covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Union Baptist Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- South Raleigh Christian Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Tillson Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- McAlphin Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Bezer Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bezer Cemetery
- The Bezer Cemetery has also been known as:
- Bezer Cemetery East
- Ditch Cemetery
- Easterling Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Wilkinson Memorial Baptist Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
- Raleigh Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Hancock Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Unity Methodist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Center Ridge Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Center Ridge Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Center Ridge Cemetery is located 2 miles [3.2 km]<2> to the west of Mineral Springs.
- The Center Ridge Cemetery has also been known as:
- Burnett Cemetery
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2255196 <3>
- Continue List (449 more) ...
- Moore Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moore Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Moore Cemetery is located 3 miles [4.8 km]<2> to the east of Raleigh.
- Eastside Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Corinth Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 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.<4>
While we didn't find Union in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Union.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Union, with the one closest to Union listed first.
- Bezer
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Bezer is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bezer
- Raleigh
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
- Mize
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Sylvarena
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the east)
- Sylvarena is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvarena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 106 people
- Shongelo
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Shongelo is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shongelo
- Burns
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
- Burns is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burns
- Taylorsville
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Bunker Hill
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Bunker Hill is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunker Hill
- Gunn
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Gunn is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunn
- Trenton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Trenton is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trenton
- Magee
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hamlet ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Hamlet is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlet
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Daniel
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
- Daniel is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daniel
- Puckett
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Puckett is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puckett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
- Mount Olive
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southwest)
- Mount Olive is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mount Olive
- Population from the 2020 Census: 896 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Union. See our List of 1890's Communities around Union.
Newspapers Published in Union ...
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 18 newspapers that have been published in the area around Union.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Union, there are papers which were published within 25 miles [40.2 km]<2>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Union.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These 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 Union:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to Smith County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Covington County
- Jasper County
- Jones County
- Newton County
- Rankin County
- Scott County
- Simpson 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> | 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- Union) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |
| <3> | 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. |
| <4> | 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 Union, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |