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 West Leesburg (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 West Leesburg. 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 West Leesburg ...
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 West Leesburg: W. Leesburg
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 southeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most 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.
West Leesburg is located in Rankin 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 Rankin County: Copiah, Hinds, Madison, Scott, Simpson & Smith.
Below are the counties that are near West Leesburg. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to West Leesburg:
- Rankin County (The home county of West Leesburg)
- The following are listed by their distance from West Leesburg, with the one closest to West Leesburg listed first.
- Sand Hill
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Sand Hill is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sand Hill
- Goshen Springs
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Goshen Springs is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen Springs
- Pelahatchie
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Fannin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Fannin is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fannin
- Brandon
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southwest)
- Flowood
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Greenfield
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
- Greenfield is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenfield
- Pearl
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southwest)
- Pearson
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Pearson is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearson
- Cato
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Cato is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cato
- Puckett
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Puckett is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Puckett
- Population from the 2020 Census: 346 people
- Richland
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southwest)
- Florence
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Hinds County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Leesburg, with the one closest to West Leesburg listed first.
- North Town Plaza
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- North Town Plaza is located in Hinds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Town Plaza
- Jackson
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Choctaw Village
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Choctaw Village is located in Hinds County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Choctaw Village
- Leake County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Leesburg, with the one closest to West Leesburg listed first.
- Lena
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Tuscola
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Tuscola is located in Leake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuscola
- Walnut Grove
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Saint Ann
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Saint Ann is located in Leake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Ann
- Carthage
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Redwater
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Redwater is located in Leake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redwater
- Standing Pine
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
- Standing Pine is located in Leake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Standing Pine
- High Hill
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northeast)
- High Hill is located in Leake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Hill
- Madison County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Leesburg, with the one closest to West Leesburg listed first.
- Madisonville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
- Madisonville is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Madisonville
- Sharon
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Sharon is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharon
- Canton
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Maris Town
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Maris Town is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maris Town
- Madison
(18 miles [29 km] to the west)
- Mill Town
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Mill Town is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mill Town
- Ridgeland
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Cobbville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Cobbville is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cobbville
- Davis
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Davis is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis
- Twelve Oaks
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Twelve Oaks is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Twelve Oaks
- Camden
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Sharpsburg
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northwest)
- Sharpsburg is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sharpsburg
- Mannsdale
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Mannsdale is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mannsdale
- Newton County
- Conehatta
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
- Conehatta is located in Newton County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Conehatta
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Leesburg, with the one closest to West Leesburg listed first.
- Branch
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Branch is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Branch
- Beach
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Beach is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach
- Ludlow
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ludlow is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ludlow
- Morton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Kalem
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Kalem is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kalem
- Clifton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the east)
- Clifton is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clifton
- Raworth
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Raworth is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raworth
- Cooperville
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Cooperville is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperville
- Cash
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cash is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cash
- Hunter Town
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
- Hunter Town is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter Town
- Harperville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Harperville is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harperville
- Forest
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Lake
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Simpson County
- Braxton
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
- Braxton is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braxton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 179 people
- Smith County
- The following are listed by their distance from West Leesburg, with the one closest to West Leesburg listed first.
- Polkville
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Polkville is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polkville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 819 people
- Trenton
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Trenton is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trenton
- Daniel
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the south)
- Daniel is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daniel
- Burns
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
- Burns is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burns
- Yazoo County
- Vaughan
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
- Vaughan is located in Yazoo County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vaughan
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to West Leesburg, see our County-by-County Page for West Leesburg.
Cemeteries Near West Leesburg ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of West Leesburg.
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 West Leesburg - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for West Leesburg covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from West Leesburg, with the one closest to West Leesburg listed first.
- Rehobeth Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Leesburg Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Oak Grove Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Pelahatchie Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
- Hollybush Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Spring Hill Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Barefoot Springs Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the south)
- Neal Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Liberty Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Midway Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Eureka Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- New Pisgah Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (349 more) ...
- Mt. Pisgah Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Mt. Helm Cemetery #1
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
- Latham Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
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.<2>
While we didn't find West Leesburg in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of West Leesburg.
These communities are listed based on their distance from West Leesburg, with the one closest to West Leesburg listed first.
- Eureka
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Eureka is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
- Goshen Springs
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Goshen Springs is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goshen Springs
- Pelahatchie
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
- Beach
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
- Beach is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beach
- Ludlow
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
- Ludlow is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ludlow
- Fannin
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Fannin is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fannin
- Morton
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Rankin
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rankin is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rankin
- Shoccoe
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Shoccoe is located in Madison County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shoccoe
- Raworth
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Raworth is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Raworth
- Lillian
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Lillian is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lillian
- Lynwood ‑ Historic
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Lynwood is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lynwood
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Cash
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Cash is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cash
- Lena
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Good Hope
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the northeast)
- Good Hope is located in Leake County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Good Hope
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around West Leesburg. See our List of 1890's Communities around West Leesburg.
Newspapers Published in West Leesburg ...
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 38 newspapers that have been published in the area around West Leesburg.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of West Leesburg, there are papers which were published within 19 miles [30.6 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for West Leesburg.
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 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 West Leesburg:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to Rankin County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Hinds County
- Leake County
- Madison County
- Newton County
- Scott County
- Simpson County
- Smith County
- Yazoo 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> | 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 West Leesburg, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <3> | 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 from Point A (ie- West Leesburg) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |