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 Zion Hill (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 Zion Hill. 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 southwest 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 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 west 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.
Zion Hill 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 Zion Hill. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Zion Hill:
- Smith County (The home county of Zion Hill)
- The following are listed by their distance from Zion Hill, with the one closest to Zion Hill listed first.
- Mize
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Taylorsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Bezer
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bezer is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bezer
- Mineral Springs
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mineral Springs is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Springs
- Raleigh
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Sylvarena
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sylvarena is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvarena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 106 people
- Burns
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Burns is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burns
- Daniel
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Daniel is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daniel
- Trenton
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Trenton is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Trenton
- Polkville
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the north)
- 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 Zion Hill, with the one closest to Zion Hill listed first.
- Mount Olive
(7 miles [11.3 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
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Arbo is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arbo
- Hot Coffee
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Hot Coffee is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hot Coffee
- Collins
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Kola
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Kola is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kola
- Williamsburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Williamsburg is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsburg
- Seminary
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
- Sanford
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Sanford is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sanford
- Lux
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Lux is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lux
- Jasper County
- The following are listed by their distance from Zion Hill, with the one closest to Zion Hill listed first.
- Stringer
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Bay Springs
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Hamlet ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Hamlet is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlet
- Stevens ‑ Historic
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Stevens is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stevens
- Moss
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
- Moss is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moss
- Moss has also been known as:
- Mossville
- Lake Como
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Lake Como is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Como
- Acme ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Acme is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Acme
- Vernon ‑ Historic
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Vernon is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vernon
- Louin
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Louin is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Louin
- Population from the 2020 Census: 262 people
- Turnerville
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
- Turnerville is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnerville
- McNeal ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- McNeal is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McNeal
- Montrose
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Montrose is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Montrose
- Population from the 2020 Census: 137 people
- Waldrup ‑ Historic
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Waldrup is located in Jasper County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waldrup
- Jefferson Davis County
- The following are listed by their distance from Zion Hill, with the one closest to Zion Hill listed first.
- Prentiss
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southwest)
- Bassfield
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Bassfield is located in Jefferson Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bassfield
- Population from the 2020 Census: 206 people
- Melba
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
- Melba is located in Jefferson Davis County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melba
- Jones County
- The following are listed by their distance from Zion Hill, with the one closest to Zion Hill listed first.
- Amy
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Amy is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Amy
- Soso
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Soso is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Soso
- Population from the 2020 Census: 396 people
- Service
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Service is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Service
- Ellisville
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the southeast)
- Laurel
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
- Errata
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
- Errata is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Errata
- Lamar County
- Sumrall
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
- Lawrence County
- The following are listed by their distance from Zion Hill, with the one closest to Zion Hill listed first.
- New Hebron
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Grange ‑ Historic
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southwest)
- Grange is located in Lawrence County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grange
- Silver Creek
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
- Rankin County
- The following are listed by their distance from Zion Hill, with the one closest to Zion Hill listed first.
- Galilee
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Galilee is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Galilee
- Puckett
(21 miles [33.8 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
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Cato is located in Rankin County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cato
- Scott County
- The following are listed by their distance from Zion Hill, with the one closest to Zion Hill listed first.
- Cooperville
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Cooperville is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cooperville
- Hunter Town
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the north)
- Hunter Town is located in Scott County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter Town
- Simpson County
- The following are listed by their distance from Zion Hill, with the one closest to Zion Hill listed first.
- Coats
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
- Coats is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Coats
- Magee
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Jaynesville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Jaynesville is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jaynesville
- Sanatorium
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
- Sanatorium is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sanatorium
- Mendenhall
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- D'Lo
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- D'Lo is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for D'Lo
- Population from the 2020 Census: 442 people
- Westville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Westville is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westville
- Shivers
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Shivers is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shivers
- Braxton
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Braxton is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Braxton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 179 people
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Zion Hill, see our County-by-County Page for Zion Hill.
Cemeteries Near Zion Hill ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Zion Hill.
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 Zion Hill - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Zion Hill covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Zion Hill, with the one closest to Zion Hill listed first.
- Zion Hill MB Church Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Sullivan Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Thomas F. Sullivans Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
- Alex Sullivan Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Ed Sullivan Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Sullivan Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Mize Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
- Byrd Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Old Zion Hill Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
- Calvary Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- New Sardis Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Continue List (600 more) ...
- Providence Baptist Church Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Jones Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Tom Sullivan Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
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 Zion Hill in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Zion Hill.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Zion Hill, with the one closest to Zion Hill listed first.
- Mize
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
- Bunker Hill
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Bunker Hill is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bunker Hill
- Mount Olive
(7 miles [11.3 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
- Taylorsville
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Bezer
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bezer is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bezer
- Magee
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Jaynesville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
- Jaynesville is located in Simpson County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jaynesville
- Ora
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
- Ora is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ora
- Raleigh
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
- Gitano
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Gitano is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gitano
- Williamsburg
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Williamsburg is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Williamsburg
- Moscos
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
- Moscos is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moscos
- Continue List (13 more) ...
- Sylvarena
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Sylvarena is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sylvarena
- Population from the 2020 Census: 106 people
- Gunn
(18 miles [29 km] to the northwest)
- Gunn is located in Smith County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gunn
- Soso
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Soso is located in Jones County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Soso
- Population from the 2020 Census: 396 people
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Zion Hill. See our List of 1890's Communities around Zion Hill.
Newspapers Published in Zion Hill ...
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 27 newspapers that have been published in the area around Zion Hill.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Zion Hill, there are papers which were published within 26 miles [41.8 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Zion Hill.
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 Zion Hill:
- Websites specific to Mississippi
- Pages specific to Smith County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Covington County
- Jasper County
- Jefferson Davis County
- Jones County
- Lamar County
- Lawrence 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> | 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 Zion Hill, 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' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Zion Hill) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |