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Mississippi Genealogy

Mississippi Genealogy Facts

First explored for Spain by Hernando de Soto, who discovered the Mississippi River in 1540, the region was later claimed by France. In 1699, a French group under Sieur d’Iberville established the first permanent settlement near present-day Ocean Springs. Great Britain took over the area in 1763 after the French and Indian Wars, ceding it to the U.S. in 1783 after the Revolution. Spain did not relinquish its claims until 1798, and in 1810 the U.S. annexed West Florida from Spain, including what is now southern Mississippi.

  • Mississippi was organized as territory on April 7, 1798
  • Mississippi entered the union as the 20th state on Dec. 10, 1817 .
  • Mississippi has 82 Counties.
  • Mississippi’s capital is Jackson and the official state website is www.ms.gov.
  • Mississippi is bordered by Alabama (east), Arkansas (northwest), Louisiana (southwest), Tennessee (north)
  • Mississippi has a land area of 48,434 square miles making it the 32nd largest state.
  • Mississippi’s 2010 population was 2,967,297 .
  • Mississippi  largest cities (2010) are Jackson (Capital), 173,514; Gulfport, 67,793; Hattiesburg, 51,993; Southhaven, 48,982; Biloxi, 44,054; Meridian, 41,198; Tupelo, 34,546; Greenville, 34,400; Olive Branch, 33,484; Horn Lake 26,066.
  • Mississippi’s name is perhaps from the Ojibwa (Chippewa) Indian words “mici zibi,” which means “great river” or “gathering of waters”.
  • Mississippi’s nickname is the Magnolia State .
  • Mississippi State Motto is “Virtute et armis” which means By valor and arms.

Mississippi County Genealogy

In 1798 when Mississippi became a territory, Adams, Pickering, and Washington counties were organized. Pickering was renamed Jefferson in 1802. As new counties were formed in the territory, some counties in both Alabama and Mississippi duplicated names from territorial days. Deeds, probate records, and marriages may be found at the chancery clerk at the county courthouse. Microfilmed marriage books for both whites and African Americans are indicated, in that order, under “Marriages.” Court records may be found in the appropriate clerk’s office at the courthouse.

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COUNTY PAGES UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Mississippi has counties that no longer exist. They were established by the state, provincial, or territorial government. Most of these counties were created and disbanded in the 19th century; county boundaries have changed little since 1900 in the vast majority of states. These counties need to be looked at when doing genealogy research. Pay close attention where the courthouse records went to if the county was abolished or combined with another county.

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Mississippi Genealogy Links

See Mississippi County Genealogy for County Links. These genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Commercial Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some are have free access some require a payment. This is just a list that has been collected or submitted. I do not endorse or promote one genealogy site above another. Feel free to submit your own favorite genealogy or family history related sites.

Mississippi State History

Mississippi, state in the Southeastern United States, bordering on the Gulf of Mexico. Early explored by the Spanish and colonized by the French, Mississippi’s warm climate and rich soil proved ideally suited to cotton, which became the main crop even before 1800 and remained the mainstay of its economy until the 20th century.

Mississippi entered the Union on December 10, 1817, as the 20th state. Jackson, Mississippi’s capital and largest city, was founded at about the same time. The state takes its name from the Mississippi River, the great waterway that forms the state’s western boundary. The river’s name was derived from an Algonquin term for “big river.” Mississippi is commonly nicknamed the Magnolia State because of the great number of magnolia trees that grow within its borders. The blossom of the magnolia is the state flower. Mississippi history may be divided into four distinct periods: French Colonial (1699–1763), British Provincial (1763–79), Spanish Provincial (1779–98), and American Territorial and Statehood (1798-present).

The year 1699 saw the French establish the colony of Biloxi, the first permanent settlement in this part of the Lower Mississippi Valley. Later this colony was moved to Mobile, and Natchez was established as the seat of government in 1716. Toward the end of the Seven Years War (or French and Indian War) in 1763, France ceded this province to Britain, beginning the immigration of Protestant, land-loving British, a stark contrast with the remaining Roman-Catholic French. Sixteen years later in 1779, the British yielded control of the Natchez District to the Spanish, who remained until pro-American sentiment prevailed.

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