Rankin County, Mississippi Genealogy

Guide to Rankin County, Mississippi ancestry, family history and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

Description
The County was named for Christopher Rankin. The County has Brandon as its seat and the County was created February 4, 1828. The County is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Rankin County Courthouse 211 E Government Street Brandon, MS 39042 Phone: 601.825.1469

Clerk Chancery Court has divorce, probate, and land records from 1829.

History

 * A History of Rankin County, Mississippi v. 1. Rankin County tax rolls, 1828, 1830 and 1840 census records ; v. 2. Lists of Civil War soldiers

Parent County
1828--Rankin County was created 4 February 1828 from Hinds County. County seat: Brandon

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Mississippi county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Mississippi County Boundary Maps" (1785-1918) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Populated Places
Seven Incorporated cities


 * Brandon incorporated in 1831; population &gt;17,317
 * Pearl incorporated in 1973; population&gt;21961
 * Florence incorporated in 1905; also known as Steen's Creek; population &gt;2400
 * Flowood incorporated in 1953; population &gt;5000
 * Pelahatchie-named from Choctaw word meaning 'crooked creek,' incorporated in 1904; population 1500
 * Puckett community; population 400
 * Richland incorporated in 1975; &gt;6000'

Neighboring Counties

 * Copiah
 * Hinds
 * Madison
 * Scott
 * Simpson
 * Smith

Cemeteries

 * Rankin County, Mississippi cemetery records v. 1. 1824-1980 -- v. 2. 1980-1996.

Census

 * 1805 - 1890 Mississippi, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1805-1890 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1660 - 1820 U.S. Census Reconstructed Records, 1660-1820 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1792 - 1866 Mississippi, State and Territorial Census Collection, 1792-1866 at Ancestry.com — index $


 * 1841 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.


 * 1845 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.


 * 1853 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.


 * 1866 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.


 * 1880 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.

Baptist
Brandon Baptist Church Crossgates Baptist First Baptist Church of Brandon Pinelake Baptist

Christian
Community Christian Church New Life Christian Fellowship

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints-Brandon Ward

Episcopal
St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Brandon


 * 1858-1927 - St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Brandon, Baptism Index 1858-1927. Batch at FamilySearch - free.

Methodist
Crossgates United Methodist Church

Pentecostal
First United Pentecostal Church

Presbyterian
Briarwood Presbyterian Church USA Lakeside Presbyterian Church, E.P.C.

Land and Property

 * Deed records, 1829-1936; index, 1824-1910 (Rankin County, Mississippi

Maps

 * Maps of Mississippi (1785-1918)
 * Family Maps of (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.

Civil War

 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch.org — index/images
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch.org — index/images
 * 1861-1865 - U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
 * 1861-1865 - U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
 * 1889-1942 - at FamilySearch — images
 * 1900-1974 - at FamilySearch — images


 * Men from Rankin County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Rankin County.


 * - 4th Regiment, Mississippi Cavalry
 * Company E - Ramsey’s Company
 * - 10th Regiment, Mississippi Infantry (Old)
 * Company G - Rankin Rifles
 * - 10th Regiment, Mississippi Infantry (New)
 * Company H - Rankin Rifles [also listed as Co. A]
 * - 6th Regiment, Mississippi Infantry
 * Company A - Rankin Rough &amp; Readies
 * Company B - New Guard
 * Company I - Rankin Greys

World War I

 * 1917-1919 - at FamilySearch — index

Newspapers

 * Clarion Ledgar

Probate Records
Online Records
 * 1780 – 1982 Mississippi Wills and Probate Records 1780-1982 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1781 – 1930 at FamilySearch — images

Taxation

 * 1828-1899 -, courtesy: FamilySearch - free.
 * Assessment rolls and consolidated tax books,1880-1889 (Rankin County, Mississippi) Includes owner's name, description and location of property, number of acres taxable, value of land and improvements, amount of state tax, and remarks.

Marriage

 * 1800 - 1911 at FamilySearch.org — index
 * 1776 - 1935 Mississippi Marriages, 1776-1935 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1826 - 1900 Mississippi Marriages, 1826-1900 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1826 - 50 Mississippi Marriages, 1826-50 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * to 1825 Mississippi Marriages to 1825 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1828-1923 - Rankin County Marriage Books 1-15 and A-E Index 1828-1923 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.

Divorce

 * Estate and divorce files, 1855-1950 (Rankin County, Mississippi

Genealogy Societies and Libraries
Rankin County Historical Society PO Box 841 Brandon, MS 39043 Website

See also a List of Mississippi Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies


 * Brandon Public Library (601)825-2692
 * Central Mississippi Regional Library System (601) 825-0100
 * G. Chastaine Flynt Memorial Library (601) 919-1911
 * Pelahatchie Public Library (601) 854-8764
 * Reservoir Library (601) 992-2539
 * Richland Public Library (601) 932-1836

Websites

 * Rankin County History and Current Activities of Historical Society
 * Rankin County, MS History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * Mississippi Genealogy Network Community on Google+
 * Mississippi Genealogy Network Group on Facebook

County Courthouse
Rankin County Courthouse 211 E Government Street Brandon, MS 39042 Phone # 601-825-2217

Rankin County; 211 E Government St; Brandon, MS 39042; Ph. 601.825.1469 Details: (Clk Chan Ct has div, pro &amp; land rec from 1829)