FORREST COUNTY HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

*None Listed

Forrest County, Mississippi: A Genealogical Overview

Located in the Piney Woods region of southeastern Mississippi, Forrest County is a relatively young county whose history is deeply intertwined with the great lumber boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The arrival of railroads transformed the vast longleaf pine forests into a hub of industry and commerce, giving rise to its county seat and principal city, Hattiesburg. The county’s development in the 20th century was further shaped by the establishment of a major university and one of the nation’s largest military training bases, making it a key economic and cultural center for the state.

I. County Formation and Evolution

For genealogists, the most critical fact about Forrest County research is its modern creation date. Any records of families or land transactions in the area prior to 1908 will be located in the records of its parent county.

  • 1908: County Formed: Forrest County was officially organized on January 6, 1908, following an act approved by the state legislature in 1906.
  • Parent County: The county was created entirely from the western portion (the second judicial district) of Perry County. All records for residents of this area before 1908—including land deeds, wills, court cases, and marriage records—are filed at the Perry County courthouse.
  • Subsequent Formations: The boundaries of Forrest County have remained unchanged since its creation in 1908.
  • Name Origin: The county was named in honor of Nathan Bedford Forrest (1821-1877), a lieutenant general for the Confederacy during the Civil War.
  • County Seat History: Hattiesburg has been the county seat since the county’s inception. Founded in 1882 at the junction of two major railroads, Hattiesburg was already a thriving city known as the “Hub City” and was the logical choice for the seat of government.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The land that became Forrest County was the historical territory of the Choctaw Nation. Following the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek in 1830, the Choctaw were forced to cede their Mississippi lands, opening the region to settlement by the United States.
  • Antebellum and Post-War Settlement: Prior to the 1880s, the area was sparsely populated by small-scale farmers and woodsmen. The region’s true growth began with the post-Civil War expansion of railroads, particularly the New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad. These new rail lines made the immense wealth of the pine forests accessible, sparking a massive timber boom. Lumber mills, turpentine distilleries, and entire towns sprang up, attracting thousands of workers and entrepreneurs to the area.
  • 20th Century Development: Hattiesburg’s role as a regional hub was solidified with the establishment of Mississippi Normal College in 1910 (now The University of Southern Mississippi) and the creation of Camp Shelby in 1917 as a military mobilization center for World War I. Both institutions became major employers and drivers of population growth and economic diversification for the county.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records, with a clear distinction between pre- and post-1908 research.

  • County Courthouse:
    • Forrest County: The Forrest County Circuit Clerk’s Office, located at 641 N. Main Street, Hattiesburg, MS 39401, holds all county records (deeds, wills, court, marriage) from 1908 to the present.
    • Perry County: For all records prior to 1908, researchers must go to the Perry County Courthouse in New Augusta, MS.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Statewide, mandatory registration of births and deaths in Mississippi began in November 1912. These records are held by the Mississippi State Department of Health. Records are restricted for 100 years for births and 50 years for deaths.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage records from 1908 to the present are available from the Forrest County Circuit Clerk. Pre-1908 marriage records for ancestors living in the area are located in Perry County.
  • Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
    • Hattiesburg Public Library: The library maintains an excellent Local History and Genealogy Department with microfilm copies of Forrest County newspapers, census records, court records, and a collection of local family histories.
    • The University of Southern Mississippi Libraries: The McCain Library and Archives on the Hattiesburg campus is a major research institution holding extensive manuscript collections, photographs, oral histories, and official documents relating to the Pine Belt region.
    • Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH): Located in Jackson, MDAH is the state’s official historical agency and the primary repository for state-level records and microfilmed county records from across Mississippi.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Covington County (northwest)
    • Jones County (northeast)
    • Perry County (east)
    • Stone County (south)
    • Lamar County (west)

Please share any resources you have and will do lookups or links to resources you are aware of. Thanks