STONE COUNTY, MS HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

*None Listed

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Stone County, Mississippi: A Genealogical Overview

Located in the heart of the Piney Woods region of southeastern Mississippi, Stone County is a relatively young county whose identity was forged by the great timber boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Formed in 1916, its history is inextricably linked to the virgin longleaf pine forests, the arrival of the railroad, and the massive lumber companies that transformed a sparsely populated wilderness into a hub of industry. For genealogists, research in Stone County invariably requires a deep dive into the records of its parent county, Harrison, to trace family lines that predate its modern boundaries.

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I. County Formation and Evolution

The late formation date of Stone County is the most critical fact for any family historian. Nearly all records for ancestors living in this geographic area prior to 1916 will be found in another location.

• 1916: County Formed: Stone County was officially created on April 8, 1916, and organized in June of that year.
• Parent County: The county was formed entirely from the northern two-thirds of Harrison County. For any genealogical event occurring before 1916—including land purchases, marriages, court cases, and censuses—researchers must consult the records of Harrison County.
• Subsequent Formations: The boundaries of Stone County have remained unchanged since its creation in 1916.
• Name Origin: The county was named in honor of John Marshall Stone, who served as Governor of Mississippi for two non-consecutive terms (1876–1882 and 1890–1896) and was a Confederate veteran.
• County Seat History: Wiggins was named the county seat upon Stone County’s formation and has remained so ever since. The town was founded in the 1890s and grew rapidly around the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad and the massive Finkbine Lumber Company mill, which was one of the largest in the South. The town’s location and industrial importance made it the logical choice for the seat of the new county.

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II. Settlement and Early History

• Early Inhabitants: The lands that became Stone County were the traditional territory of the Choctaw Nation. Following the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek in 1830, the Choctaw were forced to cede their remaining lands in Mississippi and remove to Indian Territory (modern Oklahoma).
• Antebellum Settlement: Prior to the Civil War, the area was sparsely settled by pioneers of primarily Scots-Irish and English descent moving from the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, and other parts of Mississippi. They established small, self-sufficient farms, raising livestock (which roamed freely in the pine forests) and growing corn and sweet potatoes. The region was isolated, with thick forests making travel and large-scale agriculture difficult.
• The Timber Boom: The defining era in the county’s history began in the 1890s with the construction of the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad through the region. This opened the vast, uncut longleaf pine forests to industrial logging. Large-scale operations, particularly the Finkbine Lumber Company in Wiggins, created a massive economic boom, drawing in thousands of workers and their families and leading to the founding of numerous towns. This population and economic growth was the direct impetus for carving a new county out of Harrison County. The boom faded by the 1930s as the virgin forests were depleted.

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III. Genealogical Records and Resources

This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records, keeping the 1916 formation date in mind.

• County Courthouse: For records created from June 1916 to the present, researchers should contact the Stone County Circuit Clerk, located at 323 E Cavers Ave, Wiggins, MS 39577. This office holds land records (deeds), marriage licenses, and court records. For all similar records prior to June 1916, researchers must go to the Harrison County Courthouse in Gulfport or Biloxi.
• Vital Records:
  • Birth and Death Records: Statewide civil registration of births and deaths in Mississippi began in November 1912. For events between Nov 1912 and June 1916, certificates for people in this area would have been filed through Harrison County. After June 1916, they were filed through Stone County. Records are available from the Mississippi State Department of Health.
  • Marriage Records: Marriage records from 1916 forward are held by the Stone County Circuit Clerk. Pre-1916 marriage records are located at the Harrison County Courthouse.
• Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
  • Stone County Public Library: Located in Wiggins, this library offers local history resources and is the best starting point for local research.
  • Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH): Located in Jackson, MDAH is the state’s premier historical and genealogical repository. It holds microfilm copies of county records, newspapers, state census records, and extensive manuscript collections.
  • University of Southern Mississippi Libraries: The McCain Library and Archives in nearby Hattiesburg has extensive collections on the history of the Piney Woods region, including significant materials on the lumber industry.
• Bordering Jurisdictions:
  • Forrest County (north)
  • Perry County (northeast)
  • George County (east)
  • Harrison County (south)
  • Pearl River County (west)