Wayne County Mississippi Genealogy & History Network

Welcome to Wayne County MSGHN

Welcome to the Wayne County Mississippi Genealogy & History Network website providing free information to genealogical and historical researchers.

To share your Wayne County, Mississippi genealogy or history information, send an email to msghn@outlook.com - we will be pleased to include it here. If you have information to share for other Mississippi Counties, visit the Mississippi Genealogy & History Network state website and choose the appropriate county.

About Wayne County, Mississippi...

Wayne County is located in the southeastern portion of Mississippi on the Alabama border. Wayne County was formed on December 21, 1809 and was named after the Revolutionary war hero, General Anthony Wayne.

Waynesboro, the county seat, owes its existence to the Mobile and Ohio railroad that was constructed through the County in 1854. A station was built and was named Waynesboro. By 1860, some 15 to 20 families called Waynesboro home and in 1876, the town was granted a charter of incorporation by the state, and became the county seat of government. A school and at least two churches were also established around this time.

A new brick courthouse was constructed in 1892, replacing a structure that was destroyed by fire. It would ultimately stand until being replaced in 1935 and would be torn down in 1958.

State Line sits on the border of Wayne and Greene counties in rural Southeast Mississippi, and lives up to its name as the town is but a stone's throw from Alabama. State Line was a prominant rail stop along the old Gulf, Mobile and Ohio line, and the town's historic business district was developed parallel to the old thoroughfare.

The county has a total area of 813.50 square miles of which 810.32 square miles is land and 3.18 square miles (0.39%) is water. The population recorded in the 1810 Federal Census was 1,253. The 2010 census recorded just 20,747 residents in the county.

Neighboring counties are Clarke County (north), Choctaw County, Alabama (northeast), Washington County, Alabama (southeast), Greene County (south), Perry County (southwest), Jones County (west), Jasper County (northwest). The town of Waynesboro is the county seat. Other communities in the county include Cuckatunna, Clara, State Line, Buckatunna, and Tokio.

Wayne County, Mississippi Records

Wayne County MSGHN has many records here on our website. Marriage Records, Cemetery listings, tombstone photos, and more. Look at the Wayne County Data links for a list of available data.

Birth Records - The Mississippi Department of Health maintains records of births after November 1, 1912 on file. This was the year Mississippi began keeping official birth records. You can obtain official copies of birth certificates by mail by using this birth record application on their website. If you just have to order by internet or phone, or use a credit card, you can use VitalCheck, a third party records company recognized by the Mississippi Dept. of Health. Since there are no official birth records before November 1, 1912 for births prior to that date you will need to determine birth information from census records, bible records, baptismal records, cemetery tombstones, etc.

Death Records - The Mississippi Department of Health maintains births recorded after November 1, 1912 on file. This was the year Mississippi began keeping official death records. You can obtain official copies of death certificates by mail by using this death record application on their website. If you just have to order by internet or phone, or use a credit card, you can use VitalCheck, a third party records company recognized by the Mississippi Dept. of Health. Since there are no official death records before November 1, 1912  ...READ MORE