Blink And You'll Miss These 12 Teeny Tiny Towns In Mississippi
By Daniella DiRienzo|Published February 16, 2017
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Daniella DiRienzo
Author
Though Daniella was born in New York and has lived in a couple of other states, Mississippi has been her home for more than 30 years. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships. In the years since, she’s had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as the Mississippi-based Parents & Kids Magazine. She’s also had the honor of interviewing actress Sela Ward for The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience.
Aside from the mouthwatering food and abundance of hospitality, it’s the small towns that make Mississippi a great place to live. If you’re lucky enough to call one of these towns home, then you know exactly what I’m talking about. Living in a small Mississippi town truly is an experience all its own, and will quickly make you realize there really is no place like home.
Ready to get a closer look at some of the state’s delightfully small towns? Here are 12 teeny tiny towns in Mississippi you might miss if you blink while driving through.
Formed in 1833, Cascilla is a small unincorporated community in Tallahatchie County. Despite its tiny size and status as an unincorporated community, it has its own zip code and post office, which was established prior to 1870.
Head to Clarke County and you’ll find Pachuta. The tiny town is home to less than 300 residents, a town hall, fire department, library, and not much else, making it a pleasant place to reside.
Pope, which is tucked away in Panola County, is small in both population and size. Classified as a "village," it has less than 250 residents and encompasses a total area of just 1 sq. mile. As is the case with many small towns in Mississippi, Pope is home to a great restaurant, The Place Cafe. The hidden gem serves up home-cooked meals that are practically guaranteed to please.
Hidden in Quitman County, Darling is a small community with just over 200 residents. Although fitting, the community didn’t receive its moniker because it was "darling." It’s actually named after Mr. Darling, a railroad official.
A small town in Quitman County, Marks is named after Leopold Marks, a German immigrant who moved to America in 1868 with only $0.27 in his pocket. He went on to become Quitman County's first representative to the state legislature. The town has somewhat of a historical significance as well – it was the starting point of Martin Luther King’s 1968 Poor People’s Campaign.
Only about 2,000 people call this small Delta town home, which is situated in both Bolivar and Sunflower Counties. The town’s name was derived from an Indian tribe that originated just northeast of present-day Shaw.
Head to Itawamba County in northeast Mississippi and you’ll find Tremont – a small town home to just 390 residents. The town may be easy for many to overlook, but among country music fans it’s notoriously known as the birthplace of Tammy Wynette.
With just under 1,000 residents, it doesn’t get much quainter than Utica. And since the tiny town is part of the Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area, big city fun is never too far away.
Incorporated in 1899, Ruleville is named after its founder, J.W. Rule. By the early 1900s, the flourishing town had telephone and telegraph facilities, nearly two dozen businesses, a few churches, water works system, electric light plant, three public gins, and schools. Since then, things have slowed down a bit in Ruleville; however, one thing has remained the same – it’s still a lovely place to call home.
Tucked away in Jasper County, just under 2,000 residents are lucky enough to call this delightfully picturesque town home. A quintessential small town, Bay Springs boasts a sense of community, small town fun, and plenty of charm.
Although just a small unincorporated community, Avalon is well known among music enthusiasts as the hometown of musician Mississippi John Hurt. By the 1960s, Avalon was pretty much abandoned and omitted from maps. As of today, the community includes only a church, former store, few houses, and Mississippi John Hurt’s former home, which has been transformed into a museum.
This tiny town, which has a population of about 750, is located in Humphreys County on the banks of Lake Dawson. Isola’s secluded location actually inspired its name, which is derived from the word "isolation."
This is just a portion of the tiny towns that fill Mississippi. Keep the list going by adding your favorite in the comments section!