The Most Criminally Overlooked Town In Mississippi And Why You Need To Visit
By Daniella DiRienzo|Published January 31, 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.
About halfway between Greenville and Starkville on Highway 82, you’ll find the charming town of Carrollton. Nestled in the hills overlooking the Delta, it exudes small town charm, but that’s not all it has to offer. The town is packed with beautiful historic homes, stately churches, and loads of history. Despite everything Carrollton has going on, it’s often overlooked as a destination but it definitely shouldn’t be, and here’s why.
Carrollton was first established in 1834. As of today, only about 200 people are lucky enough to call the picturesque town home.
Among the historic buildings that fill Carrollton is Merrill’s Store. Since being built in 1837, it has served as a store, bank, dry cleaners, furniture and coffin factory, and courtroom.
Today, it houses the Merrill Museum, which features artifacts relating to the history of Carrollton and Carroll County as well as the John Sidney McCain collection.
Cotesworth is the former home of Senator J.Z. George, who was an author of the Mississippi Constitution of 1890. This historical document is on display in the home on the very desk he used when drafting it.
The Carrollton Pilgrimage includes tours of historic homes, churches, and several other buildings, such as the courthouse, old jail, and Gee's Country Store.
One of the longest operating general stores in the state, Gee's is only opened during the annual pilgrimage. A stop at the store is sure to be a nostalgic one, as the shelves are still stocked with goods that were there the day it closed.
The small town doesn't have any hotels of its own, but there are several located in nearby towns. Click here for more information.
Have you ever been to Carrollton? What are some other amazing towns in Mississippi that tend to get overlooked? We want to hear from you; share your thoughts in the comments section!