The Unique Town In Mississippi That's Anything But Ordinary
By Daniella DiRienzo|Published January 23, 2017
×
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.
Of all the amazing towns in Mississippi, Livingston is definitely one of the most unique. In the early 1830s, it was a thriving commercial center and the county seat of Madison County. Unfortunately, Livingston didn’t flourish for long and was practically deserted by the Civil War. This turn of events may not seem so uncommon – many towns in Mississippi have sort of disappeared over time; however, unlike many of those towns, Livingston is making a comeback. The one-of-a-kind town is quickly becoming one of the most charming in the state. Take a look:
Livingston is an unincorporated community located at the intersection of highways 463 and 22 in Madison County, with nearby towns including Flora, Canton, and Madison.
During its heyday, Livingston served as an important trading center for nearby plantations. The town’s demise began in the 1850s, when it was bypassed by the railroad. By the 1940s, Livingston lost its charter and was demoted from a town to an unincorporated community; however, all hope was not lost for Livingston.
In 2013, land developer and history buff David Landrum saw the area and couldn’t ignore its beauty…or potential. At that moment, Landrum set out to “rebuild the town.”
Working with architects from Atlanta, Landrum created a design to "put the town back" to how it once was, down to the roads being located where the originals were. The 500-acre development is filled with period buildings that appear to have been built back in the 1830s.
Advertisement
As of today, Livingston features an 1800s-style town square, complete with a barbershop, mercantile store, two restaurants, candy store, florist, and cooking school.
Selling grocery items, hunting and fishing supplies, gardening essentials, pet food, and even gifts, the quaint shop is sure to have what you’re looking for, and if not...
An extension of Livingston Mercantile, the eatery features blue plate specials, Sunday Supper, and live music in a relaxed atmosphere.
Advertisement
The town’s other restaurant, County Seat, is also a great option. Winner of the “2016 Diner’s Choice” award, it serves up a mouthwatering fare which is focused on farm-to-table cuisine and charcuterie.
Even better, all of the restaurant’s ingredients, "from produce to dairy, livestock, free range fowl, and even the wood" (used to fire the grill) are supplied by local farmers.
The Farmer’s Table Cooking School is also a must-visit in Livingston. Centered around fresh, locally grown ingredients, the classes focus on everything from chicken and waffles to French cuisine.
Aside from the farmers market, Livingston holds community-wide events in the Town Square throughout the year, making for a quintessential small town experience.
Just as charming as it is unique, Livingston should definitely be on your bucket list! Have you ever visited Livingston? Did you know it existed, or had such an interesting history? Tell us in the comments section.
