The names of roads, creeks, and communities in Magee, Mendenhall, and throughout Simpson County, Mississippi, are deeply rooted in early 19th-century settlement, railroad expansion, and the pioneering families who established the area.
By: The People’s Paper Staff
Note: “Some place names in Simpson County carry more than one origin story. Where written records are limited, this article reflects a mix of documented history and local oral tradition.”
Magee (Origin: “Mangum” to “Magee”)
- Magee & Founders: First settled around 1820 by Arthur Mangum and Phil Magee, the town was originally called Mangumuntil 1859. It was later named for Robert Solomon Magee, the first postmaster.
- Willis Magee & Little Goodwater Creek:In 1840, Willis Magee built a gristmill on Little Goodwater Creek, a key landmark within the modern city limits.
- Old Magee Road: Leads to the original, older town site, which moved closer to the Gulf and Ship Island (G&SI) railroad in the early 1900s.
- McNair Springs: A notable natural feature in the area.
- Boswell Regional Center: A major institution located near the edge of the city.
Mendenhall (Origin: “Edna” to “Mendenhall”)
- Mendenhall: In 1901, the town was named for Thomas L. Mendenhall, a prominent lawyer and state legislator from the nearby, now-defunct town of Westville.
- Edna (Original Name): Founded in 1899 by developers Phillip H. and Eula Maude Didlake, the town was initially named for their daughter, Edna Earle Didlake.
- Edmore: When the postal service rejected “Edna” (as one already existed), the railroad station was briefly called Edmore before adopting Mendenhall.
- Main Street & Circle Drive: The central hub, which passes the Simpson County Courthouse and leads to the Alice E. Davis Memorial Park.
- Sellers Creek: A major, defining waterway through the city of Mendenhall.
- The Revolving Table Hotel: An historic landmark located near the railroad tracks.
Simpson County Communities & Landmarks
“For a few towns and landmarks, including D’Lo and Osceola, multiple explanations for the name have been passed down. I include these stories as they are told locally, alongside what can be confirmed in available records.”
- D’Lo: Known for the Strong River. The name is rumored to have come from “Down Low” (due to its location in a valley) or, more accurately, from a French phrase, d’lo, which evolved from “de l’eau” (water) or early references to bitter water. The town was almost named “Millhaven” due to its many water mills.
- Westville: The original county seat established in 1824, which became a “ghost town” after the railroad passed it by in favor of Mendenhall.
- Weathersby: Named for its founding families, this community was annexed by Mendenhall in the 1980s.
- Braxton: A town that grew rapidly in 1900 with the arrival of the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad.
- Pinola & Harrisville: Other historic, small, unincorporated communities forming the county’s heritage.
- Osceola: A former, bustling river town on the Pearl River named in honor of the famous Indian chief.
Key Roads and Features
- U.S. Highway 49: The major north-south artery that runs through Magee, connecting the Piney Woods region to the Gulf Coast.
- Simpson Highway 149: A central connector through the county.
- Strong River: Often called the “Strong” due to the high tannin content from leaves, which gives it a distinct taste, rather than the speed of the water.
- Heritage Trail: A designated route featuring markers that explain the history of the county’s, including spots in Magee, D’Lo, and Mendenhall.
“Note: Some names in this article have more than one origin story; where records are unclear, I include both documented history and local tradition.”
