Tocowa, Mississippi Explained

Official Name:Tocowa, Mississippi
Settlement Type:Ghost town
Pushpin Map:Mississippi#USA
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Mississippi
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Panola
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Ft:243
Coordinates:34.2236°N -90.0597°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Area Code:662
Blank Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank Info:685752

Tocowa is a ghost town located just outside Batesville in Panola County, Mississippi, United States.[1]

History

In 1938, Federal Writers' Project wrote up a sketch of the town, and surmised its name to be derived Chickasaw and Choctaw languages meaning "healing waters".[2] However, more recent scholarship rejects the "healing waters" interpretation, and purports the name to mean "broken and bent down trees" or "firewood".[3]

During the late 18th century, and well into the 19th century, the town grew around a natural spring. The spring was used as a socializing area by Native Americans who believed in the spring's mysterious healing powers and that the water could heal braves wounded in battle.[2] [4] In the May 25, 1867 edition of The Weekly Panola Star newspaper, the spring was described as "a fine, clear, and bold running mineral spring of known and well attested medicinal virtues".[5]

A post office operated under the name Tocowa from 1900 to 1921.[6]

Notable natives

Former Mississippi governor Ronnie Musgrove was born and raised in Tocowa. At that time, the town had a population of 42.[1]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mississippi Department of Archives and History . 2009-04-13 . 2010-10-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101016235729/http://mdah.state.ms.us/arrec/digital_archives/musgrove/pdfs/14265.pdf . dead .
  2. Book: Works Progress Administration, Federal Writers' Project . David Mumford

    . David Mumford . Mississippi: A Guide to the Magnolia State . . 382 . May 1938 . American Guide series . Gene Holcomb . 1-60354-023-7 .

  3. Book: Baca, Keith A.. Native American Place Names in Mississippi. 2007. University Press of Mississippi. 978-1-60473-483-6. 117.
  4. http://www.nps.gov/history/delta/volume2/apdxh.pdf National Park Service PDF file
  5. News: The Coal Mines . The Weekly Panola Star . 25 May 1867.
  6. Web site: Panola County . Jim Forte Postal History . May 8, 2024.