Warren County, Mississippi

1300 Grove Street House Anchuca Anshe Chesed Cemetery Balfour House Beck House Belle Fleur Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church Beulah Cemetery Biedenharn Candy Company Building Big Black River Railroad Bridge Blum House Bobb House Bonham, Isaac, House Carr Junior High School Cedar Grove Chickasaw Bayou Battlefield Christian and Brough Building Church of the Holy Trinity Confederate Avenue Brick Arch Bridge Craig-Flowers House Davis-Mitchell House Fairground Street Bridge Federal Fortifications Along Bear Creek Feld House Fitz-Hugh Hall Flowerree, Col. Charles C., House Fonsylvania Galleries, The Glenwood-Vicklan Historic District Green, Duff, House Grove Street Houses Grove Street-Jackson Historic District Guider House Harding, P. M., House Hotel Vicksburg Hullum, Joel and Margaret, House Jackson Street Missionary Baptist Church Johnson, Fannie Willis, House Knox, Dr. Isaac Cecil, House Lane, John, House Lassiter, W. W., Wholesale Grocery Warehouse Luckett Compound Magnolias, The Magruder-Morrissey House Main Street Historic District Main Street Historic District (Boundary Increase) McDermott House McNutt House Mississippi River Bridge Old Courthouse, Warren County Pemberton's Headquarters Planters Hall Planters Hall (Boundary Increase) Polk-Sherard-Hinman House Rolling Acres Historic District Rose, Adolph, Building Shlenker House South Cherry Street Historic District South Drummond Street Neighborhood Historic District South Vicksburg Public School No. 200 St. Francis Xavier Convent Tri-State Motor Coach Station U.S.S. CAIRO Uptown Vicksburg Historic District (Additional Documentation) Uptown Vicksburg Historic District (Boundary Increase) Vicksburg National Military Park Vicksburg Public Library, Old Vicksburg Siege Cave Walnut Hills Waterways Experiment Station Yazoo And Mississippi Valley Depot Yokena Presbyterian Church Young-Bradfield House

Warren County, Mississippi, has a rich and complex history dating back thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Natchez and Choctaw peoples, who lived off the land and established their own communities. European exploration and colonization began in the 16th century, and Spanish, French, and British influences shaped the region.

By the early 19th century, European settlers began to establish permanent settlements in Warren County. The county's namesake, General Joseph Warren, was a hero of the American Revolutionary War and became a symbol of the county's commitment to independence and liberty. As a bustling frontier town along the Mississippi River, Vicksburg — which is the county seat of Warren County — quickly grew in importance as a center for trade and commerce.

The county played a significant role in the American Civil War. In 1862, Union forces sought to gain control of the Mississippi River and Vicksburg became the focal point of a lengthy and brutal military campaign. The Siege of Vicksburg, lasting from May to July in 1863, resulted in Confederate surrender, marking a turning point for the Union and further solidifying the importance of Warren County in American history.

Following the Civil War, the Reconstruction era brought significant changes to Warren County. African Americans, both freed slaves and those who had been free before the war, gained political and social rights. However, the county also experienced racial tensions and struggles for equality, as seen during the Civil Rights Movement in the 20th century.

Overall, Warren County's history mirrors the broader historical developments of the South, encompassing Native American cultures, European colonization, the impact of the Civil War, and ongoing social and political changes that shape the county today.
Brief timeline of the history of Warren County, Mississippi:

  • 1767 - Warren County, Mississippi is established as one of the original nine counties in the Mississippi Territory.
  • 1779 - Spanish explorers pass through the area, establishing a temporary fort near present-day Vicksburg.
  • 1803 - The United States acquires the Mississippi Territory as part of the Louisiana Purchase.
  • 1811 - The first permanent settlement is established in what is now Warren County, known as Walnut Hills.
  • 1836 - The county is officially organized and named Warren County after American Revolutionary War General Joseph Warren.
  • 1863 - During the American Civil War, the Siege of Vicksburg takes place, with Warren County being a major battleground. The Union Army eventually captures Vicksburg, leading to a turning point in the war.
  • 1876 - The first bridge over the Mississippi River in the Vicksburg area, known as the Old Vicksburg Bridge, is completed, connecting Warren County with Louisiana.
  • 1903 - Mississippi Flood of 1903 causes significant damage and displacement in Warren County and the surrounding areas.
  • 1936 - The current Vicksburg Bridge, a steel truss bridge over the Mississippi River, is completed, replacing the old bridge.
  • 1962 - The Mississippi River floods again, causing extensive damage to Warren County and leading to the construction of the Yazoo Backwater Levee.
  • 2005 - Hurricane Katrina causes widespread devastation along the Gulf Coast, with Warren County serving as a temporary shelter for evacuees.
  • 2014 - The Warren County Courthouse, a historic building dating back to 1860, is added to the National Register of Historic Places.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Warren County, Mississippi.

Audiobooks about the history of Mississippi.