1-833-933-4TFD
Lafayette County, Mississippi may be a small county, but it has an interesting history. Here are seven fascinating facts about the county:
1. Lafayette County was established on February 9, 1836, and was named after the Marquis de Lafayette, a French military hero who played a crucial role in the American Revolution.
2. During the Civil War, Oxford, the county seat, served as a Confederate stronghold. Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest's cavalry occupied the town before the Battle of Shiloh, and Union General William T. Sherman's troops occupied it after the Battle of Vicksburg.
3. William Faulkner, one of America's most prominent writers, lived in Oxford for over 30 years. Several of his novels and short stories, including "The Sound and the Fury" and "As I Lay Dying," are set in fictional Yoknapatawpha County, which is based on Lafayette County.
4. Ole Miss, the University of Mississippi, is located in Oxford. The school was founded in 1848 and is the state's largest university. The university was also one of the first in the South to enroll Black students in 1962.
5. In 1877, a group of ex-Confederate soldiers founded the University Greys, a student military organization at Ole Miss. The group gained national attention when all 135 members of the organization died or were wounded during the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863.
6. In 1903, a massive tornado struck the city of Oxford, leaving 13 people dead and dozens injured. The town rallied together to rebuild, and the experience helped shape the community's values of hard work and resilience.
7. Lafayette County is home to the Holly Springs National Forest, which covers over 155,000 acres. The forest is popular for camping, hiking, fishing, and hunting. It also serves as a habitat for several important plant and animal species, including the red-cockaded woodpecker and the eastern indigo snake.
In conclusion, Lafayette County's history is full of interesting facts and stories. From the founding of the county to the establishment of Ole Miss, the county has played an important role in Mississippi's history.
← Older Post Newer Post →