RANKIN COUNTY
Chapter XLIV, pages 817-819
Rankin County was erected February 4, 1828,
from all that portion of Hinds County lying east of the Pearl River, and
was named in honor of Christopher Rankin, congressman from Mississippi.
The county has a land surface of 791 square miles. It forms a large triangular
area of land near the center of the State and is bounded on the north by
Madison County, on the east by Scott and Smith counties, on the south by
Simpson County and on the west by Hinds and Madison counties. The Pearl
River forms its entire western and northern boundary and divides it from
the counties of Madison and Hinds. It formed a part of the New Purchase
of 1820, and the Choctaw Boundary line, defining that purchase, makes part
of the present eastern boundary line. It has an area of about twenty townships.
As early as 1837 it had a population of
3,255 free whites and 1,956 slaves. One of the oldest settlements in the
county was located at Richmond, on the east side of Pearl River, about
five miles from Jackson. It had in the time of its greatest prosperity
a population of about three hundred. Its prominent citizens were John Long,
Henry White, James Howard, William Howard, and Simpson Cooper. The old
town has disappeared and the site is now under cultivation. Much of the
region is rich and productive and it ranks as one of the best counties
in the middle section of the State.
The county seat is at Brandon, (named for
Gov. Gerard C. Brandon), a town of 691 people in 1920. It is located twelve
miles east of Jackson on the line of the Alabama & Vicksburg railroad.
Situated on high ground and for several years the terminus of the Vicksburg
& Meridian railroad, and surrounded by a rich country, Brandon was
at one time the most important trading point in this section of the State.
The old Brandon Male and Female Academy, reorganized in 1849, as Brandon
College by the well known educator, Dr. Thornton, and the later Brandon
Female College, were potent influences in raising the general standard
of culture throughout this vicinity. Miss Frank Johnson was the principal
of this famous school from the time of its founding until 1897 when her
noble life and career was ended in death. There are no very large towns
or villages in the county. Among these may be mentioned Florence, Star,
Pearson, Rankin, and Pelahatchee.
Two lines of railway traverse the county,
the Alabama & Vicksburg, running from east to west, and the Gulf &
Ship Island from northwest to southeast, give to Rankin excellent transportation
facilities. The Pearl River on its northwestern boundary and its numerous
tributaries provide good water power. It lies in the central prairie region
of the State and the general surface of the land is level and undulating.
The timber mainly consists of long leaf or yellow pine and white and red
oak. Beds of marl and limestone have been found in various parts of the
country providing valuable fertilizers and building material. The soil
both of the bottoms and uplands is for the most, part fertile, and the
rolling prairies give excellent pasturage for stock. Rankin County has
a varied and interesting history, material, social and political. Lying
adjacent to the capital city and county of Hinds, it has never been awed
and confounded by the prestige of the more famous county, but has gone
on acquiring prestige for itself. The home of the McLaurins, Lowrys, Henrys
and others too numerous to mention, it has always made itself felt in State
affairs.
The census figures of 1920 tell the story
of Rankin County’s wealth more effectively than extended descriptions of
a general nature. The total value of the farm property, including lands,
buildings, implements and machinery and live stock, for the year 1919,
was placed at $9,186,000. Of that amount live stock was estimated at $1,916,000.
All the crops were valued at $3,362,000, of which the cereals brought $954,000,
vegetables $524,000 and hay and forage, $291,000. The horticulturists of
Rankin County raised 24,000 bushels of fruit from the 17,000 trees which
were in bearing. Of the different varieties of large fruit, peaches took
the lead, with a production of 16,000 bushels from 12,000 trees. The pineries
of the county keep more than 30 establishments in operation, and employ
nearly 600 people. The latter were paid wages (in 1919) of nearly half
a million dollars and the output of the sawmills and other establishments
connected with these industries amounted to over $1,000,000.
In considering the changes in the population
of Rankin County, the census figures indicate a falling off during only
two periods, 1860-70 and 1910-20. In 1850, its population was 7,227; 1870,
12,977; 1890, 17,922; 1910, 23,944; 1920, 20,272.
