 Last
Up-dated:
12/19/2023 02:24 PM -0600
State Coordinator:
Jeff Kemp
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 Named in
memory of U.S. Naval Captain James Lawrence, who is best
known for his dying words “Don’t Give Up the Ship,”
Lawrence County was established on December 22, 1814 and
was one of the fourteen territorial colonies prior to
the founding of the State and was the twelfth county.
During Lawrence County’s long, roller-coaster like
history, there have been three (3) Mississippi Governors
with strong Lawrence County ties. They were Charles
Lynch, Hiram Runnels, and Andrew Longino. Other notable
natives include Rod Paige, former Secretary of Education
under President George W. Bush, the late blues man J.B.
Lenoir, as well as blues man Byther Smith who continues
to play.
The treaty of Mount Dexter in 1805 between the United
States and the Choctaw Indians opened the floodgates for
settlers in the Pearl River area—only the Gulf Coast and
Natchez areas were settled prior to the Pearl River
area. This new land offered fertile, river bottom land
which was quickly bought by the more affluent in the
region and served to draw settlers from all over the
country. The Pearl River provided a quick and direct
route to the New Orleans markets for cotton and other
goods, while simultaneously providing a return corridor
for much need supplies. Along with St. Stephens Road
being built through Monticello, which was the main
east-west corridor between Natchez and Fort St. Stephens
(north of Mobile, AL), Lawrence County, for a time, was
as prosperous as any other area in Mississippi.
The treaty of Mount Dexter in 1805 between the United
States and the Choctaw Indians opened the floodgates for
settlers in the Pearl River area—only the Gulf Coast and
Natchez areas were settled prior to the Pearl River
area. This new land offered fertile, river bottom land
which was quickly bought by the more affluent in the
region and served to draw settlers from all over the
country. The Pearl River provided a quick and direct
route to the New Orleans markets for cotton and other
goods, while simultaneously providing a return corridor
for much need supplies. Along with St. Stephens Road
being built through Monticello, which was the main
east-west corridor between Natchez and Fort St. Stephens
(north of Mobile, AL), Lawrence County, for a time, was
as prosperous as any other area in Mississippi.
History Information
above taken from:
https://lawrencecountymschamber.com/history/
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