Athens, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Athens, Mississippi
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Former Monroe County Jail (also known as the Athens Jail)
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 Athens, Mississippi
Location in Mississippi
Athens, Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Monroe |
| Elevation | 302 ft (92 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 662 |
| GNIS feature ID | 691677 |
Athens is a small, unincorporated community located in Monroe County, Mississippi. This means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. It's part of the state of Mississippi in the United States.
History of Athens
Athens was started in 1830. It became the second "county seat" for Monroe County. A county seat is like the main town where the county government offices are located. This happened when Monroe County was divided to create Lowndes County.
The community was named after the famous city in Greece. The people who founded Athens, Mississippi, hoped it would become a "city of learning." Athens was also an important stop on a stagecoach route. This route connected the Natchez District to Eastport.
In its early days, Athens was a busy place. It had six stores, three hotels, two churches, and even two taverns. There was also a school for children. By the 1840s, about 500 people lived in Athens.
However, things changed for Athens. In 1849, the courthouse in Athens burned down. Because of this, the county seat was moved in 1857. It went to a town called Aberdeen, which was west of the Tombigbee River. After the county government left, Athens slowly started to lose its population.
A post office served Athens from 1830 until 1873.
The Old Jail
The former Monroe County Jail is a very old building in Athens. It was built in 1845. This makes it the oldest public building still standing in Monroe County. It is so important that it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes places that are important to the history of the United States.
A special historical marker in Athens tells visitors a short story about the community's past.
Famous People from Athens
Several notable people have connections to Athens:
- Reuben Davis: He was a United States Congressman and a general during the American Civil War.
- Samuel J. Gholson: He also served as a United States Congressman and was a judge. He was also a general in the Civil War.
- William Peleg Rogers: He was a lawyer and a colonel in the army. He bravely fought and died in a battle called the Second Battle of Corinth.
- Tilghman Tucker: He was the Governor of Mississippi from 1842 to 1844.
