Danville, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Danville, Mississippi
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 Danville, Mississippi
Location in Mississippi
Danville, Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Alcorn |
| Elevation | 472 ft (144 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 706842 |
Danville is a ghost town in Alcorn County, Mississippi, United States. A ghost town is a place where people used to live, but now very few or no one lives there. Danville was the very first settlement in what was then Tishomingo County that was not an Indian village. Sadly, the Union Army destroyed Danville during the American Civil War.
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History of Danville
Danville was first settled by people who were not Native Americans. It was located along a path called Reynoldsburg Road. This road went from near present-day Tupelo, Mississippi all the way north to Reynoldsburg in central Tennessee.
Early Days as Troy
The settlement was first called Troy. It was part of Tishomingo County at that time. Alcorn County was not created until 1870.
Troy was founded by John Rives and Mr. Fitz. They opened a store there, making it the first non-Native American settlement in the county. Troy had plenty of fresh, clear water from streams. This helped a tannery (a place that makes leather) and a whisky distillery (a place that makes alcoholic drinks) to open there.
The first local court meetings in Tishomingo County were held in a small log house in Troy. In 1838, a church called New Hope Presbyterian Church started in a schoolhouse near Troy. The cemetery for this church is now called Old Danville Cemetery. Some of the gravestones there are from the 1830s.
Becoming Danville
The settlement was renamed "Danville" when a post office was opened there. This was because another town in Mississippi already had the name Troy.
Danville officially became a town in 1848. At its busiest, about 150 people lived there. Danville had many different businesses. There were blacksmith shops, four or five other stores, and a two-story inn where travelers could stay. It also had a Masonic Temple (a meeting place for a social group), a school, and a trading post where people could trade goods with Native Americans. There were also several saloons.
Why Danville Declined
Before the Civil War, a new railway called the Mobile and Ohio Railroad was built. It went through nearby towns like Corinth and Rienzi. This was bad for Danville because businesses and people started to move to these new towns that had the railway. The railway made it easier to transport goods and travel.
Destruction During the Civil War
During the American Civil War, the Union Army needed wood. They wanted to build a stockade (a fence of strong posts) and living quarters for soldiers at a place called Camp Davis. This camp was about 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Danville, across the Tuscumbia River.
The Union Army shelled Danville, which means they fired cannons at it. They told everyone living there to leave. After the residents left, the log homes and other buildings in Danville were taken apart. The wood was then moved to Camp Davis to build the army's camp. This is how Danville was destroyed.
Even by the early 1900s, Danville still had a post office. However, none of the original buildings or parts of the settlement were left.
Notable People from Danville
Some important people who lived in Danville include:
- A. B. Dilworth: He was a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1846 to 1850. This means he helped make laws for the state. He also served as the Secretary of State of Mississippi from 1855 to 1860, and the State Auditor of Mississippi from 1861 to 1862.
- Cody Fowler: He was also a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives.
Images for kids
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An 1862 map showing where Danville was located.
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