Gillsburg, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gillsburg, Mississippi
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 Gillsburg, Mississippi
Location in Mississippi
Gillsburg, Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Amite |
| Elevation | 302 ft (92 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 690914 |
Gillsburg, sometimes spelled Gillsburgh, is a small place in Amite County, Mississippi, United States. It is called an unincorporated community. This means it does not have its own local government, but it is still a recognized place. Gillsburg is part of the larger McComb, Mississippi area.
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History of Gillsburg
Gillsburg is known for a sad event that happened on October 20, 1977. A plane carrying the famous band Lynyrd Skynyrd crashed here. The plane was flying the band from South Carolina to Louisiana for a concert. It ran out of fuel and crashed into a swamp.
The Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash
The crash sadly killed three members of the band: singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and vocalist Cassie Gaines. Also, the assistant road manager, Dean Kilpatrick, and both pilots, Walter McCreary and William Gray, died. Other band members were badly hurt but survived. This event is a significant part of Gillsburg's history.
Early Post Office
Gillsburg also had a post office for many years. It was first called Gillsburgh from 1879 to 1892. Then, its name changed to Gillsburg, and it operated under that name until 1915.
Notable People from Gillsburg
Some people who became well-known lived in Gillsburg.
- Drury Wall was a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives. He served in this important government role from 1916 to 1920. The House of Representatives is where laws are made for the state.
- Frank Wall also served in the Mississippi House of Representatives. He was a representative from 1952 to 1960. Like Drury Wall, he helped make decisions and laws for the state of Mississippi.
