McHenry, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
McHenry, Mississippi
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George A. McHenry House in 2013
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 McHenry, Mississippi
Location in Mississippi
McHenry, Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Stone |
| Elevation | 256 ft (78 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
39561
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| Area code(s) | Area code 601 |
| GNIS feature ID | 693920 |
McHenry is a small place in southern Stone County, Mississippi. It's called an unincorporated community. This means it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. McHenry is about 10 miles (16 km) south of Wiggins and 3 miles (5 km) north of Saucier. It's also part of the larger Gulfport-Biloxi metropolitan area.
Contents
A Look at McHenry's Past
The community of McHenry was started by Dr. George McHenry in 1889. It was located in an area with many longleaf yellow pine trees. Because of this, lumber mills (places that cut wood) and family farms were the main ways people made a living.
Early Growth and Businesses
By 1910, McHenry had grown quite a bit. It had several stores, churches, a school, a bank, and even a newspaper office. The State Bank was opened in 1902 with $15,000. At that time, McHenry also had a brickyard and a large planing mill for wood.
When the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad was built through the town in the 1890s, more people moved there. The population grew from 350 to about 1,200 by 1906.
Challenges and Decline
However, by the 1920s, most of the big timber (wood) resources in southern Mississippi were used up. This meant that booming lumber towns like McHenry quickly became much smaller.
McHenry also faced a series of bad fires that hurt its business area.
- In 1903, a fire destroyed 17 businesses.
- In 1930, another fire nearly wiped out the whole town.
- Then, in 1939, the main business district burned again. After this, the town never fully recovered.
Historic Sites Nearby
Dr. George McHenry's original home is still standing. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site.
The grave of a Mississippi pioneer, Lt. Col. John Bond, Jr., is also located about 4 miles (6 km) southwest of McHenry.
Modern Developments
Because McHenry is close to the Harrison County line, new homes and some businesses have been built in the area. This has happened especially after Hurricane Katrina, which caused a lot of damage in the region.
Learning in McHenry
- The schools in the McHenry area are part of the Stone County School District.
Getting Around McHenry
- Main Highway: U.S. Route 49 runs through the area.
- Railroad: The Kansas City Southern Railroad also passes through McHenry.
