Minter City, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Minter City, Mississippi
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 Minter City, Mississippi
Location in Mississippi
Minter City, Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| Counties | Leflore |
| Elevation | 138 ft (42 m) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
38944
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| Area code(s) | 662 |
| GNIS feature ID | 673683 |
Minter City is a small community in Mississippi. It's located in both Leflore County and Tallahatchie County. This area is part of the Mississippi Delta region.
Major roads like Mississippi Highway 8 and U.S. Route 49E meet near Minter City. The Tallahatchie River also flows nearby. The local post office uses the ZIP Code 38944.
Contents
Exploring Minter City's Past
In the past, Minter City was also known by other names. These included "Walnut Place Landing" and "Minter City Landing."
Early Discoveries and Settlers
A famous Spanish explorer, Hernando de Soto, might have crossed the Tallahatchie River here. This happened way back in 1541, during his journey west.
In 1849, a man named James A. Towne bought a lot of land. He paid only 25 cents per acre for 10,000 acres. He built a log house on the west side of the river. People called him "Uncle Jimmy." He helped the local Methodist church and was known for giving new preachers a wagon and a mule.
River Crossings and Railroads
By 1868, there was a ferry called the "James Minter Ferry." This ferry helped people cross the Tallahatchie River.
Minter City later became a hub for two railroads. Both of these railroads are no longer in use today. The Mobile, Jackson and Kansas City Railroad started in 1890. The Minter City Southern and Western Railroad began in 1904. This second railroad was a short line that served sawmills west of Minter City. A train station and other railroad buildings were built in Minter City.
Community Life and Education
William H. Holtzclaw was an important African-American educator. He founded a school in Utica, Mississippi. In his 1915 book, The Black Man's Burden, he wrote about starting schools for African-Americans in Mississippi.
The Frank Streater Consolidated School for white students was built in Minter City in 1921. This building was later abandoned and burned down in 2013. Today, a large factory with a gate takes up much of Minter City. There is also a public boat launch for people to use.
Learning and Education in Minter City
Students in Minter City attend different schools based on which county they live in.
Schools in Leflore County
Areas of Minter City in Leflore County are part of the Greenwood-Leflore School District. Students living here go to Amanda Elzy High School. Before 2019, this area was served by the Leflore County School District. T.Y. Fleming Elementary School used to be in the area, but it closed in 2009. The editor of the Greenwood Commonwealth newspaper was not happy about this closure. The Leflore district joined the Greenwood-Leflore School District on July 1, 2019.
Mississippi Delta Community College is the community college for Leflore County.
Schools in Tallahatchie County
Areas of Minter City in Tallahatchie County are part of the West Tallahatchie School District. The local schools for these students are R. H. Bearden Elementary School and West Tallahatchie High School. Black Bayou Elementary School in Glendora used to serve the southern parts of this district. The district decided to close Black Bayou in 1998. West District Middle School, now called Bearden, used to be the middle school for the West Tallahatchie area.
Coahoma Community College is the community college for Tallahatchie County.
Minter City in Books
- The author Richard Ford mentions Minter City in his 1996 novel Independence Day.
Famous People from Minter City
Many notable people have connections to Minter City:
- L.C. Green – A talented blues guitarist.
- Lusia Harris – An Olympic silver medalist and All-American basketball player.
- M. Carl Holman – An author, poet, and playwright.
- Kemp Malone – A linguist and literary scholar.
- Solomon Osborne – A member of the Mississippi House of Representatives.
- Homer Spragins – A former pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team.
Images for kids
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The water tower in Minter City.
