Orwood, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Orwood, Mississippi
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 Orwood, Mississippi
Location in Mississippi
Orwood, Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Lafayette |
| Elevation | 397 ft (121 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 684410 |
Orwood is a ghost town located in southwestern Lafayette County, Mississippi. A ghost town is a place where most people have moved away, leaving behind empty buildings and a quiet atmosphere. The town's name was originally spelled "Orrwood," but one "r" was later removed.
Contents
Early Days of Orwood
Orwood began as a small settlement. The first person to settle a farm here was Green McKie in 1837. Two years later, in 1839, Charles H. Gray moved to Orwood from Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.
Important Families and Settlers
Charles Gray was a wealthy farmer who owned a large plantation. He had a beautiful old Southern Colonial home built in 1854. This house was designed by William Turner. Charles Gray faced difficult times and lost much of his wealth during the American Civil War.
His son, Dr. Ed Gray, lived in the community during a serious yellow fever outbreak in 1876. The entire Gray family became ill with yellow fever. Dr. Gray's widow continued to live in the family home for many years after this difficult period. Other important early farmers in Orwood included Nathaniel Dobson Gray, Ira Addison Orr, Josiah Robertson, Robert Nickle, John Henderson, Cyrus Wilson, Tom Robinson, and N. Brasel.
Education in Orwood
Education was very important to the people of Orwood. The town once had a successful school. The first school building was located behind the Sand Spring Church. A new school building was built around 1910. It was a simple wooden building.
Many students attended the school, even traveling long distances on rough roads. Teachers often lived with local families in the community. This shows how much the people of Orwood valued learning.
Community Life
Besides the church and school, Orwood also had other important places. There was a post office, where people could send and receive mail. A general store provided goods and supplies for the community. There was also a grist mill, which was used to grind grain into flour.
Orwood Today
Even though Orwood is no longer a busy town, some parts of its history continue. The Sand Spring Presbyterian Church still operates today. It serves as a gathering place for the families who remain in the area. The church continues to hold weekly services.
