Palo Alto, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Town of Palo Alto
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 Location in Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Location | Clay County, Mississippi northwest of West Point |
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| Area | 196.4 acres (79.5 ha) |
| Built | 1846 |
| NRHP reference No. | 87000473 |
| Added to NRHP | August 20, 1987 |
Palo Alto, also called Savannah, is a ghost town located in Clay County, Mississippi, United States. A ghost town is a place that was once a busy community but is now mostly empty. Palo Alto was first settled around 1846. It sits at an elevation of about 279 feet (85 meters).
The Story of Palo Alto
Palo Alto was named to honor the Battle of Palo Alto. This battle was an important event in history. The town once had a school called the Palo Alto Academy. There was also a factory that made carriages, a general store, and a place to stay called the Palo Alto Inn.
Before the Civil War, Palo Alto was a busy and successful community. But after the war, many people left. The town became part of the nearby community of Abbott.
A post office served the people of Palo Alto for many years. It operated from 1846 until 1898.
Palo Alto During the Civil War
During the Civil War, a group of soldiers from Palo Alto was formed. They were called Company F of the 44th Mississippi Infantry, also known as The Palo Alto Confederates. They joined the army on July 27, 1861. These soldiers fought in many big battles with the Army of Tennessee. Some of these battles included Shiloh, Munfordville, Murfreesboro, and Chickamauga.
In April 1863, a small fight happened in Palo Alto. It was between soldiers from Tennessee and Iowa. The Iowa soldiers were part of a larger plan called Grierson's Raid. Their job was to distract the Confederate soldiers. This helped the main group of Union soldiers move without being noticed.
After the skirmish, the Iowa soldiers marched to Okolona. There, they burned down some army buildings, a cotton warehouse, and places where ammunition was stored. Six Union soldiers went missing after this fight.
Protecting History: The National Register
In 1876, an event happened in Palo Alto where a group of people tried to stop others from voting. They broke up a political meeting to prevent Black voters from participating.
In 1987, the old town site of Palo Alto was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of places that are important to American history. Nearly 200 acres (about 81 hectares) of the community were included on this list.
