Prairie, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Prairie, Mississippi
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Abandoned gas station in Prairie
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 Prairie, Mississippi
Location in Mississippi
Prairie, Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Monroe |
| Elevation | 295 ft (90 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
39756
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| Area code(s) | 662 |
| GNIS feature ID | 676296 |
Prairie, once known as Prairie Station, is a small community in Monroe County, Mississippi, United States. It is not an official city or town. You can find Prairie west of Aberdeen along Mississippi Highway 382.
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History of Prairie
Prairie is located next to the Kansas City Southern Railway tracks. It officially became a town in 1908. Later, at some point, it stopped being an official town.
In 1900, about 122 people lived in Prairie. The community had a post office called Prairie Station from 1860 to 1895. After 1895, it was simply called Prairie. Today, the community is served by the Prairie Community Center.
Lenoir Plantation History
Just outside Prairie is the Lenoir Plantation. This historic home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a special place recognized for its history. It is the only house of its kind left in Mississippi.
During the American Civil War, a small fight happened at the home. Soldiers from the Union Army and Confederate forces fought there.
Gulf Ordnance Plant in Prairie
From 1942 to 1945, Prairie was home to a huge factory called the Gulf Ordnance Plant. This plant made ammunition during World War II. It was one of the biggest ammunition factories of the war.
The company Procter and Gamble managed the plant. Up to 10,000 people worked there, and most of them were women. They made different types of shells, rocket launchers, and bombs.
This plant was the second-largest employer in Mississippi during World War II. Only the Ingalls Shipyard had more workers. After the war ended, the plant was closed. Today, Mississippi State University uses part of the land for a cattle ranch. The rest of the plant is now in ruins.
Famous People from Prairie
Some notable people have connections to Prairie:
- Ezekiel C. Gathings: He was a member of the United States House of Representatives. He served in this role from 1939 to 1969.
- James Gilreath: He is known as a pop singer.
- William G. Roberds: He served as a justice on the Supreme Court of Mississippi. He was a judge on this court from 1940 to 1960.
