Princeton, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Princeton, Mississippi
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 Princeton, Mississippi
Location in Mississippi
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| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Washington |
| Elevation | 112 ft (34 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 687290 |
Princeton is a "ghost town" in Washington County, Mississippi, United States. This means it's a place where a town used to be, but now almost nothing is left.
It was once a busy port city right on the Mississippi River. Today, you won't find any buildings there. The area is now covered by forests and part of the Mississippi Levee, which is a big wall built to stop floods.
Contents
History of Princeton
Princeton got its name from William Berry Prince. He and his wife, Sarah S. Jefferies, settled near Lake Jackson in the early 1820s. This made Princeton one of the very first towns in the area known as the Mississippi Delta.
Princeton Becomes County Seat
In 1830, Princeton became the main town, or "county seat," for Washington County. It took over this role after the first county seat, New Mexico, fell into the Mississippi River.
The Mississippi River flowed directly west of Princeton. Princeton Landing was the town's busy port. Across the river in Arkansas was another town called Grand Lake, which also no longer exists.
Railroad Plans
In 1836, the Mississippi government approved a company called the Lake Washington and Deer Creek Railroad and Banking Company. This company was based in Princeton. They started building a railroad line heading east from Princeton. The goal was to move cotton by train to Princeton. From there, the cotton could be shipped by boat along the Mississippi River. Only a small part of the railroad was ever built. The company's plan was stopped in 1839.
Steamboat Accident
A terrible accident happened in Princeton's port in 1838. A steamboat named the Oronoko was anchored there when its boiler exploded. Between 100 and 150 people on board died. Most of the passengers were new immigrants traveling north from New Orleans.
After another steamboat explosion on the Ohio River that same week killed 150 people, the U.S. government took action. They passed the first laws requiring steamboat owners to make their boats safer for passengers.
Town Life and Decline
An early settler in Washington County was Junius Richard Ward. He became very rich from growing hemp and cotton, and from his shipping businesses. Ward built a huge mansion near Lake Washington. He also owned a large home called Ward Hall in Kentucky.
Ward built a 40-room mansion overlooking the Mississippi River, just north of Princeton. His friends warned him that building so close to the river might be risky.
At its busiest time, Princeton was home to about 600 people. It had 12 stores, an inn, a bank, a private school, and a stable for horses.
In 1844, the county seat was moved from Princeton to Greenville.
By 1850, much of the town had already fallen into the river. The last merchant in town, S.B. Lawson, sold the remaining land and buildings. He sold them to a former slave for $125. In 1858, Junius Richard Ward's large mansion was washed away by a flood.
The Mississippi River has since changed its path. It now flows several miles to the west. The old town site of Princeton is now next to Carolina Chute, which is a curved lake that used to be part of the river.
Notable People
- William H. Hammett: He was a U.S. Representative from Mississippi.
