Ramsey Springs, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ramsey Springs, Mississippi
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Remnant structure over the artesian spring, Ramsey Springs, Mississippi, 2010
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 Ramsey Springs, Mississippi
Location in Mississippi
Ramsey Springs, Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Stone |
| Elevation | 79 ft (24 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
39573
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| Area code(s) | Area code 601 |
| GNIS feature ID | 694509 |
Ramsey Springs is a small, unincorporated community in Stone County, Mississippi. This means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. It's part of the larger Gulfport–Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
Discovering Ramsey Springs' Past
The Ramsey Springs community is about 20 miles (32 kilometers) southeast of Wiggins in Stone County. Its history goes way back to the time of Native Americans.
The Healing Waters of Red Creek
The story of Ramsey Springs began with two brothers, Reverend Abner Walker and George Walker. They were led to special artesian springs located by Red Creek. Red Creek is a smaller stream that flows into the Pascagoula River. It gets its name from the reddish color of its water, which comes from natural plant materials called tannins.
George Walker was very sick with a stomach problem. Native Americans told him that drinking the mineral spring water could help him. George tried it and found that the water really did make his stomach feel better!
A.C. Ramsey and the Spring's Popularity
Impressed by the water's healing powers, the Walker brothers told everyone about the spring. It was located on the farm of A.C. Ramsey, who had moved to the area in 1820. People soon started coming by the hundreds to camp near the spring. They used the water for drinking and bathing. As early as 1896, there was even a boarding house on the property for visitors.
Promoting the Mineral Springs
Later, Andrew Ramsey (an heir to the property) and A. Baldwin developed the spring further. They eventually sold it to Dr. George McHenry and George Bustin. These new owners promoted the spring water as a cure for stomach ulcers and skin diseases.
The National Bureau of Standards even analyzed the water. They found it contained eight different chemicals and a tiny bit of radium. In the 1890s, a pamphlet advertised the water's benefits, saying it could help with skin problems, blood issues, and liver and kidney complaints.
The Ramsey Springs Hotel Era
Over the years, the property changed hands many times. Around 1920, the Miller family built a large hotel. This hotel had 25 to 35 rooms and was about a quarter-mile (0.4 kilometer) from the spring and Red Creek.
As more people heard about it, Ramsey Springs became a popular resort. Guests enjoyed homemade meals and a relaxing atmosphere at the rustic hotel. The inside of the hotel was decorated with interesting wood, pine cones, and stuffed animals from the local forest. The huge lobby had a big stone fireplace and a ceiling made of cypress logs.
There was also a swimming pool on the hotel grounds. It was filled with clear, cold water directly from the natural spring. For the first half of the 20th century, the Ramsey Springs Hotel was always full. People from the Mississippi Gulf Coast loved to visit for weekend getaways and vacations.
Why the Hotel's Popularity Faded
After World War II, interest in the Ramsey Springs Hotel began to decrease. This was because the Mississippi Gulf Coast, from Gulfport to Biloxi, started to develop. Many new motels and hotels were built. A sandy beach was also created along the Gulf of Mexico shore, with U.S. Highway 90 running alongside it. These new attractions drew visitors away from Ramsey Springs.
In 1961, the Ramsey Springs Hotel was torn down. Fifty years later, the Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain bought 57 acres (23 hectares) of the original Ramsey land. They gave it to the State of Mississippi. The plan is to protect this land for conservation and allow the public to use it. This is because of its important natural beauty, history, and ecological value.
Civilian Conservation Corps at Ramsey Springs
On June 21, 1935, a CCC camp opened in the Ramsey Springs community. The CCC was a program during the Great Depression that put young men to work on conservation projects. This camp, called F-16, was located on land leased from Joseph Hilliard Cain, Sr. By 1942, the CCC program ended across the country. Many of its members joined the military after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Education in Ramsey Springs
- The Ramsey Springs community is served by the Stone County School District.
Transportation
- The Ramsey Springs community is served by Mississippi Highway 15.
Gallery
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Ramsey Springs Hotel, circa 1930.
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Ramsey Springs Hotel Pool, circa 1930.
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Remnant of Ramsey Springs Hotel Pool, 2010.
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Red Creek, as viewed looking west from MS Highway 15 bridge, 2010.
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Red Creek, as viewed looking east from MS Highway 15 bridge, 2010.
