Turkey Creek Community Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Turkey Creek Community Historic District
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Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church in the Turkey Creek Community Historic District
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 Location in Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Location | Rippy Road environs Gulfport, Mississippi |
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| Area | 110 acres (45 hectares) |
| Built | dating from circa 1870 |
| Architectural style | Bungalow, Craftsman, Shotgun, Ranch |
| NRHP reference No. | 07000173 |
| Added to NRHP | March 21, 2007 |
The Turkey Creek Community Historic District is a special place in Gulfport, Mississippi. It was started by African Americans who had gained their freedom. This happened during the Reconstruction Era, right after the American Civil War.
This historic community is located in northern Gulfport. In 2007, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important site to protect and remember.
Contents
The Story of Turkey Creek
How the Community Began
In 1866, a group of newly freed African Americans found a home along Turkey Creek. They settled on about 320 acres (130 hectares) of land. This land used to belong to a company called Arkansas Lumber.
Two of these freed people, Thomas and Melinda Benton, bought a lot of land. Their property made up half of the new community. Later, other settlers bought land from the Bentons. Many homes were built close to Turkey Creek. The creek was important for travel in those early days.
Life in Early Turkey Creek
People living in Turkey Creek often had gardens. They grew fruit trees and raised animals like chickens or cows. This helped them feed their families and live off the land.
What Turkey Creek Looks Like Today
Location and Natural Beauty
The historic Turkey Creek community is now surrounded by bigger city areas. To the south, there's the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport. To the west, you'll find U.S. Route 49. An industrial waterway is to the north.
The Historic District itself is a neighborhood along Rippy Road. It's close to freshwater marsh areas and coastal forests. The main trees you'll see are live oaks (Quercus virginiana). Other common plants include wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera) and yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria).
Homes and Buildings
The houses in Turkey Creek are mostly one-story cottages. They are built in a simple, local style. Besides homes, the community also has churches and schools. The most important natural feature is Turkey Creek itself. It winds for about 12.9 miles (20.8 kilometers) before joining Bayou Bernard.
Protecting the Community
By the mid-1950s, Gulfport started to grow a lot. New industries, highways, and housing projects began to get closer to Turkey Creek. Even though Turkey Creek was there before Gulfport, the city officially took it over in 1994.
After Hurricane Katrina hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 2005, businesses expanded even more. They moved away from the coast and into the Turkey Creek area. This brought national attention to the community.
To help protect their home, the Turkey Creek Community Initiatives group was formed. They worked with groups like the Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain and Audubon Mississippi. Their goal is to protect the natural areas and history of the Turkey Creek Watershed. They want to stop too much business growth from harming the area.
