Van Buren, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Van Buren, Mississippi
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 Van Buren, Mississippi
Location in Mississippi
Van Buren, Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Itawamba |
| Elevation | 262 ft (80 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 679181 |
Van Buren is what people call a "ghost town" in Itawamba County, Mississippi. A ghost town is a place that used to be a busy community but is now mostly empty. Van Buren was once a lively port on the Tombigbee River. Today, it's a quiet farming area.
A Look Back in Time
Van Buren was built on a high bank next to the Tombigbee River. It was named after Martin Van Buren, who was a famous person.
Early Days and Government
Before Fulton became the main town for the county in 1837, Van Buren played an important role. Government work, like legal meetings, happened in private homes and stores there. Elisha Thomas had a store in Van Buren that was used for this.
In 1838, a man named Winfield Walker moved to Van Buren. He was a nephew of a famous general, Winfield Scott. Winfield Walker became a merchant, which means he ran a store.
A Busy River Port
By 1840, Van Buren was the biggest town in Itawamba County. It had a very busy port on the river. Many settlers moved to both Fulton and Van Buren in the 1840s. Both towns had important businesses like blacksmith shops, doctor's offices, and places for lawyers. Van Buren even had its own post office from 1839 to 1867.
The Railroad Arrives
In the late 1850s, something big changed for Van Buren. The Mobile and Ohio Railroad was finished, and it ran west of the town. This new railway meant that people started using trains more than riverboats. Because of the railroad, river traffic slowed down a lot. This caused Van Buren to become less important, and its old town site is now used for farming.
