Winona, Mississippi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Winona, Mississippi
City
Flag Logo
Nickname(s):  Art and Soul of Mississippi
Location in Montgomery County and the state of Mississippi
Winona, Mississippi Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
County	Montgomery
Government
• Type	Mayor-council government
Area
• Total	13.55 sq mi (35.09 km2)
• Land	13.52 sq mi (35.01 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2)
Elevation	381 ft (116 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,505
• Density	333.31/sq mi (128.69/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP code	38967
Area code(s)	662
FIPS code	28-80760
GNIS feature ID	0679787

The old train station in Winona was a stop for the City of New Orleans train until 1995.

Winona is a city in Montgomery County, Mississippi, United States. It is also the county seat, which means it's where the county government is located. In 2020, about 4,500 people lived here.

Winona is often called "The Crossroads" because important highways meet here. These include Interstate 55, U.S. Highway 51, and U.S. Route 82.

Discovering Winona's Past

How Winona Began: The Story of Middleton

Before Winona, there was a town called Middleton. It grew in the 1800s about two miles west of where Winona is now. Some people think Middleton was the first version of Winona. But when a new railroad was built to the east, people and businesses moved to the new area, and that became Winona.

The Founding of Winona

The first European-American settler in this area was Colonel O.J. Moore. He came from Virginia in 1848. The land was then part of Carroll County. Colonel Moore allowed the railroad to be built through his property. A train station was built near his home in 1860.

Because of the new railroad and station, Winona started to grow. Businesses opened around the station as Colonel Moore sold parts of his land. Winona officially became a town on May 2, 1861. The easy access to the railroad made Winona a busy trading center.

Captain William Witty, an early settler from North Carolina, was a major merchant in Winona for many years. He also started the first bank in the county. Other early families included Curtis, Burton, Palmer, Spivey, Townsend, Hart, Turner, and Campbell. Most of the first businesses were grocery stores.

In 1871, the state government created Montgomery County. Winona was chosen as its county seat. In 1878, a serious yellow fever sickness spread through the area. Many people died, and some left town to try and escape the illness.

In April 1888, a large fire destroyed almost all of Winona's business area. Forty out of 50 businesses burned down.

Winona in the 20th Century

After World War II, many African Americans in the South began working to gain their full rights. This movement grew stronger in the 1950s and 1960s.

In 1963, a famous activist named Fannie Lou Hamer and others were traveling through Winona. They were on their way to a workshop. On their return trip, they stopped in Winona again. They were arrested and put in jail. While in jail, they were treated very badly.

During this time, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., a leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), visited Winona. He was protected by a local police officer named Garrit Howard.

In 2020, a long legal case involving a local furniture store owner and employees was finally closed.

The 2023 Tornado

On Friday, March 24, 2023, a powerful tornado hit the southern part of Winona. It caused a lot of damage and sadly, three people lost their lives.

Winona's Location and Climate

Where is Winona?

Winona is in the western part of Montgomery County. It's about 92 miles north of Jackson, which is Mississippi's capital city. It's also about 23 miles south of Grenada.

Interstate 55 runs through the western edge of the city. U.S. Route 51 goes through the west side of Winona. U.S. Route 82 has a four-lane bypass on the north side of the city. These roads connect Winona to other towns like Duck Hill, Vaiden, Starkville, and Greenwood.

Winona covers about 13.6 square miles of land. A very small part, about 0.03 square miles, is water. The city is mostly on the west side of the valley of Hays Creek. This creek flows south into the Big Black River.

Winona's Weather

Winona has a warm climate. Summers are hot, and winters are mild. It gets a good amount of rain throughout the year. Snowfall is very rare.

People of Winona

Population Changes Over Time

Winona's population has changed over the years. In 1880, about 1,200 people lived here. The population grew steadily, reaching its highest point in 1980 with over 6,000 residents. Since then, the population has slowly decreased to about 4,500 people in 2020.

Who Lives in Winona?

Based on the 2020 census, Winona is a diverse city.

• About 42% of residents are White.
• About 54% are Black or African American.
• A smaller number of residents are Asian, or identify as other races or mixed races.
• Less than 1% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.

In 2020, there were 4,505 people living in Winona. There were 1,696 households and 1,223 families.

Winona's Economy and Education

Local Businesses and Jobs

In 2005, a company called Pilot Travel Centers bought a large truck stop in Winona. This helped the local economy.

In 2021, Biewer Lumber announced plans to build a new sawmill in Winona. This project is a big investment and is expected to create over 150 new jobs for the area.

Schools in Winona

Winona has both public and private schools.

Public Schools

• Winona- Montgomery County Consolidated School District
• Winona Vocational Complex

Private Schools

• Winona Christian Academy

Media and Famous People

Local News and Radio

Winona has its own newspaper and radio stations.

Newspapers

• The Winona Times (published since 1881)
• The Winona Advance (published from 1869 to 1890)

Radio Stations

Notable People from Winona

Many interesting people have connections to Winona. They include athletes, musicians, writers, and people who have worked in government or other important fields.

See also

In Spanish: Winona (Misisipi) para niños