Rocky Springs is a

ghost town Ghost Town(s) or Ghosttown may refer to: * Ghost town, a town that has been abandoned Film and television * ''Ghost Town'' (1936 film), an American Western film by Harry L. Fraser * ''Ghost Town'' (1956 film), an American Western film by All ...

and historic site located in Claiborne County, Mississippi, United States, between Old Port Gibson Road and the Natchez Trace Parkway (mile post 54.8). The old town site can be viewed by the public during daylight hours. Rocky Springs and the surrounding area is maintained by the

National Park Service The National Park Service (NPS) is an agency of the United States federal government within the U.S. Department of the Interior that manages all national parks, most national monuments, and other natural, historical, and recreational propert ...

History

Rocky Springs was established in the late 1700s as a popular watering place for travelers along the old Natchez Trace, near a natural spring and rock outcropping from which the budding community would take its name. In 1796, Mayburn Cooper settled in the area, and was recorded in the 1816 census as a land owner. In 1829, the Rocky Springs election precinct received 90 votes. A Methodist church was erected in 1837. The first private school, Rocky Springs Academy, opened in 1838. By 1860, the community of Rocky Springs had reached a maximum population of 2,616 inhabitants, plus approximately 2,000 slaves, all living in a area. According to the NPS, at its height the town proper contained three merchants, four physicians, four teachers, three clergy and 13 artisans.

Cotton Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus '' Gossypium'' in the mallow family Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure cellulose, and can contain minor pe ...

farming was the main economic driver.
Natcheztracetravel.com, Rocky Springs Natchez Trace
Rootsweb.ancestry.com, Claiborne County (part of the MSGenWeb): Historic Rocky Springs Claiborne County, MS A post office operated under the name Rocky Springs from 1819 to 1932.

Lynching

On May 17, 1894 a Black man, Amos Hicks, was shot and killed in his home by a group of white men. It was allegedly suspected that Hicks might have burned some buildings owned by a white man by the name of Crawford.

Decline

The community of Rocky Springs began to decline during the American Civil War, Civil War, at which time

Union Union commonly refers to: * Trade union, an organization of workers * Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets Union may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * Union (band), an American rock group ** ''Un ...

forces passed through the area during the advance on nearby Port Gibson.
Civilwaralbum.com In 1878 the remaining inhabitants of Rocky Springs faced an outbreak of

yellow fever Yellow fever is a viral disease of typically short duration. In most cases, symptoms include fever, chills, loss of appetite, nausea, muscle pains – particularly in the back – and headaches. Symptoms typically improve within five days. ...

. Later, valuable cotton crops were destroyed by an infestation of

boll weevil The boll weevil (''Anthonomus grandis'') is a beetle that feeds on cotton buds and flowers. Thought to be native to Central Mexico, it migrated into the United States from Mexico in the late 19th century and had infested all U.S. cotton-growin ...

s, while at the same time farmers were struggling with severe erosion caused by many years of poor land management. In 1930, the last store closed, and the natural spring, from which the town took its name, dried up.

Present day

Today, the old town site of Rocky Springs can be viewed by the public during daylight hours. The Methodist church built in 1837 is the only remaining structure, which continued to hold regular Sunday services until 2010 when its congregation became too small to sustain worship. Some remnants of the town can be viewed along a short loop trail, including a post office safe and a cistern. Placards placed along the trail by the NPS offer historical information about the town's growth and decline. A small graveyard adjacent to the church is maintained, and is the grave site of some the original settlers.

Gallery

File:Rocky Springs Cemetery (56770892).jpg, Rocky Springs Cemetery File:Rocky Springs Methodist Church.jpg, Rocky Springs Methodist Church File:Rocky Springs Safe.jpg, Post office safe and covered cistern

References

{{Claiborne County, Mississippi Ghost towns in Mississippi Former populated places in Claiborne County, Mississippi Lynching deaths in Mississippi