Vaughan (also Vaughans or Vaughn) is an
unincorporated community
An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...
in
Yazoo County, Mississippi
Yazoo County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2010 census, the population was 28,065. The county seat is Yazoo City. It is named for the Yazoo River, which forms its western border. Its name is said to come from a ...
.
[
The settlement is east of ]Yazoo City
Yazoo City is a U.S. city in Yazoo County, Mississippi. It was named after the Yazoo River, which, in turn was named by the French explorer Robert La Salle in 1682 as "Rivière des Yazous" in reference to the Yazoo tribe living near the river's m ...
.
History
Vaughan was founded in 1830 and named for Henry Vaughan, who had established a plantation nearby. The town was established on an old stagecoach
A stagecoach is a four-wheeled public transport coach used to carry paying passengers and light packages on journeys long enough to need a change of horses. It is strongly sprung and generally drawn by four horses although some versions are draw ...
line and was for many years the main trading center of Yazoo County, including a large part of Madison County east of the Big Black River.
Casey Jones' railroad accident
The famous railroad
Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a pre ...
accident that killed 37-year-old engineer Casey Jones
John Luther "Casey" Jones (March 14, 1863 – April 30, 1900) was an American railroader who was killed when his passenger train collided with a stalled freight train at Vaughan, Mississippi.
Jones was a locomotive engineer for the Illinois Ce ...
happened near Vaughan in the early morning hours of April 30, 1900. On July 24, 1953, a ceremony was held at Vaughan, where more than 3,000 persons gathered to witness the unveiling of a bronze marker at the spot where Casey met his fate. In attendance were Sim Webb, Casey's fireman, and Janie Jones, Casey's widow. Beneath Casey's name, the following legend appeared: "A famous ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads derive from the medieval French ''chanson balladée'' or ''ballade'', which were originally "dance songs". Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and ...
, the folklore
Folklore is shared by a particular group of people; it encompasses the traditions common to that culture, subculture or group. This includes oral traditions such as tales, legends, proverbs and jokes. They include material culture, ranging ...
of American railroading, and a postage stamp commemorate the colorful and courageous engineer who was killed in a wreck here in 1900." The marker is now missing; however, the marker's post remains and can be found at the following coordinates: . No plans by the State of Mississippi have been made to replace it.Trains Magazine - Desolation at Vaughan
/ref>
The Casey Jones Railroad Museum State Park
Casey may refer to:
Places Antarctica
*Casey Station
* Casey Range
Australia
* Casey, Australian Capital Territory
* City of Casey, Melbourne
* Division of Casey, electoral district for the House of Representatives
Canada
* Casey, Ontario
* ...
at Vaughan was designated a State Park on April 27, 1980. The museum began as a project of Massena Jones (no relation) in a building he owned across the road from the present site. The centerpiece of it was the damaged bell that was salvaged from the wreck site. In 2004 the museum closed, and years later, the depot was moved to West, Mississippi
West is a town in northeastern Holmes County, Mississippi, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 153. The Mayor of West, MS as of December 2020 is Michael Fancher.
History
West made national news in 1989 when all-white East Holm ...
.
Education
Residents are a part of the Yazoo County School District
The Yazoo County School District (YCSD) is a public school district headquartered in unincorporated Yazoo County, Mississippi (USA), near Yazoo City.
The district serves areas of Yazoo County not in the Yazoo City city limits; its area includes ...
, and are zoned to Linwood Elementary School (in Vaughan), Yazoo County Middle School and Yazoo County High School
Yazoo County High School (YCHS) is a public high school in unincorporated Yazoo County, Mississippi, near Yazoo City.Home
Yazoo County High Scho ...
.
Notable person
*Laurin Pepper
Hugh McLaurin Pepper III (January 18, 1930 – February 4, 2018) was a collegiate All-American football player, Major League Baseball player, and high school football coach. Born in Vaughan, Mississippi, he is a member of the University of Sou ...
, professional baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding tea ...
player
References
{{authority control
Unincorporated communities in Mississippi
Unincorporated communities in Yazoo County, Mississippi
Populated places established in 1830
1830 establishments in Mississippi
Casey Jones