McLaurin, Mississippi
Encyclopedia
McLaurin is a small unincorporated community
in Forrest County
, in the southern part of the U.S. state
of Mississippi
.
. At one time, McLaurin was the site of the largest sawmill
in the country, becoming an important shipping site for masonite
and pulp wood. The manager of the first sawmill in the area, Jim Barron, is buried in McLaurin Cemetery.
and Mississippi
.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Forrest County
Forrest County, Mississippi
The median income for a household in the county was $27,420, and the median income for a family was $35,791. Males had a median income of $28,742 versus $20,500 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,160...
, in the southern part of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
.
History
The town of McLaurin is named for General McLaurin, who was also the first president of the Gulf and Ship Island RailroadGulf and Ship Island Railroad
The Gulf and Ship Island Railroad was constructed in the state of Mississippi, USA, at the turn of the 20th century to open a vast expanse of southern yellow pine forests for commercial harvest. In spite of economic uncertainty, entrepreneurs William H. Hardy and Joseph T. Jones successfully...
. At one time, McLaurin was the site of the largest sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
in the country, becoming an important shipping site for masonite
Masonite
Masonite is a type of hardboard invented by William H. Mason.-History:Masonite was invented in 1924 in Laurel, Mississippi, by William H. Mason. Mass production started in 1929. In the 1930s and 1940s Masonite was used for many applications including doors, roofing, walls, desktops, and canoes...
and pulp wood. The manager of the first sawmill in the area, Jim Barron, is buried in McLaurin Cemetery.
Transportation
McLaurin is served by U.S. Highway 49, a north-south corridor that runs through ArkansasArkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
and Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
.
Education
- Forrest County Agricultural High School
- South Forrest Elementary School
Places of worship
- McLaurin United Methodist Church
- Morning Star Church
- Old Enon Church
- First Baptist Church of McLaurin