52-708: Seven segments of the historic Natchez Trace are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Also there are additional NRHP-listed structures and other sites along the Natchez Trace, which served the travelers of the trace and survive from the era of its active use. Download coordinates as: One segment within Tennessee is named simply "Old Natchez Trace". Additionally, several segments in Mississippi and Alabama are listed with
104-512: A circuit along the Trace as early as 1800. By 1812 they claimed a membership of 1,067 white Americans and 267 African Americans . The Methodists were soon joined in Natchez by other Protestant denominations, including Baptist missionaries and Presbyterians . The latter accompanied the migration of Scots-Irish and Scots into the frontier areas. Presbyterians and their frontier offshoot,
156-408: A 0.86-acre (0.35 ha) area listed in 1976 located 15 miles northwest of Florence, Alabama , off Alabama State Route 20 near milepost 336. It preserves a 400-foot section of the old Natchez Trace that had not been paved as of the mid-1970s, and an 850-foot section that has been paved. The paved portion is part of Lauderdale County 's County Route 5. The location is near to, and just southeast of,
208-788: A 3.3-mile segment of the Natchez Trace (partially in the Natchez Trace Parkway right of way) and an archeological investigation site at the location that from 1811 to 1823 housed a government agency to the Choctaw . According to the 1941 Natchez Trace Parkway survey report, "Before the Treaty of Doak's Stand, the Choctaw Agency was located on the Trace, about 10 miles north of what is now Jackson, or about two miles west of Ridgeland on United States Highway 51. The Agency
260-475: Is not different from other Indian agencies in its historical background. It was the residence of the United States Agent, who, in addition to numerous other duties, for a time at least, checked the passports of travelers over the Trace. Before the inns were established on the Trace, the agencies were havens for the sick and weary travelers. The Choctaw Agency is closely associated with the history of
312-476: Is the principal branch of the Bayou Pierre , and is situated about fifty or sixty miles from its mouth. The settlements about are not very numerous. There was formerly a mill built across the stream ; but, owing to a curious circumstance, this has shared the fate of all other water-mills in the country: for it must be observed that there are a great many crayfish hereabouts, and these animals undermine all
364-467: The Cumberland , Tennessee , and Mississippi rivers. Native Americans created and used the trail for centuries. Early European and American explorers, traders, and immigrants used it in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. European Americans founded inns, also known as "stands", along the Trace to serve food and lodging to travelers. Most of these stands closed as travel shifted to steamboats on
416-557: The Cumberland Presbyterians , were the most active of the three denominations in this country. They claimed converts among Native Americans. The Presbyterians started working from the south; the Cumberland Presbyterians worked from the north, as they had migrated to Tennessee from Kentucky. As with the much-unsettled frontier, banditry regularly occurred along the Trace. Much of it centered around
468-542: The Cumberland river , in the state of Tennessee, a distance of about six hundred miles." There was post office at Grindstone Ford, initially minded by Daniel Burnett , beginning in 1815. According to Dr. James F. McCaleb writing in 1915, "During the threatened outbreak of the Choctaw and Creek Indians in 1813, the frontier committee erected the Grindstone Ford Fort near Willow Springs , Claiborne county, and
520-523: The census of 2000, there were 20,173 people, 9,267 households, and 9,022 families living in the city. The population density was 1,267.4 inhabitants per square mile (489.3/km ). There were 9,930 housing units at an average density of 623.9 per square mile (240.9/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 77.05% White , 18.44% African American , 0.15% Native American , 2.95% Asian , 0.04% Pacific Islander , 0.55% from other races , and 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.55% of
572-446: The 450 miles back up the Trace to Nashville. In 1810, an estimated 10,000 "Kaintucks" used the Trace annually to return to the north to start another river journey. Other dangers lurked on the Trace in the areas outside city boundaries. Highwaymen (such as John Murrell and Samuel Mason ) terrorized travelers along the road. They operated large gangs of organized brigands in one of the first examples of land-based organized crime in
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#1732791787438624-707: The Little Zion Church and the Cloverdale School, which in turn are south of the hamlet of Threet, Alabama . Beyond the listed segment, the construction of Highway 20 "obliterated" evidence of the historic Natchez Trace. Old Natchez Trace and Choctaw Agency Site , in Ridgeland, Mississippi located at milepost 100.7. This is located between Interstate 55 and Livingston Rd., west of Ridgeland , in Madison County, Mississippi. It includes
676-474: The Middle Woodland period , located near present-day Tupelo, Mississippi . The first recorded European explorer to travel the Trace in its entirety was an unnamed Frenchman in 1742, who wrote of the trail and its "miserable conditions". Early European explorers depended on the assistance of Native American guides to go through this territory — specifically, the Choctaw and Chickasaw who occupied
728-550: The Mississippi River) and Jackson's Military Road (heading south from Nashville) formed more direct and faster routes to New Orleans . Trade shifted to either of these routes along the east or west of the area, away from the Trace. As author William C. Davis wrote in his book A Way Through the Wilderness (1995), the Trace was "a victim of its own success" by encouraging development in the frontier area. With
780-478: The Mississippi and other rivers. The heyday of the Trace began in the 1770s and ended in the 1820s, by the 1830s the route was already in disrepair and its time as a major interregional commercial route had come to an end. Today, the path is commemorated by the 444-mile (715 km) Natchez Trace Parkway , which follows the approximate path of the Trace, as well as the related Natchez Trace Trail . Parts of
832-602: The Mississippi panic of 1813 caused by the massacre of Fort Miner hurried the erection of block houses in the Natchez District. The Grindstone Fort became the property of George Lemon who converted it into a ball room in connection with his tavern sometimes called up to 1872, the Lemon Hotel. This fort or ball room had the port holes up to the time it was removed for outer buildings on the farm of J. H. Nelson, but its foundations can still be seen..." The presence of
884-640: The Natchez Road figured in the May 1, 1863 Battle of Port Gibson . In that battle, Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant 's command, having crossed from the Louisiana side of the Mississippi, below Vicksburg, fought their way through a determined resistance by Confederate forces which at first bottled them up. The Natchez Road was not located by the Union forces early in the battle. Confederate General Bowen
936-417: The Natchez Road taking place. The Union troops occupied Port Gibson on May 2. Old Natchez Trace (170-30) , a 0.4-acre (0.16 ha) area listed in 1976. It preserves two separate remnants of the old Trace near milepost 104.5 and includes the site of Brashears' Stand, an inn operated by Turner Brashears from 1806 on. It is located just outside the eastern city limits of Ridgeland, Mississippi . After 1850 it
988-406: The Trace disappeared back into the woods, much of it was used by people living nearby. Large sections of the Trace in Tennessee were converted to county roads for operation, and sections continue to be used today. Though the Natchez Trace was briefly used as a major United States route, it served an essential function for years. The Trace was the only reliable land link between the eastern states and
1040-576: The Trace. No remains of the old agency exist but a modern dwelling marks the site." Also there are additional NRHP-listed structures and other sites along the Natchez Trace. These include: Natchez Trace The Natchez Trace , also known as the Old Natchez Trace , is a historic forest trail within the United States which extends roughly 440 miles (710 km) from Nashville, Tennessee , to Natchez, Mississippi , linking
1092-706: The United States, and Cal-Maine Foods, the largest shell egg producer in the United States, are all headquartered in Ridgeland. The largest mall in the Jackson metro area, Northpark Mall , is located on County Line Road in southern Ridgeland. Another shopping center, Renaissance at Colony Park, is in central Ridgeland. Ridgeland is served by the Madison County School District , as well as by two private schools: Saint Andrew's Episcopal School and Christ Covenant School. The Veritas School
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#17327917874381144-400: The United States. The inns , or stands, as they were called along the Natchez Trace, provided lodging for travelers from the 1790s to the 1840s. These stands furnished food and accommodations and contributed to the spread of news, information, and new ideas. The food was basic: corn in the form of hominy was a staple, and bacon, biscuits, coffee with sugar, and whiskey were served. Lodging
1196-520: The area in greater numbers. In 1801, the United States Army began trailblazing along the Trace, performing major work to prepare it as a thoroughfare. The work was done by soldiers reassigned from Tennessee and later by civilian contractors. Jefferson called it the "Columbian Highway" to emphasize American sovereignty in the area. The people who used it, however, dubbed the road "The Devil's Backbone" due to its remoteness, rough conditions, and
1248-404: The average family size was 2.90. In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.4% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 40.3% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males. The median incomes for a household in the city
1300-593: The city is part of the Big Black River watershed flowing west to the Mississippi . As of the 2020 United States Census , there were 24,340 people, 10,632 households, and 6,046 families residing in the city. As of the 2010 United States Census , there were 24,047 people living in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 57.5% White, 32.5% Black, 0.2% Native American, 4.0% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from some other race and 1.0% from two or more races. 4.7% were Hispanic or Latino of any race. As of
1352-520: The city to the east. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , Ridgeland has a total area of 28.1 square miles (73 km ), of which 26.3 square miles (68 km ) are land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km ), or 6.41%, are water, mostly from Ross Barnett Reservoir, an impoundment on the Pearl River . Most of the city drains southward to the Pearl River in Jackson, while the northwest corner of
1404-409: The dams which have ever been built, and soon make a vent for the water, which terminates in the total destruction of the dam. This place is situated about sixty miles from Natchez, and is the most northern frontier settlement in the district. From this place, then, we have to date our departure into the wilderness; and here we have to bid adieu to all marks of civilization till we arrive at the borders of
1456-478: The dense undergrowth. In the case of the Trace, bison traveled north to find salt licks in the Nashville area. After Native Americans began to settle the land, they blazed the trail and improved it further until it became a relatively well-established path. Numerous prehistoric indigenous settlements in Mississippi were established along the Natchez Trace. Among them were the 2,000-year-old Pharr Mounds of
1508-402: The development of inns and trading posts , referred to at the time as "stands". Many early migrants in Tennessee and Mississippi settled along the Natchez Trace. Some of the most prominent were Washington, Mississippi (the old capital of Mississippi); "Old" Greenville, Mississippi (where Andrew Jackson married Rachel Jackson in 1791); and Port Gibson, Mississippi . The Natchez Trace
1560-611: The distant Mississippi frontier to other settled areas of the United States. To foster communication with what was then called the Southwest, he directed the construction of a postal road between Daniel Boone 's Wilderness Road (the southern branch of the road ended at Nashville) and the Mississippi River. The U.S. signed treaties with the Chickasaw and Choctaw tribes to maintain peace as European Americans entered
1612-417: The frequently encountered highwaymen found along the new road. Aaron Burr wrote to his daughter, that the "'road...you will see laid down...on the map...as having been cut by the order of the minister of war[,]...is imaginary; there is no such road.' The region between Washington, Mississippi, and the Choctaw domain was, Burr reported, 'a vile country, destitute of springs or of running water—think of drinking
Old Natchez Trace segments listed on the National Register of Historic Places - Misplaced Pages Continue
1664-523: The inn along the Trace. In 1848, a Tennessee state commission erected a monument at the site. On the bicentennial of Lewis's death (2009), the first national public memorial service honoring his life was held; it was also the last event of the Lewis and Clark Expedition Bicentennial. Ridgeland, Mississippi Ridgeland is a city in Madison County, Mississippi , United States. The population
1716-635: The name "Old Natchez Trace", followed by a secondary identifier in parentheses or by an additional name. These listings are: Old Natchez Trace (132-3T) , located northeast of Port Gibson in Claiborne County, Mississippi , about 0.7 miles north of the Mangum Mound Site at milepost 45.7. The site is also known as the Grindstone Ford . It is an original segment of the Natchez Trace . According to history of Claiborne County,
1768-684: The name comes from "iron stone rock found especially suitable for mill stones. An early traveler on crossing the bayou over this ford spoke of his joy at hearing the heels of his horse ringing on the broad rocky pavement when ascending the bank of this stream from the water after passing more than two years in the stoneless soil of this region." Mrs. Humphreys, mother of future Confederate general and Reconstruction-era governor Benjamin Grubb Humphreys , settled at Grindstone Ford in 1786. The British traveler Francis Bailey described it in his journal of 1797, "...about sundown got to Grindstone Ford. This
1820-457: The nasty puddle water, covered with green scum, and full of animaculae —bah! … [H]ow glad I was to get [into the high country,] all fine, transparent, lively streams, and itself [the Tennessee] a clear, beautiful, magnificent river.'" By 1809, the trail was fully navigable by wagon, with the northward journey taking two to three weeks. Critical to the success of the Trace as a trade route was
1872-486: The northern United States to move south. Agriculture was the community's dominant revenue source, with pears and strawberries as the leading crops grown for sale. In the early 20th century, Ridgeland was home to a hotel, sawmill, and a canning company. The main business section of Ridgeland was along Jackson Street, due to the Illinois Central Railroad located on the street. In 1910 a two-room school
1924-531: The original trail are still accessible, and some segments are listed on the National Register of Historic Places . Largely following a geologic ridge line, prehistoric animals followed the dry ground of the Trace to distant grazing lands, the salt licks of today's Middle Tennessee , and to the Mississippi River. Native Americans used many early footpaths created by the foraging of bison , deer , and other large game that could break paths through
1976-408: The population. There were 9,267 households, out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.8% were non-families. 38.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and
2028-564: The region. These tribes and earlier prehistoric peoples, collectively known as the Mississippian culture , had long used the Trace for trade. The Chickasaw leader, Chief Piomingo , made use of the trail so often that it became known as Piominko's Path during his lifetime. Another early common name was Trail to the Chickasaw Nation . Even before the 1803 Louisiana Purchase , President Thomas Jefferson wanted to connect
2080-443: The rise of steamboat culture on the Mississippi River after the invention of the steam engine, the Trace lost its importance as a national road, as goods could be moved more quickly, cheaply, and in greater quantity on the river. Before the invention of steam power , the Mississippi River's south-flowing current was so strong that northbound return journeys generally had to be made over land. Although many authors have written that
2132-598: The river landing Natchez Under-The-Hill , as compared with the rest of the town atop the river bluff. Under-the-Hill, where barges and keelboats put in with goods from northern ports, was a hotbed of gamblers, prostitutes, and drunken crew from the boats. Many of the rowdies, referred to as "Kaintucks", were rough Kentucky frontiersmen who operated flatboats down the river. They delivered goods to Natchez in exchange for cash and sought gambling contests in Natchez Under-the-Hill. They walked or rode horseback
Old Natchez Trace segments listed on the National Register of Historic Places - Misplaced Pages Continue
2184-468: The trading ports of Mississippi and Louisiana . All sorts of people traveled down the Trace: itinerant preachers, highwaymen , traders, and peddlers among them. As part of the " Great Awakening " movement that swept the country in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the "spiritual development" along the Trace started from the Natchez end and moved northward. Several Methodist preachers began working
2236-415: Was $ 43,066, and the median income for a family was $ 59,249. Males had a median income of $ 40,632 versus $ 29,634 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 28,704. About 5.5% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line , including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over. Bomgar , a tech company, C Spire Wireless , the sixth largest wireless provider in
2288-699: Was 24,340 at the 2020 census . It is part of the Jackson metropolitan area . In 1805, the Choctaw Indian Agency, headed by Silas Dinsmoor , was located in what is now Ridgeland. The structure was then called "Turner Brashear's Stand" until about 1850. It was adapted for use as a hotel named the King's Inn. During the American Civil War , General Stephen Lee used the inn as a headquarters. The hotel continued to operate until 1896, when it
2340-469: Was a private school which closed in 2015. Ridgeland has a campus of Holmes Community College . Ridgeland is home of the Baptist Children's Village, which provides short-term and long-term care for abandoned, neglected, or abused children and counseling to broken families. Ridgeland made national headlines in 2022 when mayor Gene F. McGee refused to send $ 110,000 in approved city funding to
2392-479: Was concerned throughout the day's battle that Union forces would locate the Natchez Road and march directly upon Port Gibson , around Bowen's flank. Bowen committed forces to attack the much larger Union forces in order to prevent them from finding it. Eventually increasing numbers of Union troops threatened to overwhelm the Confederate forces and retreat was ordered, apparently without any flanking action along
2444-421: Was created, and the schools combined with those of Madison by 1925. Rapid growth in the city's population began in the 1960s. Northpark Mall opened in 1984 and brought more growth to the area. Highland Colony Parkway was built in the 1990s. Ridgeland is a suburban city in southern Madison County, between Madison to the north and Jackson , the state capital, to the south. The Ross Barnett Reservoir borders
2496-495: Was destroyed by fire. In 1853, James B. Yellowley founded the community of Yellowley's Crossing (later named "Jessamine" after his wife). In 1896, Edward Treakle and Gordon Nichols, two real estate developers from Chicago , purchased the land from Yellowley and established the Highland Colony Company. They created plans for a town to be named "Ridgeland" and launched an advertising campaign to entice people from
2548-410: Was distraught over many issues, possibly affected by his use of opium . He was believed by many to have committed suicide there with a gun. Some uncertainty persists as to whether it was suicide. His mother believed he had been murdered, and rumors circulated about possible killers. Thomas Jefferson and Lewis's former partner, William Clark , accepted the report of suicide. Lewis was buried near
2600-593: Was known as King's Inn. Old Natchez Trace (212-3K 213-3K) , located northeast of Kosciusko in Attala County, Mississippi , near milepost 174. Old Natchez Trace (230-3H) , located southwest of Mathiston in Choctaw County, Mississippi , near milepost 199. It is located south of Mathiston at Natchez Trace Parkway milepost 198. It is a segment of the Natchez Trace located at a Natchez Trace Parkway interpretive stop. Old Natchez Trace (310-2A) ,
2652-760: Was normally on the floor; beds were available only to a few due to many travelers and cramped conditions. Some travelers chose to sleep outdoors or on the porches. Source: Meriwether Lewis , of the Lewis and Clark Expedition fame, died while traveling on the Trace. Then serving as appointed governor of the Louisiana Territory , he was on his way to Washington, D.C., from his base in St. Louis, Missouri. Lewis stopped at Grinder's Stand (near current-day Hohenwald, Tennessee ) for overnight shelter in October 1809. He
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#17327917874382704-603: Was used during the War of 1812 and the ensuing Creek War , as soldiers under Major General Andrew Jackson's command traveled southward to subdue the Red Sticks and to defend the country against invasion by the British . Jackson most likely knew the road well from his career as an interstate slave trader operating between Natchez and Nashville beginning in 1789. By 1817, the continued development of Memphis (with its access to
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