Chunky, Mississippi is a small town in Newton County, about ten miles west of Meridian. The town was named for a Choctaw Indian village known as Chanki Chitto, derived from a Native American ball game played with Chunka Stones. The original white settlement was adjacent to the Choctaw village, and was known as Chunkyville, which had a post office in 1848. But, in 1861, the Alabama and Vicksburg Railroad ran its tracks two miles north of Chunkyville and established a depot named Chunky, after which the people and businesses of Chunkyville began moving to Chunky, and the former town became extinct in 1868, when its post office was discontinued and the town became part of Chunky. The only remnant of Chunkyville today is the St. Mark Cemetery, where many of its early residents are interred. The Chunky Creek Train Wreck of 1863 occurred on the Chunky River near Chunky when a train carrying Confederate troops $800,000 in cash from Meridian fell into the river when the bridge collapsed. Choctaw Confederate Indians led the rescue and recovery efforts. Forty of a hundred passengers lost their lives. An investigation determined that a winter flood had caused a build up of debris which shifted the bridge trestle. Although the town's economy was once based on the lumber industry, today the Chunky River has fueled its tourism and recreation industries. The town is accessed by Interstate Highway 20, which passes just north of Chunky, and US Highway 80, which passes through town. Besides Meridian, other nearby towns include Graham, Hickory, and Meehan. Jackson, Mississippi is about seventy-five miles west of Chunky.
Recommended Resources
Several photographs of the grounds and of individual memorial stones are presented, along with the names, dates of birth and death, family information, and other details of the people interred on the grounds. Visitors to the site may upload additional photos and information for inclusion.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=196433
Chunky River Recreation Campground & Trading Post
Situated on twenty acres, just east of Chunky, Mississippi, the campground features three-fourths of a mile of river frontage along the west side of the Chunky River, in which there are twenty-five RV sites and a store that offers most items needed for camping and fishing. Photographs, contacts and a history of the community is offered.
http://www.chunkyriverrecreation.com/
In business since 1951, the full-service family restaurant is located along the Chunky River near the town of Chunky, Mississippi. A map shows the location of the facilities, a menu is provided, along with its hours of operation, photographs, and a schedule of activities and events.
http://www.chunkyshoalsfishcamp.com/
Serving the original white settlement which is now part of the town of Chunky, Mississippi, there have been no recent burials on the grounds. Photographs of the cemetery grounds and of individual memorial stones are included, along with details taken from genealogical research or from the gravestones themselves.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2352185
The tree plantation and pumpkin patch is situated a few miles north of the town of Chunky, Mississippi. The facilities are available for weddings and other events. Regular events hosted by Lazy Acres include an Easter season breakfast with the Easter Bunny, spring and fall field trips, and Christmas events.
http://www.lazy-acres.com/
