Starkville, Mississippi is the county seat of Oktibbeha County. A campus of Mississippi State University is situated adjacent and partly within the city of Starkville, and is its largest employer. Prior to the Revolutionary War, the area was inhabited by the Choccuma people, who were annihilated by an alliance between the Choctaw and the Chickasaw. European-American settlement began with the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, in which the Choctaw people were forced to surrender the rights to their land. Settlers were attracted by two large springs in the area, and an early mill that produced clapboards gave the town its first name, Boardtown. In 1835, Boardtown was designated the county seat, but its name was changed to Starkville shortly afterward, in honor of Revolutionary War General John Stark. During the years prior to the Civil War, several small farms and some large plantations were developed within Oktibbeha County, growing cotton and raising livestock, both supported heavily by slavery. Starkville became a trade center for the county, but its population was only about 150 at the time of the war, as most people preferred to live outside of town. The Civil War took many of the men in Starkville and the surrounding area, and Grierson’s Raiders came through the region in 1863, looting Starkville. Another Union raid the following year was turned back by General Nathan Bedford Forrest. A branch of the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad was constructed through the town in 1874, and the Aberdeen & Nashville Railroad came through ten years later. Mississippi A&M was established adjacent to Starkville in 1874, and would later develop into Mississippi State University, and the town’s prosperity has largely followed that of the university in recent years. Nearby communities include Adaton, Bradley, Clayton Village, Longview, Patrick, and Sessums. Columbus, Mississippi is about twenty-three miles east of Starkville.
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Recommended Resources
Greater Starkville Development Partnership
GSDP is a cooperative effort by the Starkville Chamber of Commerce, the Oktibbeha County Economic Development Authority, the Starkville Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Starkville Main Street Association. An overview of the partnership, its programs and events, member awards, boards, committees and task forces are discussed.
http://www.starkville.org/
Headquartered in Starkville, Mississippi, Gulf States Manufacturers produces custom concept metal building systems at is 246,000 square-foot manufacturing and storage facility. Its history, products, and environmentally responsible standards are highlighted, with a photo gallery, specifications, and contacts.
http://gsmnucor.com/
Historic Starkville: Mississipi’s College Town
The official municipal web site for the Oktibbeha County seat of Starkville, Mississippi offers agendas and minutes, meeting video, employment opportunities, a staff directory, and maps, as well as a guide to city facilities and services, departments, and public notices and announcements.
http://www.cityofstarkville.org/
Published in Starkville, Mississippi, the daily newspaper serves the City of Starkville, Oktibbeha County, and Mississippi State University, and has been in publication since 1903. News, sports stories, entertainment columns, classified advertising, obituaries, and community photographs and video are presented, along with advertising and subscription information.
http://www.starkvilledailynews.com/
Starkville-MSU Area Rapid Transit
SMART offers public transportation services for the city of Starkville, Mississippi and the Mississippi State University campus, operating a fixed route shuttle service. Its schedules and routes, policies, and para-transit services for the disabled and elderly are featured, with advertising information and contacts.
http://www.smart.msstate.edu/
University Hills Mobile Home Park
Offering one, two and three bedroom homes for rent, the mobile home park is situated in Starkville, about a mile and a half northeast of Mississippi State University. Incentives and highlights of the community are given, including photographs, online applications, and a private login for residents.
http://www.universityhillsmhp.com/
