Named for James Kimble Vardaman, who was Mississippi governor from 1904 to 1908, the town of Vardaman, Mississippi is in eastern Calhoun County. Mississippi Highway 8 passes through the town, going west to Calhoun City and east to Houston. Other nearby communities include Atlanta, Derma, Hall, Hollis, Lloyd, Pittsboro, Pyland, and Thorn. Grenada, Mississippi is about forty miles west, Tupelo is forty-three miles northeast, and Starkville is forty-seven miles southeast of Vardaman. The Yalobusha River flows past the town one mile to the south. Vardaman and the surrounding area is know for its production of sweet potatoes. The Vardaman Sweet Potato Festival, sometimes referred to as the National Sweet Potato Festival, is held in Vardaman during the first week of November each year. White settlers began coming into the area in 1839, after the Treaty of Pontotoc opened the area to settlement. The town grew up around the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, although the railroad suspended service to the area before long, and its tracks were sold in 1939. Vardaman was first incorporated as a village in 1904, upgrading to a town a few months later, in July of 1905. Although the town was named Vardaman from the beginning, the post office was initially established as Timberville due to political enmity between the Postmaster General and the town’s namesake, a situation that continued until 1912, when the post office took on the name of the town.
 
 
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Calhoun County School District
The CCSD is headquartered in Vardaman, Mississippi, consisting of Bruce City Schools, Calhoun City School, and Vardaman City Schools, as well as the Calhoun Vocational Center. Its school campuses are identified, with directions, schedules, and contacts, as well as school calendars, policy information, menus, and announcements.
http://www.calhoun.k12.ms.us/
The farm has its roots back in 1920, in a small community just south of Vardaman, Mississippi, and is currently a family farming operation headquartered in Vardaman, growing sweet potatoes, soybeans, corn, cotton, grain sorghum, and timber. Its history, an overview of the farm, its products, and a map showing the location of the farm are put forth.
http://edmondsonfarm.com/
First Baptist Church, Vardaman
The Vardaman, Mississippi congregation meets each week on Sunday mornings and evenings, as well as Wednesday nights. A service schedule, calendar of upcoming programs and events, prayer requests, a sermon archive, and an overview of its children’s, youth, adult, women’s, and music ministries are put forward.
http://www.fbcv.net/
Headquartered in Vardaman, Mississippi, the sweet potato growing partnership features more than seven thousand acres of sweet potatoes in Mississippi and North Carolina. The farms included in the partnership are identified, along with an overview of its products, nutrition facts, and food safety tips. Announcements and special offers are included.
http://www.smpsoutheast.com/
Home of the original Sweet Potato Pie, the Vardaman, Mississippi bakery also offers sweet potato cakes, breads, muffins, and other sweets from the sweet potato, and made available for purchase online. The company’s history, shipping and delivery information, return and exchange policies, and a catalog of products are put forth.
http://www.sweetpotatosweets.com/
Created by James Young, the site features a history and period photographs of the town of Vardaman, Mississippi, divided into a several pages relating to the formation and early history of the town, area businesses, places, and people. The information contained within the site are also available in book form, and ordering instructions are given.
http://www.vardaman-history-project.us/
Located in Calhoun County, Mississippi, the town heralds itself as the “Sweet Potato Capital of the World.” The official web site for the city features a profile of the community, and demographics. Its mayor, board of aldermen, administrative and departmental personnel, contacts, and office hours are included, along with community links.
http://www.townofvardaman.com/
Vardaman Sweet Potato Festival
Held annually in Vardaman, Mississippi, the event takes place during the entire first week of November, commemorating the importance of the sweet potato to the community and surrounding region, and offering a variety of events, including contests, arts and crafts booths, pageants, and other activities. A schedule of events is included.
http://www.vardamansweetpotatofestival.org/