Named for Wiggins Hatten, the father of Madison Hatten, one of the town’s original homesteaders, the city of Wiggins is the county seat of Stone County, Mississippi. Prior to that time, the community was known as Niles City, in honor of Judge H.C. Niles. In 1896, when a post office was about to be established there, the postal authorities refused to name the post office Niles City, as there was a town by that name in Michigan, so another name was chosen. The city was incorporated in 1904 and, in January of 1910, more than half of the town’s business district was destroyed by fire, which was confined to the east side of the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad tracks. More than forty businesses, including the railroad depot, were destroyed, although only a few homes were burned. After the fire, and until the 1960s, the city’s center of commerce developed on both sides of Pine Avenue, sloping downward and eastward. Small shops built during that period were mostly made of brick, and connected to one another. In the late 1960s, US Route 49 bypassed the city’s downtown area, and several businesses moved from the historic Pine Hill area to other locations within the town. Pickle production was an important industry to Wiggins for several years, although its pickle processing facility is now closed. Its timber industry has declined considerably in recent years, but continues to be an important part of the city’s economy. The city is surrounded on all sides but the east by portions of the DeSoto National Forest. Adjacent communities include Bond, Perkinson, and Whites Crossing. Other nearby communities include Barbara, Batt Place, Big Level, Cames, Deep Creek, Fruitland Park, Maxie, McHenry, Pistol Ridge, Ramsey Springs, Silver Run, Texas, and Young. Lumberton, Mississippi is about twenty-five miles northwest of Wiggins.
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Recommended Resources
The Wiggins, Mississippi company offers land sales, specializing in large parcels of land in southern Mississippi, as well as residential lots and acreage, commercial properties, recreational properties, and property leases. Available land is highlighted, and information about its owner finance programs is included.
http://desotolandandtimber.com/
Stone County Board of Supervisors
The official county government site for Stone County, Mississippi offers an introduction to the area and to municipalities within the county, including the county seat of Wiggins, a county history, and administrative and departmental contacts. Meeting schedules, agendas, and minutes are included.
http://www.stonecountygov.com/
The critical access hospital in Wiggins, Mississippi offers family medicine, cardiology, podiatry, an emergency room, laboratory, and radiology departments, as well as two walk-in medical clinics. Its locations and services are featured, and a patient portal, informational articles on health matters, and a physician directory are featured.
http://schospital.net/
Stone County Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
The 60-bed, privately owned and locally operated nursing facility is located in the city of Wiggins, Mississippi. Directions, contacts and office hours are posted, and its admissions policies, services, and a gallery of photographs are included. A newsletter and nursing home report card may be downloaded from the site.
http://www.stoneconursing.com/
Organized in 1916, Stone County is surrounded by the DeSoto National Forest on three sides. The Stone County Economic Development Partnership offers a brief history and profile of the county and a guide to area school, health care facilities, and recreational facilities, with an eye toward economic development.
http://stonecounty.com/
Offering a curriculum for students in grades six, seven and eight, the school campus is part of Stone County Schools. A school calendar, class schedule, student handbook, a lunch menu, school staff directory, classroom assignments, and access to various reports, forms and documents are featured.
http://sms.stone.k12.ms.us/
Vardaman Street Baptist Church
Organized in 1956, the congregation meets regularly on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights at their facilities on South Vardaman Street in Wiggins, Mississippi, as well as on other occasions and places, which are highlighted here, along with a sermon archive and calendar of events.
http://www.vardamanstreet.org/
Wiggins: Gateway to the Mississippi Gulf Coast
A history and profile of the county seat of Stone County, Mississippi is featured on the official municipal web site, with a calendar of events, a directory of city officials and department heads. Other resources include the city’s code of ordinances, land development code, and other documents.
http://www.cityofwiggins.com/