Carson, Mississippi

Jefferson Davis County

Population: about 200 in 1910

Town incorporated:  no

Post office: 11-26-1900 to present

Railroads: P&LR- MSC- IC- ICG

Next Town East- Garraway Siding

 

Milepost 37.5 after 1927

(from Hattiesburg)

 

Next Town West- Stephens

1915 soil survey map

1970 USGS topo map

Map by Tony Howe

Rare photo of a Mississippi Central passenger train at the Carson depot circa 1910. 

HISTORY by Tony Howe: 

A post office was established at Carson in 1900, but the town didn't really develop until the building of the Pearl & Leaf Rivers Railroad between Sumrall and Prentiss in 1902. That year was the first year Carson had an entry in the Dun & Bradstreet records, showing a general store being operated by W. M. Worthy as the only business in town. The name of the railroad was changed to the Mississippi Central Railroad on February 13, 1904. By 1905, Carson had grown to include 4 general stores, a sawmill owned by Keeton Lumber Co., and another larger mill operated by Geneva Lumber Co. about a mile northwest of town. 

The J. J. Newman Lumber Co. established a turpentine camp near Carson by 1920, and in June 1920 a logging railroad was being built by the company southwest from a connection with the Mississippi Central at Carson southwesterly for several miles. In late 1920 a large logging camp was built by the Newman Lumber Co. about 4 miles southwest of Carson. Known simply as the "Carson Camp", it was the primary logging camp for the Sumrall mill for several years and reportedly had a population of almost 600 people. It included a commissary, barber shop two hotels, and a combination school and church. The camp was moved in between August and December 1928 to Lamar County near Hickory Grove southwest of Higgins. 

INDUSTRY-

 

BUSINESSES- (per Dun & Bradstreet)

W. R. Baker- general store 1911

A. J. Coulter & Son- general store 1911

E. M. Garner- general store 1911

Garraway Bros.- sawmill 1911

Geneva Lumber Co.- sawmill 1911

Holloway-Worthy Co.- general store 1911

H. T. McGehee- general store 1911

V. N. Nichols- drugs & physician 1911

E. C. (Mrs. B. W.) Porter- general store 1911

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have any corrections or additional info, we would love to hear from you! We are always looking for additional photos, too. Find our contact info below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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For more information contact Tony Howe at tonyhowe76@yahoo.com or David S. Price at dsprice46@bellsouth.net