Vaughan, Mississippi
| Vaughnt, Mississippi | |
|---|---|
| Unincorporated area | |
| Coordinates: 32°48′25.9″N 90°2′30.5″W / 32.807194°N 90.041806°WCoordinates: 32°48′25.9″N 90°2′30.5″W / 32.807194°N 90.041806°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Yazoo |
| Elevation | 264 ft (80 m) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 39179 |
| Area code(s) | 662 |
Vaughan (sometimes misspelled Vaughn) is an unincorporated community in Yazoo County, Mississippi. It is 32 miles from the state capital of Jackson and 12 miles east of Benton.
History
Vaughan was founded in 1830 and named for Henry Vaughan, who had established a plantation nearby. The town was established on an old stagecoach line and was for many years the main trading center of Yazoo County, including a large part of Madison County east of the Big Black River.
Casey Jones' railroad accident
The famous railroad accident that killed 37-year-old engineer Casey Jones happened near Vaughan in the early morning hours of April 30, 1900.[1] On July 24, 1953, a ceremony was held at Vaughan, where more than 3,000 persons gathered to witness the unveiling of a bronze marker at the spot where Casey met his fate. In attendance were Sim Webb, Casey’s fireman, and Janie Jones, Casey’s widow. Beneath Casey’s name, the following legend appeared: “A famous ballad, the folklore of American railroading, and a postage stamp commemorate the colorful and courageous engineer who was killed in a wreck here in 1900." The marker is now missing.
The Casey Jones Railroad Museum State Park at Vaughan was designated a State Park on April 27, 1980. The museum began as a project of Massena Jones (no relation) in a building he owned across the road from the present site. The centerpiece of it was the damaged bell that was salvaged from the wreck site. In 2004 the museum closed, and years later, the depot was moved to West, Mississippi.
Notable residents
- Laurin Pepper (born January 18, 1931), professional baseball player
References
- ↑ Jones, Massena (1979). The Choo-Choo Stopped at Vaughn: a Vivid and Accurate Account of Casey Jones' Fatal Train Crash at Vaughn, Mississippi. Quail Ridge Press.
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