Carpenter, Mississippi
Encyclopedia
Carpenter is a small unincorporated community
in Copiah County
, Mississippi
, United States
. A former railroad town located seven miles from Utica
in the extreme northwestern corner of the county, Carpenter was named for Joseph Neibert Carpenter
, president of the Natchez, Jackson and Columbia Railroad.
, Fayette
, Lorman
, Hermanville
, Carlisle, Carpenter, Utica
, Adams Station, Learned
, Oakley, Raymond
and Jackson
, Mississippi. The Carpenter Methodist church, built in 1901, reflects the late Federal architecture
style that prevailed in Mississippi at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1990 the church yard was flanked by a massive water oak
tree that measured 20 feet in circumference. This church still stands and is in good condition (in 2000). Worship services are held each week. The Baptist
church, built in 1903, features a rose window that is also typical of the late Federal
style. Several water oak trees, each 15 feet in circumference, once enfolded the church, but are no longer standing due to bad weather and storms. One of the oldest homes in Carpenter built during the 1800s is the home of William L. Lloyd, a pioneer settler who donated the land for the depot and became the first depot agent. By 1970, the local Illinois Central Railroad
line had closed down completely, and the fate of Carpenter was sealed. The Carpenter depot was dismantled in the 1970s. By 2000, most residents were descendants of the pioneering families. They love the tranquility of their community, White Oak Creek, the vast fields of cotton
, the remnant of the old Main Street
in town, the country churches and lovely homes. They also love their memories...the sound of hymns floating from the open windows of the church on Sunday mornings...the hustle and bustle of the railroad depot...and the whistle of the trains, announcing their arrival at the Carpenter depot.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Copiah County
Copiah County, Mississippi
As of the census of 2000, there were 28,757 people, 10,142 households, and 7,494 families residing in the county. The population density was 37 people per square mile . There were 11,101 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. A former railroad town located seven miles from Utica
Utica, Mississippi
Utica is a town in Hinds County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 966 at the 2000 census. It is the location of the URJ Henry S...
in the extreme northwestern corner of the county, Carpenter was named for Joseph Neibert Carpenter
Nathaniel L. Carpenter
Nathaniel L. Carpenter, born November 18, 1805 at Randolph, Vermont, died December 23, 1892 at Natchez, Mississippi, was a prominent entrepreneur, builder, owner of a steamboat line, and successful cotton trader of antebellum and postbellum Natchez, Mississippi....
, president of the Natchez, Jackson and Columbia Railroad.
History
At the turn of the 21st century, a railroad affectionately known as "the Little J" to distinguish it from the old New Orleans, Jackson and Great Northern Railway, serviced NatchezNatchez, Mississippi
Natchez is the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. With a total population of 18,464 , it is the largest community and the only incorporated municipality within Adams County...
, Fayette
Fayette, Mississippi
Fayette is a city in Jefferson County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 2,242 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Jefferson County.-Geography:Fayette is located at ....
, Lorman
Lorman, Mississippi
Lorman is an unincorporated community in Jefferson County, Mississippi, United States. It is home to Alcorn State University, which was attended by Medgar Evers and Steve McNair ....
, Hermanville
Hermanville, Mississippi
Hermanville is an unincorporated town in Claiborne County, Mississippi, United States.-Education:Hermanville is served by the Claiborne County School District....
, Carlisle, Carpenter, Utica
Utica, Mississippi
Utica is a town in Hinds County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 966 at the 2000 census. It is the location of the URJ Henry S...
, Adams Station, Learned
Learned, Mississippi
Learned is a town in Hinds County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 50 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Learned is located at ....
, Oakley, Raymond
Raymond, Mississippi
Raymond is a city in Hinds County, Mississippi, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,664. Raymond is one of the two county seats of Hinds County and is the home of the main campus of Hinds Community College....
and Jackson
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
, Mississippi. The Carpenter Methodist church, built in 1901, reflects the late Federal architecture
Federal architecture
Federal-style architecture is the name for the classicizing architecture built in the United States between c. 1780 and 1830, and particularly from 1785 to 1815. This style shares its name with its era, the Federal Period. The name Federal style is also used in association with furniture design...
style that prevailed in Mississippi at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1990 the church yard was flanked by a massive water oak
Water oak
Quercus nigra, the Water Oak, is an oak in the red oak group , native to the southeastern United States, from southern Delaware and south to the coastal areas of Maryland, Virginia, the piedmont of North Carolina, all of South Carolina, most of Georgia , all of Alabama, Mississippi, central...
tree that measured 20 feet in circumference. This church still stands and is in good condition (in 2000). Worship services are held each week. The Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
church, built in 1903, features a rose window that is also typical of the late Federal
Federal architecture
Federal-style architecture is the name for the classicizing architecture built in the United States between c. 1780 and 1830, and particularly from 1785 to 1815. This style shares its name with its era, the Federal Period. The name Federal style is also used in association with furniture design...
style. Several water oak trees, each 15 feet in circumference, once enfolded the church, but are no longer standing due to bad weather and storms. One of the oldest homes in Carpenter built during the 1800s is the home of William L. Lloyd, a pioneer settler who donated the land for the depot and became the first depot agent. By 1970, the local Illinois Central Railroad
Illinois Central Railroad
The Illinois Central Railroad , sometimes called the Main Line of Mid-America, is a railroad in the central United States, with its primary routes connecting Chicago, Illinois with New Orleans, Louisiana and Birmingham, Alabama. A line also connected Chicago with Sioux City, Iowa...
line had closed down completely, and the fate of Carpenter was sealed. The Carpenter depot was dismantled in the 1970s. By 2000, most residents were descendants of the pioneering families. They love the tranquility of their community, White Oak Creek, the vast fields of cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
, the remnant of the old Main Street
Main Street
Main Street is the metonym for a generic street name of the primary retail street of a village, town, or small city in many parts of the world...
in town, the country churches and lovely homes. They also love their memories...the sound of hymns floating from the open windows of the church on Sunday mornings...the hustle and bustle of the railroad depot...and the whistle of the trains, announcing their arrival at the Carpenter depot.