Rodney and Rocky Springs are easily the most popular ghost towns in Mississippi, but they’re not the only ones. Mississippi is filled with ghost towns, like Electric Mills, that most have long forgotten about or never even heard of in the first place. However, like its more popular counterparts, the story of the rise and fall of Electric Mills is an interesting one.
Electric Mills is located along Highway 45 in Kemper County.
google.com
A far cry from the thriving community it once was, present-day Electric Mills is completely deserted. In fact, a historical marker is just about all that remains of Electric Mills.
electricmills.org
The marker provides a brief history on Electric Mills, which was incorporated in 1913 and named in honor of the town’s electric-powered mill.
electricmills.org At the time, using electricity to power a mill was a new concept. To put things into perspective – the mill at Electric Mills was the first fully functioning electric lumber mill east of the Mississippi River.
During its heyday, Electric Mills had more than 2,500 residents – all of whom were mill employees or family members of mill employees.
electricmills.org Electric Mills was basically owned by the mill, and because of such, the town’s population was comprised completely of mill employees and their families.
Electric Mills had lots of amenities that were usually reserved for larger cities.
electricmills.org The town’s affiliation with the mill had a few perks. For instance, all of the town’s buildings and dwellings had electric lights, which were provided by the mill – free of charge.
A flourishing community, Electric Mills had just about everything you can think of.
electricmills.org There was a church, men’s club, school, hospital, two hotels, a movie theater, train depot, auto garage, service station, several shops, including a barber shop, shoe shop, and meat market, and more.
Sadly, Electric Mills’ prosperity was short lived.
electricmills.org Milling ceased in the 1940s, and as a result, residents started moving away, marking the beginning of the end of Electric Mills.
google.com
electricmills.org
At the time, using electricity to power a mill was a new concept. To put things into perspective – the mill at Electric Mills was the first fully functioning electric lumber mill east of the Mississippi River.
Electric Mills was basically owned by the mill, and because of such, the town’s population was comprised completely of mill employees and their families.
The town’s affiliation with the mill had a few perks. For instance, all of the town’s buildings and dwellings had electric lights, which were provided by the mill – free of charge.
There was a church, men’s club, school, hospital, two hotels, a movie theater, train depot, auto garage, service station, several shops, including a barber shop, shoe shop, and meat market, and more.
Milling ceased in the 1940s, and as a result, residents started moving away, marking the beginning of the end of Electric Mills.
To learn more about this ghost town, check out the Electric Mills website.
So, did you know about Electric Mills? Ever visited? If so, what’d you think? Was it creepy? Know of another ghost town in Mississippi? Tell us!
This isn’t the only abandoned place in Mississippi. Click here to read about a trail that leads to ruins from the 1800s.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: Electric Mills, MS 39358, USA
