Raleigh, Mississippi
| Raleigh, Mississippi | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
Smith County Courthouse in Raleigh
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 Location of Raleigh, Mississippi |
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 Raleigh, Mississippi
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| Coordinates: 32°1′59″N 89°31′22″W / 32.03306°N 89.52278°WCoordinates: 32°1′59″N 89°31′22″W / 32.03306°N 89.52278°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Smith |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.1 sq mi (13.1 km2) |
| • Land | 5.0 sq mi (13.1 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 545 ft (166 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 1,255 |
| • Density | 249.0/sq mi (96.1/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 39153 |
| Area code(s) | 601 |
| FIPS code | 28-60840 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0694503 |
Raleigh is a town in, and the county seat of, Smith County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 1,462 at the 2010 census, making it the largest town in Smith County. Named for English explorer Sir Walter Raleigh, Raleigh has been home to such Mississippians as Governor Robert Lowry, Governor/U.S. Senator Anselm McLaurin and pioneer William H. Hardy.
Raleigh was first established as the community of Indian Springs and was renamed when the county seat was moved from Fairfield to Raleigh in 1834. The town of Raleigh and its citizens were very active in the Civil War; it was home to numerous companies of the Army of Mississippi and a training camp. In 1863, Raleigh was part of Grierson's Raid which played a major role in the defeat of the Confederate Army at Vicksburg.
The Harrison Hotel, now closed, is a famous hotel. Many Mississippi politicians, governors and U.S. Senators have stayed there, including Theodore G. Bilbo and Jefferson Davis.
The Smith County Courthouse is the major focal point of the town. Two earlier courthouses were destroyed in fires in the 1800s. The current court house was completed in 1912; but a leak in the roof caused the eventual loss of its signature dome. In 2005, a dedication service was held in honor of a new dome built as a replacement.
A new Chancery Court building was completed in 2009 to make room for county offices and added court room space. The new Chancery Court building is designed in a similar Greek revival design which resembles the County Courthouse.
Raleigh's tornado activity is slightly above the state's average and 187% above the national average.
Raleigh is located at 32°1′59″N 89°31′22″W / 32.03306°N 89.52278°W (32.033008, -89.522893).
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