Maxie, Mississippi | |
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Coordinates: 30°58′41″N 89°11′45″W / 30.97806°N 89.19583°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Mississippi |
County | Forrest |
Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
GNIS feature ID | 693891[1] |
Maxie is an unincorporated area in Forrest County, Mississippi. It lies within the De Soto National Forest and was a stop on the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad (G&SIRR). It had a post office from 1900 until 1967.[2] In 1964 it had a population of 125.[3] William Henry Bucklew, who became mayor of Laurel, Mississippi and published the Southern Baptist News, was born in Maxie.[4] Beaverdam Creek runs through Maxie.[5]
In the early 1900s, at the height of the timber boom in Mississippi, the G&SIRR built a loop off the main railroad line so as to connect Maxie to Mendenhall, Mississippi.[6] At that time, the town of Maxie was reported to be prosperous.[7]
Camp and Hinton Company built a rail line for forest products terminating in Maxie.[8] Operation of the line changed hands several times and varied from forest products to freight and passengers. By about 1930, the area's forests had been depleted.[9]
Once the virgin pine resource was exhausted in south Mississippi, small towns like Maxie, that depended on commerce in forest products, faded rapidly. In 2019, a church and cemetery were the only features bearing the Maxie name.