Raymond, Mississippi
Founded on a site selected in
1828, Raymond was the site
of a key Civil War battle during
General Ulysses S. Grant's
Vicksburg Campaign.
Founded on a site selected in
1828, Raymond was the site
of a key Civil War battle during
General Ulysses S. Grant's
Vicksburg Campaign.
Raymond, Mississippi Historic Sites & Points of Interest
| Raymond, Mississippi The historic Hinds County Courthouse in Raymond served as a hospital for wounded soldiers following the Battle of Raymond. |
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Mural in Downtown Raymond
Like many historic Southern
communities, Raymond
centers on a charming town
square.
Like many historic Southern
communities, Raymond
centers on a charming town
square.
Natchez Trace Parkway
Downtown Raymond is
located just off the Natchez
Trace, a beautiful national
park area that winds through
Mississippi.
Downtown Raymond is
located just off the Natchez
Trace, a beautiful national
park area that winds through
Mississippi.
Hinds County Courthouse
Raymond has been the
county seat of Hinds County
since 1829. The existing
courthouse was built in 1857-
1859.
Raymond has been the
county seat of Hinds County
since 1829. The existing
courthouse was built in 1857-
1859.
Raymond, Mississippi
Historic Sites and Points of Interest
Historic Sites and Points of Interest
Site of the Battle of Raymond
Located along the Natchez Trace Parkway
and just a short drive from the state capital of
Jackson, the charming city of Raymond is
one of the most historic communities in
Mississippi.
Although Native Americans and early settlers
had lived in the area for many years and the
famed Natchez Trace had been a route of
transportation since before the American
Revolution, the modern city of Raymond
resulted from a legislative act passed in
1828. Hinds County had been formed in
1821 on lands given up by the Choctaw
Indians just one year earlier. Recognizing the
need for a permanent county seat, the
Mississippi legislature approved the
selection of three commissioners to scour
the new county for the best possible location.
The legislators stipulated, however, that the
site should either be at the existing town of
Clinton, or within two miles of the geographic
center of the county. The commissioners
went with the latter option.
After considerable searching and negotiating
with early landowners, they settled on a site
overlooking Snake Creek in the center of
Hinds County. General Raymond Robinson
held claim to the land, but agreed to give up
his title for the benefit of the public. As a
result, the new county seat was named
Raymond in his honor.
By January 17, 1829, enough of a town had
grown at the site that the legislature was
able to declare Raymond the new county
seat and order all future county business to
be conducted there.
Over the years that followed, Raymond
developed into a prosperous little city. A
trading community for the farmers and
planters of the surrounding area, it served an
important role as both a governmental and
economic center. Its prosperity is reflected in
some of the surviving antebellum buildings
of the community, most notably the Hinds
County Courthouse.
Built in 1857-1859, the stunning Greek
Revival structure was one of the last great
courthouses completed in the South before
the outbreak of the Civil War. Numerous
other antebellum structures survive in and
around Raymond, including St. Mark's
Episcopal Church, Waverly and the Shelton,
Belcher and Dupree-Ratliff houses. The war,
however, would forever change Raymond.
Like most residents of Mississippi, the
residents of Raymond dealt with hardships
but continued to live pretty much as normal
through the first years of the Civil War. In
1863, however, things change as the city
found itself in the way of General Ulysses S.
Grant's army.
and just a short drive from the state capital of
Jackson, the charming city of Raymond is
one of the most historic communities in
Mississippi.
Although Native Americans and early settlers
had lived in the area for many years and the
famed Natchez Trace had been a route of
transportation since before the American
Revolution, the modern city of Raymond
resulted from a legislative act passed in
1828. Hinds County had been formed in
1821 on lands given up by the Choctaw
Indians just one year earlier. Recognizing the
need for a permanent county seat, the
Mississippi legislature approved the
selection of three commissioners to scour
the new county for the best possible location.
The legislators stipulated, however, that the
site should either be at the existing town of
Clinton, or within two miles of the geographic
center of the county. The commissioners
went with the latter option.
After considerable searching and negotiating
with early landowners, they settled on a site
overlooking Snake Creek in the center of
Hinds County. General Raymond Robinson
held claim to the land, but agreed to give up
his title for the benefit of the public. As a
result, the new county seat was named
Raymond in his honor.
By January 17, 1829, enough of a town had
grown at the site that the legislature was
able to declare Raymond the new county
seat and order all future county business to
be conducted there.
Over the years that followed, Raymond
developed into a prosperous little city. A
trading community for the farmers and
planters of the surrounding area, it served an
important role as both a governmental and
economic center. Its prosperity is reflected in
some of the surviving antebellum buildings
of the community, most notably the Hinds
County Courthouse.
Built in 1857-1859, the stunning Greek
Revival structure was one of the last great
courthouses completed in the South before
the outbreak of the Civil War. Numerous
other antebellum structures survive in and
around Raymond, including St. Mark's
Episcopal Church, Waverly and the Shelton,
Belcher and Dupree-Ratliff houses. The war,
however, would forever change Raymond.
Like most residents of Mississippi, the
residents of Raymond dealt with hardships
but continued to live pretty much as normal
through the first years of the Civil War. In
1863, however, things change as the city
found itself in the way of General Ulysses S.
Grant's army.
Determined to take the important Mississippi
River city of Vicksburg, Grant had finally found
a place to cross the river near Port Gibson in
the spring of 1863. By the second week of
May he was pushing for Jackson, intent on
driving off Confederate troops at the state
capital before turning west to lay siege to
Vicksburg. Raymond was directly in his path.
As a column of 12,000 Federals led by Major
General James B. McPherson approached
Raymond, they were stunned by a vicious
attack from 4,000 Confederates headed by
Brigadier General John Gregg. The result
was the Battle of Raymond, one of the key
events of the Vicksburg Campaign. The
fighting left more than 1,000 men dead or
wounded and houses, churches and even
the new courthouse were used as hospitals
following the battle. Please click here to
learn more about the Battle of Raymond.
Despite hard times after the war, Raymond
survived and today is a charming and well-
preserved city just 17 miles from downtown
Jackson and 30 miles from Vicksburg. An
easy stop for drivers on the Natchez Trace,
the community features its historic square,
courthouse, numerous preserved structures,
a Confederate cemetery and Raymond
Military Park, scene of the Battle of Raymond.
River city of Vicksburg, Grant had finally found
a place to cross the river near Port Gibson in
the spring of 1863. By the second week of
May he was pushing for Jackson, intent on
driving off Confederate troops at the state
capital before turning west to lay siege to
Vicksburg. Raymond was directly in his path.
As a column of 12,000 Federals led by Major
General James B. McPherson approached
Raymond, they were stunned by a vicious
attack from 4,000 Confederates headed by
Brigadier General John Gregg. The result
was the Battle of Raymond, one of the key
events of the Vicksburg Campaign. The
fighting left more than 1,000 men dead or
wounded and houses, churches and even
the new courthouse were used as hospitals
following the battle. Please click here to
learn more about the Battle of Raymond.
Despite hard times after the war, Raymond
survived and today is a charming and well-
preserved city just 17 miles from downtown
Jackson and 30 miles from Vicksburg. An
easy stop for drivers on the Natchez Trace,
the community features its historic square,
courthouse, numerous preserved structures,
a Confederate cemetery and Raymond
Military Park, scene of the Battle of Raymond.
Battle of Raymond
Natchez Trace Parkway
Battle of Grand Gulf
Battle of Vicksburg
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Historic Sites & Points of Interest
Historic Sites in Mississippi
Forts & Battlefields in the South
Explore other Southern Historic Sites
Natchez Trace Parkway
Battle of Grand Gulf
Battle of Vicksburg
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Historic Sites & Points of Interest
Historic Sites in Mississippi
Forts & Battlefields in the South
Explore other Southern Historic Sites
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| Copyright 2011 & 2014 by Dale Cox All rights reserved. Last Updated: May 11, 2014 |