Meridian

Meridian was conceived in the early 1830s when a wealthy plantation owner began offering free land to settlers he thought would make good neighbors.

Plans were made to have the state's two major railroads intersect on the plantation, which was subsequently sold to two railroad developers. The town was incorporated in 1860 by the developers and named Meridian, which they mistakenly thought meant "junction."

During the Civil War Meridian became a division headquarters for the Confederate Army. In 1864, approximately 10,000 Union troops literally blazed through the town, leveling it.

Despite such other setbacks as a yellow fever epidemic in 1878, and a hurricane in 1906, manufacturing, trade, timber and cattle-raising industries were established.