Location
Newton is located in East
Central Mississippi at the crossroads of Interstate
20, Mississippi Highway 15, and US Highway 80 in
south central Newton County. Newton is just minutes
away from Meridian and Choctaw - Philadelphia, and
just an hour away from the Capital City of Jackson.
(Click image at right to see map)
Education
Education is one of the most important aspects of a
person's life. In Newton, we take education very
seriously.
Newton Municipal Schools work to stay on top of
our children's education. They offer advanced and
special education classes as well as STAR satellite
classrooms. Newton also offers choices for the
athletic child, such as football, basketball,
baseball, softball, tennis, and more.
East
Central Community College is just minutes away
in nearby Decatur. They offer Associate degrees in
most major areas, as well as vocational and
technical majors. They also have LPN and RN nursing
programs.
Transportation
Located on Interstate-20, minutes from Interstate
59, and just an hour from Interstate 55, Newton
provides easy access to most major cities of the
South, the state capital of Jackson and the
Jackson-Evers International Airport.
The James H. Easom Airport is located one-half (1/2)
mile east
of the Newton City limits on Airport Road. The
airport has a lighted, paved 3000 X 75 foot runway
with an approach beam on the southern approach.
100LL aviation fuel is available on premises.
Meridian Regional Airport which has ASA Delta
Connection service is just minutes away.
Mississippi
Highways 15 and US Highway 80 intersect
in
Newton.
Over 75 major metropolitan markets and one-third of the nation's
population are within
a
day's drive of Newton County. Newton County is
served by national and local shipping
companies
assuring prompt inbound and outbound deliveries.
The Mississippi River Port at Vicksburg in 106 miles away and the
Tennessee-
Tombigbee
Waterway at Columbus is 108 miles away. A major
seaport is just 147
miles
away at Gulfport.
Brief History
Contrary to common belief the City of Newton,
incorporated in 1860, was named for Newton
Doolittle, whose father, Roger Doolittle, gave part
of the land for the site, and not for Sir Isaac
Newton, the English philosopher-mathematician.
Newton Doolittle's portrait hangs in the City Hall,
presented by his descendants at the Centennial
celebration in 1961.
Newton County was admitted into the State in
February, 1836. Settlers closely followed the
Dancing Rabbit Creek Treaty and the Choctaw Land
Purchase of 1830. Within 25 years there were several
small towns and a railroad, the Southern--now Kansas
City Southern.
Newton was one of the later towns in the county to
be settled, with trading settlement first at
Garlandsville on the stage coach route, then moving
to Newton. The first train of cars on the Southern
line arrived at Newton in September, 1860.
In 1895 Newton had 12 businesses, a Post Office,
three churches, three livery stables, a newspaper
(Baptist Record), a barber shop, and two hotels that
were used by "drummers" who did business here. There
was a good two-story school building, costing
$3,000, described as a "male and female college,"
where the Post Office is now.
The Newton County Bank was organized in 1912,
survived the 1929 panic and the depression of the
1930's, and continues to thrive today. The First
National Bank, now Union Planters Bank, opened in
1953.
Post Office records show that in 1913 there were
five rural routes and receipts allowing advancement
from fourth to third class operation. Today the Post
Office is first class with ever-increasing receipts.
In 1928 Newton Public Library was established as a
project of a woman's club now disbanded. Also that
year Kraft Cheese Co. and Ford's Ice Cream Co. were
established. "Foreign" industry came in 1947 with
The Newton Company (slacks), in 1960 with La-Z-Boy
South, Inc. (recliner chairs), and in 1970 with Esco
(steel fabrications).
Today, Newton is a thriving city strategically
located at the intersection of I-20 and Hwy 15.
Newton has blended a colorful past with a dynamic
present to establish a promising framework for the
future.
