Welcome to Clarke County, a great place to visit and a wonderful place to call home!  Here one encounters that time- and tradition-honored Southern family life style that is so rare in the world today.  Whether you’re looking for a tranquil vacation destination or safe and friendly place to live, Clarke County is the place to be!

History

CLARKE COUNTY and nature are synonymous with the productivity and recreation of this beautiful area in the heartland of the plains of East Central Mississippi.  Centered in the once great Choctaw Indian nation, this area was ceded to the United States in 1820 by the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek

Clarke County was named in honor of the first chancellor of the State of Mississippi, Joshua G. Clarke.  Since its official beginning, December 23, 1833, Clarke county has been prominent in agriculture and natural resources.

The county is rich in history, having survived the ravages of Sherman and his troops during the latter stages of the Civil War. The construction of railroads had an impact on the county by providing rail transportation from Mobile, Alabama in the south to the Ohio River in the north.

QUITMAN, located between Archusa Creek on the east and the Chickasawhay River on the west, was officially recognized by the Mississippi Legislature on February 13, 1839.  The town was named after the second Chancellor of the State, General John A. Quitman.  Today, Quitman serves Clarke County as the seat of local government.  Quitman’s evolution from an Indian settlement to the seat of county government occurred over a period of more than 150 years.

With United States Highway 45 east of Quitman and easy access to Mississippi Highways 18, 511, 512, and 513, Quitman gives almost equal proximity to its neighboring towns and communities.  Guided by dedicated civic leaders, Quitman has seen rebirth from “the ashes of destruction” of the Civil War  to a modern-day rural city.

In the 1960’s the Pat Harrison Waterway District was created and one of their accomplishments was the  construction of Archusa Creek Water Park, one of ten recreational facilities in the system.  In addition to the 79 campsites and four vacation cabins, the park, located within the city limits of Quitman, has grown to be a popular recreation spot.