About 32 miles northeast of Natchez, you’ll find the abandoned town of Rodney, Mississippi. Founded in 1828, this once-thriving town sadly met its fate when the Mississippi River changed course. Today, this abandoned town in Mississippi does actually have a very, very small population, but is generally considered a ghost town.
The town was first settled in 1763 and named Petit Gouffre, which means “Little Chasm.”
Renee T./Trip Advisor It was renamed Rodney in 1828 to honor Judge Thomas Rodney and prospered as an important shipping point along the Mighty Mississippi.
It was such an important town, it was close to becoming the capital of Mississippi!
Lisa Coleman/Trip Advisor It missed the mark by only three votes.
The town took a turn for the worse following the Civil War.
J222_psu/Trip Advisor First, a fire destroyed much of the town in 1869. Then a year later, a sand bar formed in the Mississippi River which forced it to move two miles west.
As a result, the town lost its port and its role as a pivotal point on the Mighty Mississippi.
Renee T./Trip Advisor In the years that followed, many people left for more opportunities in other towns.
By 1930, Rodney was no longer considered an official town.
J222_psu/Trip Advisor A sad fate that unfortunately was fairly common in those days. Usually, due to the railroad industry becoming less valued as a method of transportation in favor of highways.
Today, the town sits abandoned (for the most part), slowly being reclaimed by Mother Nature.
David H./Trip Advisor Not much is left, and the area tends to flood a lot, making things very unstable.
If you do decide to visit this town, be very careful.
David H./Trip Advisor Years of flooding have taken a toll on what’s left of these buildings.
Today, it’s estimated that fewer than 20 people live in Rodney.
Management/Trip Advisor Although that number may actually be single digits, it’s hard to know for sure.
If you enjoyed this abandoned spot, check out some of these other abandoned places in Mississippi.
Renee T./Trip Advisor
It was renamed Rodney in 1828 to honor Judge Thomas Rodney and prospered as an important shipping point along the Mighty Mississippi.
Lisa Coleman/Trip Advisor
It missed the mark by only three votes.
J222_psu/Trip Advisor
First, a fire destroyed much of the town in 1869. Then a year later, a sand bar formed in the Mississippi River which forced it to move two miles west.
In the years that followed, many people left for more opportunities in other towns.
A sad fate that unfortunately was fairly common in those days. Usually, due to the railroad industry becoming less valued as a method of transportation in favor of highways.
David H./Trip Advisor
Not much is left, and the area tends to flood a lot, making things very unstable.
Years of flooding have taken a toll on what’s left of these buildings.
Management/Trip Advisor
Although that number may actually be single digits, it’s hard to know for sure.
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Address: Rodney, MS 39096, USA
