A Mississippi Genealogy & History Collection
Oak Vale is a rural community situated in northeastern Lawrence and northwestern Jefferson Davis counties in Mississippi, near the border of Marion county. Its history mirrors the broader story of small South Mississippi towns shaped by the timber industry, the railroad, and the steady persistence of farming families whose roots run generations deep.
Early Settlement and Origins
Like much of Jefferson Davis County, Oak Vale began as a small settlement in the early to mid-1800s, when pioneer families moved into the dense pine forests and fertile creek bottoms of the region. Early settlers typically lived on self-sustaining farms, raising corn, cotton, livestock, and turpentine. The community took form slowly, with homesteads, country stores, and churches scattered along early wagon roads.
The name Oak Vale is believed to reference the hardwood stands and rolling terrain that distinguished the area from the heavier pine forests surrounding it.
Railroad Era and Community Growth
The turning point for Oak Vale came in the early 1900s with the arrival of the New Orleans, Great Northern Railroad (later part of the Gulf, Mobile & Northern Railroad, and ultimately the GM&O). The railroad carved a route north–south through Jefferson Davis County, bringing new possibilities for commerce and communication. A depot was established in Oak Vale, transforming the quiet farming settlement into a modest trading center.
Sawmills followed the railroad, taking advantage of the abundant timber in the region. Logs were hauled to the mill and processed lumber was loaded onto railcars, making Oak Vale part of a major early–20th-century timber corridor. Stores, a post office, a school, and several churches served the growing community, and Saturday trips to Oak Vale became a familiar routine for families across northern Jefferson Davis County.
Churches, Schools, and Community Life
Churches were essential to Oak Vale’s identity. Among the earliest and most enduring were Oakvale Baptist Church and Mt. Zion Baptist Church, serving as spiritual centers and social meeting places. Schools operated locally through the first half of the 20th century until consolidation moved older students into larger district facilities in towns such as Monticello or New Hebron.
The Oak Vale area also became known for its family cemeteries and church burial grounds, where many early settlers and their descendants rest—important resources today for genealogists and historians of southern Mississippi.
Decline of the Railroad and Economic Shifts
As the great timber boom of the early 1900s tapered off and rail transport decreased in importance, Oak Vale—like many rural Mississippi communities—experienced gradual decline. The depot eventually closed, most commercial buildings disappeared or were abandoned, and younger residents sought work in larger towns or cities.
Despite these changes, Oak Vale never disappeared. It remained a close-knit rural community defined by family farms, churches, and multigenerational ties to the land. Its location near the county line has kept it connected to nearby communities such as Columbia, Prentiss, New Hebron, and Monticello.
Oak Vale Today
Today, Oak Vale is quiet and sparsely populated but still home to families who trace their ancestry back many decades. The landscape retains its rural character—pine forests, pastures, creeks, and the remnants of the old railroad line that once brought bustling activity through the heart of the community.
While small in size, Oak Vale represents an important piece of Jefferson Davis County’s heritage: a testament to the era of railroads and timber, the strength of rural churches, and the enduring nature of Mississippi’s piney-woods communities.
