:Starkville, Mississippi

The Starkville area has been inhabited for over 2,100 years. Artifacts in the form of clay pot fragments and artwork dating from that time period have been found east of Starkville at the Herman Mound and Village site, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The village site can be accessed from the Indian Mound Campground. The earthwork mounds were made by early Native Americans of moundbuilder cultures as part of their religious and political cosmology.

Shortly before the American Revolutionary War period, the area was inhabited by the Choccuma (or Chakchiuma) tribe. They were annihilated about that time by a rare alliance between the Choctaw and Chickasaw peoples.{{cite book|editor-last=Sturtevant|editor-first=William C.|title=Handbook of North American Indians, V. 14, Southeast|publisher=The Smithsonian Institution|isbn=0-16-072300-0|pages=496–498|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3JH-TPFjLk4C&q=chackchiuma|author=Galloway, Patricia|chapter=Chakchiuma}}

The modern European-American settlement of the Starkville area was started after the Choctaw inhabitants of Oktibbeha County surrendered their claims to land in the area in the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek in 1830. Most of the Native Americans of the Southeast were forced west of the Mississippi River during the 1830s and Indian Removal.

White settlers were drawn to the Starkville area because of two large springs near the old part of the town, which Native Americans had used for thousands of years. A mill on the Big Black River southwest of town produced clapboards, giving the town its original name, Boardtown in 1834. The first court met in 1834 under a large tree. In 1835, when Boardtown was established as the county seat of Oktibbeha County, it was renamed as Starkville in honor of Revolutionary War hero General John Stark.{{cite web| url=http://www.starkville.org/tourism/history/timeline.html| title=Starkville's History| access-date=August 24, 2006| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060524050246/http://www.starkville.org/tourism/history/timeline.html| archive-date=May 24, 2006}} A log courthouse and a one-room jailhouse were constructed in 1835. The jailhouse was unusual in that it had no doors or windows. Prisoners were made to climb a ladder to the roof and then let down through a trap door using a rope.{{cite news |title=Starkville |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45235025/starkville_mississippi_in_1855/ |access-date=20 February 2020 |newspaper=Clarion-Ledger |date=August 21, 1955|via=newspapers.com}}

The first newspaper was founded in 1847. Originally titled The Starkville Whig, it was later renamed The Broad Ax.

In 1865, during reconstruction, the officer in charge of Starkville allowed a black man accused of raping a white girl to be lynched by running him down with hounds.{{cite news |last1=Browne |first1=F.Z. |title=Reconstruction in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40748138/reconstruction_in_oktibbeha_county/ |access-date=18 December 2019 |publisher=East Mississippi Times |date=February 9, 1912|via=newspapers.com}}

In 1875 a fire destroyed 52 buildings. The entire business district was destroyed.

A carpetbagger named McLaughlin, who served as the local head of the Freedmen's Bureau, assisted in the establishment of a black Methodist church and established a cooperative store for blacks in his home. This enraged the white citizens so the Klan attacked the store.{{cite web |title=Reconstruction in Oktibbeha County |url=https://archive.org/stream/reconstructionin00brow/reconstructionin00brow_djvu.txt |access-date=20 February 2020}}

On May 5, 1879, two black men who had been accused of burning a barn, Nevlin Porter and Johnson Spencer, were taken from the jail by a mob of men and hung from crossties of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad.{{cite news|title=Negroes Lynched|url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87065532/1879-05-16/ed-1/seq-1/|access-date=December 26, 2017|publisher=The Pascagoula Democrat-Star|date=May 16, 1879}}{{Cite news |date=May 6, 1879 |title=Barn Burners Lynched |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83025287/1879-05-06/ed-1/seq-1/ |access-date=December 26, 2017 |publisher=Daily Globe|via=Chronicling America}}

In 1888, a mob hanged an African-American man, Eli Bryant, for an alleged attack on a white woman.{{cite news |title=A Chapter of Crime |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40730633/eli_bryant_hanged_by_a_lynch_mob_in/ |access-date=18 December 2019 |publisher=Nebraska State Journal |date=July 28, 1888|via=newspapers.com}}

Several newspapers were founded in this time period, including The Starkville News in 1891. Early banks included The Peoples Bank in 1889 and Security State Bank in 1896.

A yellow fever epidemic in 1898 resulted in a quarantine of Starkville's railroads by the towns of West Point, Columbus, Artesia and Kosciusko. This resulted in a depletion of medical and other supplies which ultimately resulted in intervention by the state.{{cite news |title=Four New Cases in Jackson : Towns in the Interior of the State are Without Supplies of Any Kind |access-date=21 February 2020 |newspaper=Atlanta Constitution |date=October 19, 1898|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45320936/yellow_fever_quarantine_of_starkville/|via=newspapers.com}}

Before the Civil War, Colonel Montgomery imported cattle from the isle of Jersey, initiating the areas prominence as a dairy center. In 1912, the co-operative creamery was created, and in 1926 the Borden Condensary was established.

In April 1912, Gabe (sometimes reported as Abe) Coleman, an African-American man was accused of attacking a farmer's wife and was shot to death by a mob. Nine men were tried for the murder.{{cite news |title=The Nine Men Charged With the Murder of the Negro Gabe Coleman Denied Bail |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40731718/the_nine_men_charged_with_the_murder_of/ |access-date=18 December 2019 |newspaper=East Mississippi Times |date=April 12, 1912|via=newspapers.com}} In February 1912, another African-American man, Mann Hamilton, was murdered by a mob for allegedly attacking a woman.{{cite web |last1=Morris |first1=Nate |title=U.S. Senator "jokes" about public hangings and voter suppression on hallowed ground where lynchings took place |date=November 16, 2018 |url=https://theblackwallsttimes.com/2018/11/16/u-s-senator-jokes-about-public-hangings-and-voter-suppression-on-hallowed-ground-where-lynchings-took-place/ |access-date=18 December 2019}} Following an incident in which whites fired into a Republican Meeting at a church in Chapel Hill, Mississippi, killing a black man, a group of black men planned a march in Starkville. They were met at a bridge near the A & M dairy barn by white men from Starkville and West Point armed with cannon loaded with buckshot and iron.{{cite news |last1=Browne |first1=F.Z. |title=Reconstruction in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, Part VI. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40748582/reconstruction_in_oktibbeha_county/ |access-date=18 December 2019 |newspaper=East Mississippi Times |date=March 15, 1912|via=newspapers.com}}

In 1915, two African-American men, Dit Seals and Peter Bolen,{{cite news |title=Two Die on Scaffold |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40746716/two_die_on_scaffold_public_double/ |access-date=18 December 2019 |newspaper=The Commonwealth (Greenwood, Mississippi) |date=August 13, 1915|via=newspapers.com}} were hanged in a public execution while a crowd of 5,000, including blacks and whites, and children watched and sang There is a Land of Pure Delight. The crowd ate lunch while the execution was being conducted. Vendors were on hand selling popcorn, soda pop and sandwiches. The men had been convicted of killing Willie Taylor, an African-American porter on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. The story was widely reported as a "gala hanging" sponsored by the merchants of Starkville by various newspapers including the New York World and Chicago Tribune, while the Detroit Times described it as little better than a lynching.{{cite web |title=Capitalizing Capital Punishment in Mississippi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zZxFAQAAMAAJ&q=%22new+york+world%22+starkville+hanging+1915&pg=PA338 |publisher=The Literary Digest |access-date=18 December 2019|year = 1915}}{{cite news |title=Five Thousand See a Double Hanging, Make it a Picnic |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87065612/1915-08-13/ed-1/seq-1/#date1=1789&index=1&rows=20&words=Dit+Seales+Seals&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=&date2=1963&proxtext=dit+seals&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 |access-date=4 February 2020 |newspaper=The Starkville News |date=August 13, 1915 |page=1 |quote=As the people carefully watched the scaffold they munched on sandwiches hard boiled eggs, and pie}}

In 1922, Starkville was the site of a large rally of the Ku Klux Klan.{{cite news|title=The Parade of the Ku Klux|newspaper=East Mississippi Times |location=Starkville, Mississippi |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87065609/1922-12-01/ed-1/seq-1/

|page=1 |access-date=January 1, 2019|date=December 1, 1922}}

In 1926 the Borden Condensery was established, the first condensery in the southern U.S. At the time, Starkville was served by two railroads, the Illinois Central and the Mobile and Ohio.{{cite news |title=Starkville |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45233981/starkville/ |access-date=20 February 2020 |date=April 20, 1938|via=Newspapers.com|newspaper=Clarion-Ledger|location=Jackson, Mississippi}}

In 1970, several Black organizations organized a boycott or selective buying campaign. This was met with firebombings, and a crowd of African-Americans assembled near Henderson High School was broken up by gunfire.{{cite news |title=Police seek unknown gunman who injured one at meeting |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40747610/starkville_black_boycott_opposed_with/ |access-date=18 December 2019 |newspaper=Hattiesburg American |date=May 5, 1970|via=newspapers.com}}

On March 21, 2006, Starkville became the first city in Mississippi to adopt a smoking ban for indoor public places, including restaurants and bars. This ordinance went into effect on May 20, 2006.{{cite web| url=http://www.cityofstarkville.org/government/ordinances/2006/2006-02.pdf#search=%22starkville%20no%20smoking%20ordinance%22| title=Ordinance Number 2006-02| access-date=September 5, 2006| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060922173635/http://www.cityofstarkville.org/government/ordinances/2006/2006-02.pdf#search=%22starkville%20no%20smoking%20ordinance%22| archive-date=September 22, 2006}}

In February 2018, Starkville denied a local LGBTQ organization a permit to host a pride parade. The organizers initiated legal action,{{Cite web|last1=Campbell|first1=Larrison|date=2018-02-27|title=Starkville Pride marches into court over parade permit|url=https://mississippitoday.org/2018/02/26/starkville-pride-marches-court-parade-permit/|access-date=2020-07-13|website=Mississippi Today|language=en-US}} after which the city reversed its decision.{{Cite web|last1=Campbell|first1=Larrison|date=2018-03-07|title=Starkville approves Pride Parade, reversing earlier vote|url=https://mississippitoday.org/2018/03/06/starkville-approves-pride-parade-reversing-earlier-vote/|access-date=2020-07-13|website=Mississippi Today|language=en-US}} The parade was held in March 2018 with almost 3,000 attendees.{{Cite web|date=2018-11-01|title=Starkville Pride event largest parade in city history {{!}} Starkville Daily News|url=http://www.starkvilledailynews.com/content/starkville-pride-event-largest-parade-city-history|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101015318/http://www.starkvilledailynews.com/content/starkville-pride-event-largest-parade-city-history|url-status=dead|archive-date=2018-11-01|access-date=2020-07-13}}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 25.8 square miles (66.9 km²), of which 25.7 square miles (66.5 km{{sup|2}}) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km{{sup|2}}) (0.58%) is water.

U.S. Route 82 and Mississippi Highways 12 and 25 are major roads through Starkville. US 82 runs east to west across the northern portion of the city as a bypass, leading east {{convert|25|mi|km|abbr=on}} to Columbus and northwest {{convert|28|mi|km|abbr=on}} to Eupora. Route 25 leads south {{convert|31|mi|km|abbr=on}} to Louisville and Route 12 leads southwest {{convert|26|mi|km|abbr=on}} to Ackerman. The nearest airport with scheduled service is Golden Triangle Regional Airport (GTR). George M. Bryan Field (KSTF) serves as Starkville's general aviation airport. There are multiple privately owned airstrips in the area.

{{Weather box

|location = Starkville, Mississippi (Mississippi State University) 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1891–present

|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 81

|Feb record high F = 88

|Mar record high F = 94

|Apr record high F = 93

|May record high F = 100

|Jun record high F = 105

|Jul record high F = 111

|Aug record high F = 108

|Sep record high F = 109

|Oct record high F = 99

|Nov record high F = 90

|Dec record high F = 82

|year record high F = 111

|Jan high F = 54.1

|Feb high F = 58.6

|Mar high F = 66.8

|Apr high F = 75.0

|May high F = 82.5

|Jun high F = 88.8

|Jul high F = 91.7

|Aug high F = 91.7

|Sep high F = 86.8

|Oct high F = 77.0

|Nov high F = 65.4

|Dec high F = 56.9

|year high F = 74.6

|Jan mean F = 43.7

|Feb mean F = 47.4

|Mar mean F = 55.1

|Apr mean F = 63.2

|May mean F = 71.8

|Jun mean F = 78.9

|Jul mean F = 82.0

|Aug mean F = 81.2

|Sep mean F = 75.6

|Oct mean F = 64.3

|Nov mean F = 53.4

|Dec mean F = 46.4

|year mean F = 63.6

|Jan low F = 33.2

|Feb low F = 36.2

|Mar low F = 43.3

|Apr low F = 51.3

|May low F = 61.0

|Jun low F = 69.0

|Jul low F = 72.2

|Aug low F = 70.7

|Sep low F = 64.3

|Oct low F = 51.7

|Nov low F = 41.5

|Dec low F = 35.9

|year low F = 52.5

|Jan record low F = -6

|Feb record low F = -12

|Mar record low F = 11

|Apr record low F = 20

|May record low F = 31

|Jun record low F = 41

|Jul record low F = 52

|Aug record low F = 52

|Sep record low F = 37

|Oct record low F = 26

|Nov record low F = 10

|Dec record low F = -8

|year record low F = -12

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 5.48

|Feb precipitation inch = 6.18

|Mar precipitation inch = 5.37

|Apr precipitation inch = 6.07

|May precipitation inch = 4.23

|Jun precipitation inch = 4.59

|Jul precipitation inch = 4.51

|Aug precipitation inch = 4.21

|Sep precipitation inch = 3.74

|Oct precipitation inch = 3.86

|Nov precipitation inch = 4.42

|Dec precipitation inch = 5.32

|year precipitation inch = 57.98

|Jan snow inch = 0.3

|Feb snow inch = 0.2

|Mar snow inch = 0.0

|Apr snow inch = 0.0

|May snow inch = 0.0

|Jun snow inch = 0.0

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.0

|Oct snow inch = 0.0

|Nov snow inch = 0.0

|Dec snow inch = 0.0

|year snow inch = 0.5

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 11.4

|Feb precipitation days = 10.6

|Mar precipitation days = 10.4

|Apr precipitation days = 9.0

|May precipitation days = 9.7

|Jun precipitation days = 10.7

|Jul precipitation days = 9.8

|Aug precipitation days = 9.7

|Sep precipitation days = 6.5

|Oct precipitation days = 7.1

|Nov precipitation days = 8.9

|Dec precipitation days = 10.3

|year precipitation days = 114.1

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 0.2

|Feb snow days = 0.1

|Mar snow days = 0.0

|Apr snow days = 0.0

|May snow days = 0.0

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.0

|Nov snow days = 0.0

|Dec snow days = 0.0

|year snow days = 0.3

|source 1 = NOAA{{cite web

| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=jan

| title = NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = June 9, 2021}}{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00228374&format=pdf

| title = Station: State Univ, MS

| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = June 9, 2021}}

}}

{{US Census population

|1870= 475

|1880= 1500

|1890= 1725

|1900= 1986

|1910= 2698

|1920= 2596

|1930= 3612

|1940= 4900

|1950= 7107

|1960= 9041

|1970= 11369

|1980= 16139

|1990= 18458

|2000= 21869

|2010= 23888

|2020= 24360

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}

}}

File:Downtown Starkville.webm

File:Montgomery Hall Starkville.jpg.]]

File:Cooperative creamery station - NARA - 280764.jpg

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 24,360 people, 10,092 households, and 4,895 families residing in the city.

As of the 2010 United States Census,{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}} there were 23,888 people, 9,845 households, and 4,800 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|936.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 11,767 housing units at an average density of {{convert|396.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 58.5% white, 34.06% African American, 0.2% Native American, 3.75% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.8% of the population.

There were 9,845 households, out of which 24.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.1% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.1% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.92.

The age distribution, strongly influenced by the presence of Mississippi State, was 18.8% under 18, 29.7% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 15.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,357, and the median income for a family was $40,557. Males had a median income of $35,782 versus $23,711 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,787. About 19.1% of families and 33.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.3% of those under age 18 and 17.8% of those age 65 or over.

Starkville has more than 80 places of worship, which serve most religious traditions. Faculty, staff and students at Mississippi State University, including those from other nations, have greatly increased the city's diversity.{{cite web |url=http://www.cityofstarkville.org/lifestyle/comm_involv.html |title=Community Involvement |publisher=Cityofstarkville.org |access-date=October 21, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725062943/http://www.cityofstarkville.org/lifestyle/comm_involv.html |archive-date=July 25, 2008 }} As of October 2007, approximately half (49.74%) of the residents of Starkville claim a religious affiliation; most are Christian. Of those claiming affiliation, 41.59% self-identify as Protestant, including 25% Baptist and 11% Methodist. Lower percentages identify as Catholic, Mormon, Hindu and Muslim.{{cite web|url=http://www.bestplaces.net/zip-code/Zip_Code_39759_Starkville_MS-RELIGION-73975900100.aspx |title=Starkville, Mississippi (MS) religion resources - Sperling's BestPlaces |publisher=Bestplaces.net |access-date=October 21, 2008}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bestplaces.net/zip-code/Starkville_MS-73975900101.aspx |title=Starkville, Mississippi (MS) religion resources - Sperling's BestPlaces |publisher=Bestplaces.net |access-date=October 21, 2008}}

{{main|The Cotton District}}

The Cotton District is a neighborhood located in Starkville that was redeveloped as part of the new urbanism movement.{{cite news|last=Miller|title=New Towns – Cotton District, Mississippi|url=http://www.tndtownpaper.com/Volume4/new_towns_cotton_district.htm|access-date=February 20, 2014|newspaper=The Town Paper|date=January 2002}} It was founded in 1969{{cite web |title=Getting Out in the Cotton District |url=https://mudandmagnolias.com/getting-out-in-the-cotton-district/ |access-date=December 30, 2021 |date=April 15, 2016}}{{cite web | title = History - The Cotton District | access-date=December 30, 2021| url= http://www.cottondistrictms.com/history-of-cd/}} by Dan Camp, who was the developer, owner and property manager of much of the area.{{cite web | title = 'Community Visionary' Continues Shaking Up Starkville | publisher = Mississippi Business Journal | date = July 31, 2000 | url = http://msbusiness.com/blog/2000/07/31/8216community-visionary8217-continues-shaking-up-starkville/}} The architecture of the Cotton District has historical elements and scale, with Greek Revival mixed with Classical or Victorian. It is a compact, walkable neighborhood that contains many restaurants and bars, in addition to thousands of unique residential units.

The Starkville-Oktibbeha County Public Library System is headquartered at its main branch in Downtown Starkville. In addition to the local public library, the Mississippi State University Library has the largest collection in Mississippi.{{Cite web|url=http://lib.msstate.edu/about/overview/|title=Library Overview » Mississippi State University Libraries|website=lib.msstate.edu|language=en|access-date=June 12, 2018}} The Mississippi State Mitchell Memorial Library also hosts the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library and the Frank and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolniana.

Executive and legislative authority in the city of Starkville is respectively vested in a mayor and seven-member board of aldermen concurrently elected to four-year terms.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cityofstarkville.org/27/City-Government|title=City Government {{!}} Starkville, MS - Official Website|website=www.cityofstarkville.org|language=en|access-date=June 12, 2018}} Since 2017 the mayor has been Lynn Spruill, a Democrat and the first female mayor elected in Starkville's history. Starkville has a strong-mayor government, with the mayor having the power to appoint city officials and veto decisions by the board of aldermen.

Starkville is split between Mississippi House districts 38 and 43,{{Cite web|url=https://statisticalatlas.com/state-lower-legislative-district/Mississippi/District-38/Overview|title=Overview of State House District 38, Mississippi (State House District) - Statistical Atlas|website=statisticalatlas.com|language=en|access-date=June 12, 2018}} currently represented by Democrat Cheikh Taylor and Republican Rob Roberson. The city is similarly split between Mississippi Senate districts 15 and 16 represented by Republican Bart Williams{{Cite web|last=Ramseth|first=Luke|title=Jackson Councilman Stamps, 3 others heading to Legislature after special election wins|url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2020/10/13/polls-closed-who-take-four-mississippi-legislative-seats/5968437002/|access-date=2021-10-14|website=The Clarion-Ledger|language=en-US}} and Democrat Angela Turner-Ford. Starkville and Oktibbeha County are in the northern districts of the Mississippi Transportation Commission and Public Service Commission, represented by Republican John Caldwell{{Cite web|first=Taylor|last=Vance|title=John Caldwell wins northern transportation commissioner race|url=https://www.djournal.com/news/state-news/john-caldwell-wins-northern-transportation-commissioner-race/article_1a1bdcce-0dd5-50f3-97c0-37536900b3ae.html|access-date=2021-10-14|website=Daily Journal|language=en}} and Democrat Brandon Presley.

Starkville is in Mississippi's 3rd Congressional District, represented by Congressman Michael Guest.

{{main|Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District}}

In 1927, the city and the Rosenwald Foundation opened a pair of schools, the Rosenwald School and the Oktibbeha County Training School, later known as Henderson High School, for its African-American residents. In 1970, integration caused the merger of these schools with the white schools.{{cite book |last1=Bolton |first1=Charles C. |title=The Hardest Deal of All: The Battle Over School Integration in Mississippi, 1870-1980 |date=2005 |publisher=Univ. Press of Mississippi |isbn=9781934110744 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=iNRBRTSXGSYC&pg=PA212 212]|language=en}}

Henderson was repurposed as a junior high school, and the Rosenwald School was burned to the ground.{{cite web|title=Segregated Education| url= http://starkvillecivilrights.msstate.edu/wordpress/segregated-education/|access-date=November 10, 2017}}

Until 2015, Starkville and much of the surrounding area was served by the Starkville School District (SSD) while Oktibbeha County was served by Oktibbeha County School District (OCSD). The two districts were realigned following integration in 1970 in a way that placed Starkville and majority-white, relatively affluent areas immediately outside of the city limits into SSD while the remaining portions of Oktibbeha County, which are over 90% Black, were placed into OCSD.{{Cite news|url=http://hechingerreport.org/what-happens-when-two-separate-and-unequal-school-districts-merge/|title=What happens when two separate and unequal school districts merge? - The Hechinger Report|date=October 3, 2016|work=The Hechinger Report|access-date=June 12, 2018|language=en-US}} As a result of this disparity in the racial demographics of the two districts, Oktibbeha County was placed under a Federal desegregation order.{{Cite web| url=https://projects.propublica.org/segregation-now/|title=Segregation Now |website =ProPublica| language=en |access-date=June 12, 2018}} Previous attempts to consolidate the two districts during the 1990s and in 2010 had been unsuccessful, but following an act of the Mississippi Legislature the two were consolidated in 2015.{{Cite book|title=School District Consolidation in Mississippi|publisher= Mississippi Professional Educators|date=December 2016 }} Contrary to predictions, the public schools experienced an inflow of students from private schools when the predominantly white Starkville School district merged with the predominantly black Oktibbeha schools.{{cite web| last1= Grant |first1 =Richard |title =Starkville school merger: What went right?|url =https://mississippitoday.org/2016/07/19/starkville-school-merger-what-went-right/| access-date=March 29, 2018|date=July 19, 2016}}

The schools continue to operate under a Federal desegregation order.{{cite web|last1=Larson|first1=Jeff|last2=Hannah-Jones|first2=Nikole|title=School Segregation After Brown|url=https://projects.propublica.org/segregation-now/|access-date=November 10, 2017|date=May 1, 2014}}

The following schools of the Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District are located in Starkville:{{Cite web|url=http://www.starkvillesd.com/schools|title=The Schools of the Starkville Oktibbeha School District|website=www.starkvillesd.com|language=en|access-date=June 12, 2018}}

• Sudduth Elementary (grades K-1)
• Henderson Ward Stewart Elementary (grades 2–4)
• Overstreet Elementary (grade 5)
• Partnership Middle School (grades 6–7)
• Armstrong Junior High School (grades 8–9)
• Starkville High School (grades 10–12)
• Emerson Preschool
• Millsaps Career & Technology Center

In 2015 it was announced that SOCSD and Mississippi State University would cooperate in establishing a partnership school. The school will be for all grade 6 and 7 students in Oktibbeha County and will be located on the Mississippi State University campus. The school will serve as an instructional site for students and faculty of Mississippi State University's College of Education, and as a one-of-a-kind rural education research center.{{Cite news|url=https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2017/05/msu-sosd-move-education-forward-partnership-school-groundbreaking/|title=MSU, SOSD move education forward with Partnership School groundbreaking|date=May 17, 2017|work=Mississippi State University|access-date=June 12, 2018|language=en}} Construction on the partnership school began in spring 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://starkvilledailynews.com/?q=content/work-officially-begins-partnership-school|title=Work officially begins on Partnership School|website=starkvilledailynews.com|language=en|access-date=June 12, 2018}} The school opened in August 2020.{{Cite news |last=Carskadon |first=James |date=4 August 2020 |title=MSU, SOSD mark new era with opening of Partnership Middle School Administrators cut a ribbon in the atrium of the Partnership Middle School |work=Mississippi State Newsroom |url=https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2021/09/msu-sosd-collaboration-expands-year-two-partnership-middle-school |access-date=3 September 2022}}

Prior to integration, African-American students in Starkville attended the historic Henderson High School. The school was later re-purposed as Starkville School District's junior high school and is now an elementary school.{{Cite web|url=http://starkvillecivilrights.msstate.edu/wordpress/segregated-education/|title=Segregated Education {{!}} A Shaky Truce : Starkville Civil Rights, 1960-1980|website=starkvillecivilrights.msstate.edu|language=en-US|access-date=June 12, 2018}}

Private schools in Starkville include:

• Starkville Academy, founded 1969
• Starkville Christian School, founded 1996

Starkville Academy has been described as a segregation academy.{{cite web |title=Segregated Education |publisher= Mississippi State University library project on Starkville civil rights| url =http://starkvillecivilrights.msstate.edu/wordpress/backlash/| access-date=November 10, 2017}} Despite fears that the consolidation of the Starkville and Oktibbeha County school districts in 2015 would lead to additional White flight to private schools, district consolidation actually resulted in decreased enrollment at area private schools as more white parents living in Oktibbeha County opted to enroll their children in the consolidated district.{{Cite web|url=https://mississippitoday.org/2016/07/19/starkville-school-merger-what-went-right/|title=Starkville school merger: What went right? {{!}} Mississippi Today|website=mississippitoday.org|date=July 19, 2016|language=en-US|access-date=June 12, 2018}}

File:Starkville Public Library.jpg

Mississippi State University is partially in the Starkville city limits, and partially in the Mississippi State census-designated place.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st28_ms/place/p2848030_mississippi_state/DC20BLK_P2848030.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814054440/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st28_ms/place/p2848030_mississippi_state/DC20BLK_P2848030.pdf |archive-date=2022-08-14 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Mississippi State CDP, MS|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=2022-08-14|quote=Mississippi State Univ (in blue text)}}
{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st28_ms/place/p2870240_starkville/DC20BLK_P2870240.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814054440/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st28_ms/place/p2870240_starkville/DC20BLK_P2870240.pdf |archive-date=2022-08-14 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Starkville city, MS|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=2022-08-14|page=4 (PDF p. 5/5)|quote=Mississippi State Univ (in blue text)}}

East Mississippi Community College is the designated community college for the county,{{cite web|url=https://www.eastms.edu/admissions/financial-aid/tuition-guarantee.html|title=Tuition Assistance|publisher=East Mississippi Community College|access-date=2020-09-22|quote=Must be a resident of the following counties– [...] Oktibbeha, [...]}} but does not operate facilities in it.

Starkville-Oktibbeha County Public Library System maintains the Starkville Library.{{cite web|url=https://starkville.lib.ms.us/|title=Home|publisher=Starkville-Oktibbeha County Public Library System|access-date=2020-09-22}}

• The Starkville Daily News
• The Reflector (MSU Student Newspaper)
• The Starkville Dispatch (a localized edition of The Commercial Dispatch)

• WMSV (Mississippi State Radio Station)
• WMAB (Public Radio)
• WMSU
• WQJB
• WMXU
• WJZB
• WSMS
• WSSO (WSSO was Starkville's first radio station, first broadcasting in 1949 at 250W on 1230 AM)

• WCBI
• WTVA
• WLOV-TV

• Town and Gown Magazine

{{see also|List of Mississippi State University people}}

{{Div col}}

• Luqman Ali, musician{{cite web | title = Luqman Ali | publisher = Discogs | url = http://www.discogs.com/artist/263461-Luqman-Ali | access-date = January 3, 2014}}
• Dee Barton, composer{{cite web|url=http://www.mswritersandmusicians.com/musicians/dee-barton.html|title=Dee Barton, Mississippi jazz musician and composer from Houston and Starkville|website=Mswritersandmusicians.com|access-date=March 20, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/dee-barton-mn0000726216|title=Dee Barton - Biography & History - AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=March 20, 2017}}
• Cool Papa Bell, African-American baseball player; member of Baseball Hall of Fame
• Fred Bell, baseball player in the Negro leagues; brother of Cool Papa Bell{{cite web | title = Fred Bell | website = Baseball Reference | url = https://www.baseball-reference.com/nlb/player.cgi?id=bell--002fre | access-date = January 3, 2014}}
• Josh Booty, professional baseball and football player{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=bootyjo01|title=Josh Booty Baseball Stats by Baseball Almanac|website=Baseball-almanac.com|access-date=March 20, 2017}}
• Julio Borbon, professional baseball player
• Marquez Branson, professional football player{{cite web | title = Marquez Branson | publisher = NFL Enterprises | url = http://www.nfl.com/player/marquezbranson/79537/profile | access-date = January 3, 2014}}
• A. J. Brown, NFL wide receiver{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2020/11/10/titans-aj-brown-working-to-be-physical-wide-receiver/43076129/|title = Titans' A. J. Brown working to be physical wide receiver|website = USA Today}}
• Harry Burgess, governor of the Panama Canal Zone, 1928–1932{{cite web | title = Harry Burgress | publisher = Panama Canal Authority | url = http://www.pancanal.com/eng/history/biographies/burgess.html | access-date = January 3, 2014 | archive-date = February 1, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140201224721/http://www.pancanal.com/eng/history/biographies/burgess.html | url-status = dead }}
• Cyril Edward Cain, preacher, professor, historian; lived in Starkville{{Cite book| first= James B.| last = Lloyd |title=Lives of mississippi authors, 1817-1967| date=2009|publisher=Univ Pr Of Mississippi|isbn=978-1-60473-411-9| location=Jackson| oclc=320801688}}
• John Wilson Carpenter III, distinguished U.S. Air Force pilot and commander{{cite web | title = Lieutenant General John W. Carpenter III | publisher = Lanbob | url = http://lanbob.com/lanbob/H-42Auth/CJ30P-BIO.htm | access-date = January 3, 2014}}
• Jemmye Carroll, appeared on MTV's The Real World and The Challenge
• Joe Carter, professional football player
• Hughie Critz, professional baseball player
• Sylvester Croom, first black football coach in the Southeastern Conference{{cite web |title=Stuart Davis Construction |url=http://www.buildwithsdc.com/News-or-Reviews.html |access-date=August 5, 2018}}
• Mohammad "Mo" Dakhlalla, convicted of offenses related to his attempts to join ISIS in Syria{{cite magazine|author=Green, Emma|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/05/mississippi-young-dakhlalla/524751/|title=How Two Mississippi College Students Fell in Love and Decided to Join a Terrorist Group|magazine=The Atlantic|date=May 1, 2017|access-date=September 15, 2017}}
• Willie Daniel, professional football player and businessman{{cite news|title=Willie Daniel|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/clarionledger/obituary.aspx?pid=175193432|access-date=March 22, 2017}}
• Kermit Davis, basketball player and coach{{cite web|last1=Pogue|first1=Greg|title=Pogue: Hoops is family affair for Davis family|url=http://www.dnj.com/story/sports/college/mtsu/2015/03/02/pogue-commentary-hoops-family-affair/24244873/|access-date=March 23, 2017|date=March 1, 2015}}
• Charles Dimino, author, podcaster, and online personality
• Al Denson, musician and Christian radio and television show host{{cite book | last = Powell | first = Mark Allan | title = Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music | publisher = Hendrickson Publishers | year = 2002 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=xwI5AQAAIAAJ| isbn = 9781565636798 }}
• Antuan Edwards, professional football player
• Drew Eubanks, basketball player{{cite web |last1=Moran |first1=Danny |title=Oregon State kicks off last non-conference road trip at Mississippi State: Preview and chat |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/beavers/index.ssf/2016/12/oregon_state_kicks_off_last_no.html |website=Oregon Live |access-date=10 September 2018 |date=2 December 2016}}
• Rockey Felker, football player and coach{{cite web|title=Rockey & Susan Felker: It's All Been Good|url=https://mschristianliving.com/2014/covers/rockey-susan-felker-its-all-been-good/|access-date=November 20, 2017}}
• Willie Gay, NFL linebacker{{Cite web|url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/mississippi-state/2020/04/23/willie-gay-mississippi-state-linebacker-2020-nfl-draft-college-football-ncaa-5-things-to-know/3011615001/|title = 5 things to know about former Mississippi State linebacker Willie Gay Jr}}
• William L. Giles, former president of Mississippi State University; lived in Starkville{{cite web|url=http://www.giles.msstate.edu/gilesbio/|title=W.L. Giles Biography - The W.L. Giles Distinguished Professors - Mississippi State University|website=Giles.msstate.edu|access-date=March 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211093128/http://www.giles.msstate.edu/gilesbio/|archive-date=February 11, 2018|url-status=dead}}
• Scott Tracy Griffin, author, actor, and pop culture historian
• Horace Harned, politician{{Cite web|url=http://oktibbehaheritagemuseum.com/wordpress/2015/06/horace-harned-jr-and-the-famed-flying-tigers/|title = Horace Harned, Jr. And the Famed Flying Tigers :: Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum in Starkville, MS}}
• Helen Young Hayes, investment manager
• Kim Hill, Christian singer
• Shauntay Hinton, Miss District of Columbia USA 2002, Miss USA 2002
• Richard E. Holmes, medical doctor and one of the five young black Mississippians who pioneered the effort to desegregate the major universities of Mississippi; graduate of Henderson High School
• Bailey Howell, college and professional basketball player; lives in Starkville{{cite web|title=Bailey Howell's Mom Absolutely Knew Best|url=http://www.secdigitalnetwork.com/SECNation/SECTraditions/tabid/1073/Article/230610/bailey-howells-mom-absolutely-knew-best.aspx|publisher=Southeastern Conference|access-date=May 16, 2014}}
• Gary Jackson, served in Mississippi Senate{{cite web | title = Gary Jackson's Biography | publisher = Votesmart | url = http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/40217/gary-jackson#.UuUzXrQo65d | access-date = January 3, 2014}}
• Paul Jackson, artist; spent childhood in Starkville{{cite web | title = Paul Jackson Show Opens | publisher = Boone County Museum and Galleries | date = June 19, 2013 | url = http://boonehistory.org/news-and-more/news-releases/paul-jackson-show-opens/ | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140202000141/http://boonehistory.org/news-and-more/news-releases/paul-jackson-show-opens/ | archive-date = February 2, 2014 }}
• Hayes Jones, gold medalist in 110-meter hurdles at Tokyo 1964 Olympics
• Martin F. Jue, amateur radio inventor, entrepreneur; founder of MFJ Enterprises{{cite web|title=Nine named BCoE Distinguished Alumni Fellows|url=http://www.bagley.msstate.edu/news/nine-named-bcoe-distinguished-alumni-fellows/|publisher=Mississippi State University|access-date=May 19, 2016|date=March 31, 2014}}
• Mark E. Keenum, president of Mississippi State University{{cite web | last = Walker Geuder | first = Meridith | title = Back Home Again | publisher = Mississippi State University | date = Fall 2008 | url = http://www.msstate.edu/web/alumnus/fall08/Alumnus_fall08.pdf | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100527130629/http://www.msstate.edu/web/alumnus/fall08/Alumnus_fall08.pdf | archive-date = May 27, 2010 }}
• Harlan D. Logan, Rhodes Scholar, tennis coach, magazine editor, and politician
• Ray Mabus, former Mississippi governor
• Ben McGee, professional football player{{cite web | title = Ben McGee | publisher = databaseSports.com | url = http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=MCGEEBEN01 | access-date = January 3, 2014 | url-status = usurped | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130728131229/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=McGeeBen01 | archive-date = July 28, 2013 }}
• Jim McIngvale, businessman in Houston, Texas
• Shane McRae, actor
• William M. Miley, U.S. Army major general; professor of military science; lived in Starkville{{cite web| url=http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/1998/SB/2800-2899/SB2888SG.htm|title=SB2888 (As Sent to Governor) - 1998 Regular Session|website=Billstatus.ls.state.ms.us|access-date=March 20, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.17th-airborne.eu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=138:william-bud-miley&catid=51:pibhy-veteran&Itemid=95&lang=en|title=William "Bud" Miley|website=17th-airborne.eu|access-date=March 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812215410/http://www.17th-airborne.eu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=138:william-bud-miley&catid=51:pibhy-veteran&Itemid=95&lang=en|archive-date=August 12, 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=60yFzOoevz0C&q=bud+miley+starkville&pg=PA7|title=Seventeenth Airborne Division|first=Bart|last=Hagerman|date=January 1, 1999|publisher=Turner Publishing Company|access-date=March 20, 2017| via=Google Books|isbn=9781563114366}}
• Freddie Milons, college and professional football player
• Leland Mitchell, professional basketball player[https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/11/sports/ncaabasketball/leland-mitchell-defied-racism-on-the-basketball-court-dies-at-72.html Leland Mitchell, Who Defied Racism on the Basketball Court, Dies at 72]
• Monroe Mitchell, professional baseball player
• William Bell Montgomery, agricultural publisher
• Jess Mowry, author of juvenile books
• Jasmine Murray, singer
• Travis Outlaw, professional basketball player
• Archie Pate, baseball player in the Negro leagues{{cite web | title = Archie Pate | publisher = Negro Leagues Database | url = http://www.seamheads.com/NegroLgs/player.php?ID=607 | access-date = January 3, 2014}}
• John Peoples, President of Jackson State University from 1967 to 1984
• Ron Polk, Olympic and college Baseball Coach.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1842&dat=20010624&id=B1YeAAAAIBAJ&pg=1249,3311127|title=Times Daily - Google News Archive Search|access-date=March 20, 2017}}
• Del Rendon, musician; lived in Starkville
• Jerry Rice, professional football player; member of NFL Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame
• Nannie Herndon Rice, suffragist and librarian, born and lived in Starkville
• Keith Riles, university physics professor
• Dero A. Saunders, journalist and author
• Bill Stacy, football player, mayor of Starkville{{cite web|url=https://msfame.com/hall-of-fame/inductees/billy-mcgovern-stacy/|title=Billy McGovern Stacy|publisher=Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum| access-date=June 14, 2018}}
• Rick Stansbury, Basketball coach{{cite web|url=http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/03/mississippi_states_rick_stansb.html|title=Mississippi State's Rick Stansbury on retirement: 'I'm ready to become a better father'|date=March 15, 2012|access-date=March 20, 2017}}
• John Marshall Stone, longest-serving governor of Mississippi; second president of Mississippi State University; namesake of Stone County, Mississippi{{cite web |url=http://mshistory.k12.ms.us/index.php?s=extra&id=133 |title=Mississippi History Now | John Marshall Stone: Thirty-first and Thirty-third Governor of Mississippi: 1876-1882; 1890-1896 |access-date=September 6, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009194611/http://mshistory.k12.ms.us/index.php?s=extra&id=133 |archive-date=October 9, 2010 }}
• April Sykes, professional basketball player in the Women's National Basketball Association{{cite web | title = April Sykes Looks to Help USA Defend Pan American Games Gold | publisher = Rutgers University | date = September 27, 2011 | url = http://scarletknights.com/basketball-women/news/release.asp?prID=10790#.UuU5w7Qo65c | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140202191711/http://scarletknights.com/basketball-women/news/release.asp?prID=10790#.UuU5w7Qo65c | archive-date = February 2, 2014 }}
• Amy Tuck, former Mississippi Lieutenant Governor; lives in Starkville{{cite web |url=http://www.starkvilledailynews.com/node/7782 |title=Tuck serves her alma mater with pride | Starkville Daily News |access-date=January 26, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202235510/http://www.starkvilledailynews.com/node/7782 |archive-date=February 2, 2014 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.friendsofmsveterans.org/about.html|title=Friends of Mississippi Veterans|website=Starkvilledailynews.com|access-date=March 20, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=25899&TRID=1&TID=|title=GSDP to nominate new board members|website=Cdispatch.com|date=July 30, 2013|access-date=March 20, 2017}}
• Latavious Williams, professional basketball player{{cite web | title = Williams Ponders Next Move | publisher = Starkville Daily News | date = July 25, 2012 | url = http://www.starkvilledailynews.com/node/10675 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140202235118/http://www.starkvilledailynews.com/node/10675 | archive-date = February 2, 2014 }}{{cite web |url=http://411.info/people/Mississippi/Starkville/Tuck-Amy/30937746.html|title=Amy Tuck in Starkville, MS - (662) 320-8504, 6623208504 - 411|website=Starkvilledailynews.com|access-date=March 20, 2017}}
• Jaelyn Young, terrorist{{cite news|last1=Fausset|first1=Richard|title=Young Mississippi Couple Linked to ISIS, Perplexing All|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/15/us/disbelief-in-mississippi-at-how-far-isis-message-can-travel.html|access-date=March 28, 2018|date=August 14, 2015}}

{{Div col end}}

Pilot Charles Lindbergh, the first to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, made a successful landing on the outskirts of Starkville in 1927 during his Guggenheim Tour.{{cite web|url=http://www.charleslindbergh.com/history/gugtour.asp|title=Guggenheim Tour|website=Charleslindbergh.com|access-date=March 20, 2017}} He stayed overnight at a boarding house in the Maben community. Lindbergh later wrote about that landing in his autobiographical account of his barnstorming days, titled WE.

Starkville is one of several places in the United States that claims to have created Tee Ball.{{cite web | title = Tee Ball | publisher = Warsaw Youth Sports | url = http://warsawyouthsports.com/news/teeBall.html | access-date = February 3, 2014 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140221114119/http://warsawyouthsports.com/news/teeBall.html | archive-date = February 21, 2014 }} Tee Ball was popularized in Starkville in 1961 by W.W. Littlejohn and Dr. Clyde Muse, members of the Starkville Rotarians.{{cite web | title = Club History | publisher = Starkville Rotary Club | url = http://starkvillerotary.org/about-rotary/club-history/ | access-date = February 3, 2014}}

Johnny Cash was arrested for public drunkenness (though he described it as being picked up for picking flowers) in Starkville and held overnight at the city jail on May 11, 1965. This inspired his song "Starkville City Jail":

{{poemquote|They're bound to get you,

Cause they got a curfew,

And you go to the Starkville city jail.}}

The song appears on the album At San Quentin.

From November 2 to 4, 2007, the Johnny Cash Flower Pickin' Festival was held in Starkville. At the festival, Cash was offered a symbolic posthumous pardon by the city. They honored Cash's life and music, and the festival was expected to become an annual event.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna20611738 |title=Mississippi town to honor the 'Man in Black' - US and Canada - NBC News |publisher=NBC News |date=September 6, 2007 |access-date=October 21, 2008}} The festival was started by Robbie Ward, who said: "Johnny Cash was arrested in seven places, but he only wrote a song about one of those places."The New York Times "Facts Mix With Legend on the Road to Redemption." Barry, Dan. Oct.20, 2008.

In 2021, a Mississippi Country Music Trail marker honoring Cash was installed in Starkville near the Oktibbeha County Jail.{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Tyler B. |date=16 May 2021 |title=Johnny Cash honored with Mississippi Country Music Trail Marker in Starkville |work=The Commercial Dispatch |url=https://cdispatch.com/news/2021-05-16/johnny-cash-honored-with-mississippi-country-music-trail-marker-in-starkville/ |access-date=3 September 2022}}

In 2014, Gordon Ramsay visited the Hotel Chester in his series Hotel Hell in a successful attempt to help the struggling hotel remain in business.{{cite news|last1=Lucas|first1=Sherry|title=Update: Starkville hotel on 'Hotel Hell' Monday|url=https://eu.clarionledger.com/story/news/2014/08/07/starkvilles-hotel-chester-hotel-monday/13724803/|access-date= 10 July 2019|work=Clarion Ledger|date= 11 August 2014}}

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

{{wikivoyage|Starkville}}

• [http://cityofstarkville.org/ Official City of Starkville Website]
• [http://starkville.org/ Greater Starkville Development Partnership (GSDP) website]
• [http://www.starkvilledailynews.com/ Starkville Daily News website]

{{Starkville, Mississippi}}

{{Oktibbeha County, Mississippi}}

{{Mississippi}}

{{Mississippi county seats}}

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Category:Cities in Mississippi

Category:Cities in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi

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