[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 150 (Wednesday, December 10, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1771]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE TOWN OF ELIZABETH, MISSISSIPPI

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                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 10, 2014

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
remarkable town of Elizabeth, Mississippi.
  The town of Elizabeth, Mississippi is located on U.S. Highway 61, 
approximately 1 mile north of Leland and 2 miles east of Stoneville. In 
March 1889, a deed was issued to Mr. Joshua Skinner for a railroad 
depot in the area. At the time, the place was named ``Athol'', but it 
was later changed to its current name ``Elizabeth''.
  In 1889, Elizabeth was advertised as ``a new town with an 
unparalleled future, located in the heart of the famous Yazoo Delta . . 
. the richest and most fertile section of the earth where king cotton 
reigns supreme.'' Elizabeth had the unique distinction of being located 
at the crossroads of the first two main railroads in the Delta: the 
Louisville, New Orleans, and Texas RR (which later became the Illinois 
Central RR) and the Georgia Pacific RR (which eventually became the 
Columbus and Greenville RR).
  The town of Elizabeth was designed along the west and south sides of 
both railroads. Elizabeth emerged early on as a mercantile city, with 
numerous businesses started up due to the existence of the rail lines. 
The town can no longer boast a commercial center. Leland has taken that 
role. However, it does retain its identity as Elizabeth. It boasts a 
modest population of nearly 200 people and a beautiful roadside park. 
In 2013, DuPont Pioneer opened a new 30,000 square foot research center 
near Elizabeth that focuses on soybean breeding and product development 
as well as corn product testing and characterization for farmers in the 
Delta.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Town 
of Elizabeth for its dedication to serving others.

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