Discover the Mississippi Town Most Likely to Experience an Earthquake

Mississippi doesn’t experience many earthquakes, but when they do, certain areas are more at risk. The state ranked 40th on the earthquake index, meaning that 39 other states are more likely to experience an earthquake. In fact, Missouri most often feels the effects of earthquakes that occur in neighboring states. The earthquakes that originate in the state are usually mild.

Since 1817, Mississippi has only experienced four earthquakes of intensity V or higher. When earthquakes do occur in the state, it’s essential to know where they are most likely to happen. In Missouri, the most likely town to experience an earthquake is Winstonville. 

Winstonville Earthquake Index Rating

Winstonville ranked first in the state with a score of 1.04 on the earthquake index. Compared to California’s first-place city, McGee Creek, with a score of 167.57, a 1.04 rating isn’t too bad. But for the locals who live in Mississippi, it’s worth knowing where they are most at risk.

A Bit About Mississippi’s Earthquake Capital

The town of Winstonville is small, with just 0.29 miles of land area and a population of 153 in 2020. Most citizens own their homes. The town motto is “A Town on the Move.” Winstonville is in Bolivar County along with nine other towns and five cities. The two county seats are Cleveland and Rosedale.

The town experiences mild weather, with an average year-round temperature of 62.3°F. The town experiences about 12 inches more rain annually than the U.S. average. However, even with the extra rain, the town experiences two fewer days of rain on average than the rest of the states. Their rainy season is November through May.

There are no schools within the town of Winstonville, but citizens are served by the North Bolivar Consolidated School District. The district includes I.T. Montgomery Elementary, Brooks Elementary, and Northside High School. 

Bolivar County

Bolivar County was founded in 1836 and was named after Simon Bolivar, the South American Liberator. The first county courthouse was built in 1841. After it was built, the county seat moved around to a few other cities before settling in Rosedale in the early 1870s. At that time, Rosedale was known as ​​Floreyville before its name was officially changed in 1876.

The Civil War was a tumultuous time for the county, as they were invaded by multiple Union attacks. During these attacks, the county’s first courthouse was burned down, along with many houses and buildings. Years after the war ended, in the 1920s, the two courthouses that remain present-day were built in the county. 

There’s only one college in the county — Delta State University. It was opened as a teacher’s college in 1925 and has since evolved into a multi-purpose university. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as an aviation program that first opened in the 1980s. The college’s official mascot and sports team name is the Statesmen, because of the role that State Representative Walter Stillers, Jr played in developing the college. However, since the 1980s, students of the college have created an unofficial mascot that has recently received some national attention. The Fighting Okra, a name given to the okra-suit, boxing glove-wearing mascot was featured in an ESPN commercial in 2023. 

The county is industrial, with around 2,260 acres of industrial parks within Cleveland, Shelby, and Rosedale. One of the leading pharmaceutical companies in the U.S. — Baxter Pharmaceuticals — has one of its largest plants in Cleveland. The county’s industrial nature has also led to the success of the Rosedale-Bolivar County Port. It’s now one of the fastest-growing ports on the Inland Waterway System.

Wildlife in Bolivar County

Bolivar County is home to quite a bit of wildlife, mainly small mammals, birds, and reptiles. A few native species, including the wild turkey, fox squirrel, Virginia opossum, and cattle egret live there. There have also been spottings of many threatened species. The greater prairie-chicken, also called boomers, live in Bolivar County and other parts of Mississippi. While the species used to be plentiful, it has become a rare sight due to habitat loss. The northern bobwhite has also been spotted in and around Bolivar County. This bird is native to North America and gets its name from the sound it makes when it whistles. 

Animals are often more affected by earthquakes than humans, and they can usually detect them sooner as well. Earthquakes can destroy nests and breeding grounds of species, which can be detrimental to animals like the greater-prairie chicken that already deal with habitat loss. 

Where is Winstonville Located on a Map?

Winstonville is a small town nestled in Bolivar County, Mississippi, United States. According to the 2020 census, the town is home to a population of 153 residents.

Here is Winstonville on a map?

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Josephine Jullian