Foxworth, Mississippi

Foxworth (also known as Nearest or West Columbia ) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Marion County, Mississippi, United States. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 523.

History
The community is named after Frank W. Foxworth, who settled the community after moving from the east side of the Pearl River. His father had moved from Marion County, South Carolina, and settled near Columbia, 2 mi northeast of Foxworth. The community of Foxworth operated a grist mill, sawmill, and gin.

Foxworth is located on the former Illinois Central Gulf Railroad. The community once had a spur line that connected the Hamilton-Uhl Lumber Company with the New Orleans Great Northern Railroad.

In 1992, the Foxworth Bank merged with Trustmark Bank.

Geography
Foxworth is in central Marion County, on the west side of the valley of the Pearl River, which separates it from Columbia, the county seat 3 mi away. U.S. Route 98 runs along the southern edge of Foxworth, leading east through Columbia 36 mi to Hattiesburg and west 40 mi to McComb. Mississippi Highway 35 joins US 98 as it passes Foxworth, but leads north 21 mi to Bassfield and south 32 mi to Bogalusa, Louisiana.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Foxworth CDP has an area of 2.76 sqmi, all of it recorded as land.

Education
Foxworth is part of the Marion County School District and is the site of two campuses – West Marion Primary School (Grades K–3), and the shared campus of West Marion Elementary (Grades 4–6), and West Marion High School (Grades 7–12). These serve students in rural areas of western Marion County.

Notable people

 * Earl Poole Ball, singer-songwriter, pianist, actor
 * Patrick F. Taylor, businessman and founder of Taylor Energy; operated a Brangus ranch and wildlife management research facility in Foxworth