Portal:Mississippi/Cities/1

Clinton is a city in Hinds County, Mississippi, United States. Situated in the Jackson metropolitan area, it is the tenth largest city in Mississippi.

Clinton, founded in 1823 was originally known as Mount Salus, which means "Mountain of health". Mount Salus was also the name of the home of Walter Leake, third governor of Mississippi, which was located in Clinton and built in 1812. It is supposedly the first brick house built in the United States. In 1828, the name was changed from Mount Salus to Clinton in honor of DeWitt Clinton, the former governor of New York. The first road through Mount Salus/Clinton was the Natchez Trace.

Confederate forces, as well as Union troops - both under the command of Ulysses S. Grant and General Sherman - briefly occupied Clinton during the American Civil War on the way to the Battle of Vicksburg in May 1863. During World War II, Camp Clinton was established, a German POW camp south of town which housed about 3,000 German soldiers. (read more . . . )