Historical Marker Located On Jackson Street

What is now the City of Ridgeland was first settled in 1832 when William Austin purchased land in this
area near the Natchez Trace. James Yellowley bought the property in 1853. His son sold it in 1896 to
Gordon Nichols and Edward Treakle, who formed the Highland Colony Company and changed the name
to Ridgeland. First incorporated on December 29, 1899, this City owes much of its early growth to the
coming of the Illinois Central Railroad in 1865, which boosted the area’s produce and farming
operations.

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