| Official Name: | Tocowa, Mississippi |
| Settlement Type: | Ghost town |
| Pushpin Map: | Mississippi#USA |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Mississippi |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Panola |
| Timezone: | Central (CST) |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Elevation Ft: | 243 |
| Coordinates: | 34.2236°N -90.0597°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Area Code: | 662 |
| Blank Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank Info: | 685752 |
Tocowa is a ghost town located just outside Batesville in Panola County, Mississippi, United States.[1]
In 1938, Federal Writers' Project wrote up a sketch of the town, and surmised its name to be derived Chickasaw and Choctaw languages meaning "healing waters".[2] However, more recent scholarship rejects the "healing waters" interpretation, and purports the name to mean "broken and bent down trees" or "firewood".[3]
During the late 18th century, and well into the 19th century, the town grew around a natural spring. The spring was used as a socializing area by Native Americans who believed in the spring's mysterious healing powers and that the water could heal braves wounded in battle.[2] [4] In the May 25, 1867 edition of The Weekly Panola Star newspaper, the spring was described as "a fine, clear, and bold running mineral spring of known and well attested medicinal virtues".[5]
A post office operated under the name Tocowa from 1900 to 1921.[6]
Former Mississippi governor Ronnie Musgrove was born and raised in Tocowa. At that time, the town had a population of 42.[1]
. David Mumford . Mississippi: A Guide to the Magnolia State . . 382 . May 1938 . American Guide series . Gene Holcomb . 1-60354-023-7 .