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Lena, formerly known as Friendship, is located in southwestern Leake County on Mississippi Highway 13. Census in 2000 shows a population of 175.
Lena was founded by William Fleming Gilbert, who came from Carrollton, Georgia, after the Civil War. On April 1, 1879, he bought land from John T. Rush, and this land become the site of Lena. The Gilberts moved into a house which was on the property, built a store across the road, and opened a mercantile business. They requested postal officials to establish a post office at their store. Mr. Gilbert submitted the name of their youngest daughter, and Lena was accepted as the name of the post office. W. F. Gilbert was appointed as Lena’s first postmaster about 1880.
Lena was incorporated as a village April 24, 1912.
It was one and one-fourth miles square and its population was
225. The first officers of the village were G. W. Talbot,
mayor; L. A. Zachry, secretary, W. L. Gilmore, treasurer, and B.
W. Parker, L. A. Zachry and W. L. Lyle, alderman.
Lena was incorporated as a town on July 9, 1965. Since its incorporation in 1912, Lena has been served by the following mayors: G. W. Talbot, M. O. Hendrick, Sam Sessums, O. C. Price, C. C. Windham, M. E. Mills, H. G. Trest, R. L. Moss, Matthew Lyle, L. A. Zachry, Jr., Billy Tom Ward, Harley Wood, Bruce Hitt, Mike Sherman, Larry Wood, and Robert Bone.
Sam Neville of Union is credited with building the railroad through Lena. The track was completed from Union to Lena in 1925 and the first passenger train arrived in Lena on September 17, 1925. For a number of years, both freight and express services were offered through Lena, but on April 12, 1980, the last train passed through.
In 1938 the Mississippi Senate proposed a link between Highway 16 and Highway 80. In April 1950, this road was designated as Highway 13 and was completely paved by 1959. By 1974, both Highway 500 and Highway 487 linking Lena and Tuscola had been paved. The city park was restored in 1983 and named Wood Community Park.
Lena’s Fourth of July Celebration brings thousands of people to the town on July 4th each year. The day of family fun includes food, games, entertainment, political speeches, and arts and crafts concluding with a gigantic fireworks display at dusk. This celebration has the largest fireworks display in the area. It began as a church ice cream social and grew to an event attended by as many as 10,000.
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