The Cotton District

The Cotton District is a housing development that is located adjacent to the Mississippi State University Campus, making it an ideal spot for students and faculty to live while attending or being involved with the campus. The idea for the housing development began in 1969 with owner Dan Camp, who sought to construct houses that preserved the historical style of the area while still being functional for contemporary residents. The district itself was included in plans for urban renewal in 1967, updating many of the houses already present on the land. Today, The Cotton District is notable for its traditional architecture styles. Styles such as Greek revival, Classical, and Victorian are present, giving the development a historical feel that represents the area's rich heritage.

The Cotton District gets its name from the historic cotton mill that existed on the land before the housing development. The cotton mill was built in 1926 by the Sanders family, and through its development, houses for workers were added. These houses were located on 25 by 100 feet lots and consisted of very few rooms. When the cotton mill was in full production, the land grew to include stores, schools, and churches to accommodate the workers and their families. The cotton mill shut down in 1964 after scaling back production in the previous years. The majority of the houses were in need of repair, resulting in the district being included in plans for urban renewal across the City of Starkville.