L i vi ng s to n, Mis s is s ippi: B r i ng i ng His t or y Ba c k t o L i fe
BY BRANDI PERRY
W
ith Mother’s Day just around the corner, we have a suggestion that may be mom’s favorite trip yet! Located in the southeast portion of Madison County, Livingston has a unique history that was nearly lost. Once a booming commercial center, the county seat was moved from Beatties Bluff to Livingston in 1829. A Methodist church was built in 1830 to deal with the church needs in the area, and things seemed to be going well for the small Madison County town. The construction of the courthouse and jail soon followed in 1833, and the thriving town was incorporated in 1836. Unfortunately, by the 1850s, railroads crisscrossed the county, but Livingston was bypassed by the rails. After being an important trading center for nearby plantations and farms, the bad news continued for the citizens when the Civil War was raging. Their Masonic Lodge was ransacked and destroyed by Union forces, and the once-bustling town was nearly deserted. This appeared to be the end of the historic town. By the 1940s, Livingston had lost its charter and was demoted from a town to an unincorporated community. Thankfully, developers had a different idea in store for Livingston in 2012. Land developer and history buff, David Landrum, saw the location and could not ignore the beauty the area offered or the potential. It did not take him long to decide that he wanted to breathe new life into Livingston. A small farmer’s market opened in Livingston and featured 36 • April/May 2022
food and entertainment. The event became one of the most popular summer events in Madison County and attracted performers, including country singer Travis Tritt. When it was obvious there was a draw to the new life breathed into Livingston, developers went a step forward by investing more than $70 million in a construction project for an 1800s-style town square. This project included a mercantile and many other stores that might have been found during Livingston’s previous life. Working with architects from Atlanta, the plan was to put the development where the town was originally located. This included the new roads being as close to the old ones as possible, and the buildings resembling what once stood there. What they did not expect was for the small town to continue growing and bring in a variety of restaurants and shops. The first building most visitors see as soon as they pull onto the property is the Livingston Mercantile. The mercantile is just like the ones from days gone by and offers a little bit of everything for visitors. The store has a little bit of everything, including full-service gasoline, a specialty grocery section and even bait and tackle. The mercantile is full of provisions for everyday life and a fun stop for a little shopping. Attached directly to the mercantile is The Gathering Restaurant. Inspired by the seasonal offerings of the Magnolia State, the rustic eatery offers blue plate specials for lunch,
