Creating a sense of place or simply a good parking space?:evolution of the historic town squares of Mississippi

Author

Amanda Michelle Rogers

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Seymour, W. Micheal

Committee Member

Schauwecker, J. Timothy

Committee Member

Wilkerson, Wayne G.

Date of Degree

8-9-2008

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Landscape Architecture

Degree Name

Master of Landscape Architecture

College

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Department

Department of Landscape Architecture

Abstract

Mississippi has a surprising amount and variety of town squares. The square provides a central, pedestrian civic space in the towns in which they are located. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the evolution of town squares in Mississippi. The method employed was historical research of primary sources that included historic photographs and Sanborn Fire Insurance maps. The photographs were examined using the The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties investigating such elements as vegetation, site furnishings, and circulation patterns. Canton, Holly Springs, and Lexington were chosen to be studied in more detail to give a clearer picture of how squares have changed over time. It was determined that there are approximately 69 towns with squares in Mississippi. The most numerous types of squares used are Shelbyville squares. The vitality of the square varies greatly from town to town.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/15239

Recommended Citation

Rogers, Amanda Michelle, "Creating a sense of place or simply a good parking space?:evolution of the historic town squares of Mississippi" (2008). Theses and Dissertations. 1212.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/1212