Europe Bates School

The school took its name from Europe Bates, born enslaved in Amite County about 1834. On November 19, 1869, he filed a homestead claim for 165.64 acres under the 1866 act that opened public land in Mississippi and four other states, signing with his mark. He proved up on October 2, 1876, having cleared 55 acres and built a dwelling, corn crib, cotton house, shop, kitchen and two small cabins. The patent came in 1883; he died in 1910. A genealogist reports the school, started in 1880 on land his family gave, once taught 700 to 800 children.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Homochitto National Forest — 30 mi
  A 191,839-acre national forest in seven southwest Mississippi counties, replanted by the Civilian Conservation Corps, with Clear Springs and the 1,075-acre Okhissa Lake.

More markers nearby

• Amite Female Seminary — 9.2 mi
• Confederate Monument — 9.3 mi
• Amite County Courthouse — 9.4 mi
• Liberty — 9.4 mi