Lamar, Mississippi


Lamar is an unincorporated community in Benton County, Mississippi, United States. It is located along Mississippi Highway 7 in western Benton County. Although it is unincorporated, Lamar has a post office, with the ZIP code of 38642. The nearly abandoned Mississippi Central Railroad runs through Lamar, and is only used rarely for freight trafficking. Lamar shares its ZIP code with the nearby community of Slayden.

History

Lamar was named in honor of Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar, member of the United States Senate from Mississippi. Lamar was originally located in Marshall County, but after Benton County was created from Marshall County and Tippah County, the town was moved two miles east to be closer to the railroad. Lamar was formerly home to a school. A post office first began operation under the name Lamar in 1837.