Van Buren, Mississippi

Van Buren was located on a high bluff on the river's west bank.^[2] It was named for Martin Van Buren. North of Van Buren was Frog Level Swamp.^[3]

Before Fulton was made the county seat in 1837, private homes and stores were used to conduct government business, including the store house of Elisha Thomas at Van Buren.^[4][5]

Winfield Walker, a nephew of Winfield Scott, settled in Van Buren in 1838, and became a merchant.^[2]

By 1840, Van Buren was the largest town in Itawamba County, and had a busy river port.^[5] The populations of both Fulton and Van Buren grew with settlers through the 1840s, and both had blacksmith shops, doctor's offices, stores, and lawyer's offices.^[4] A post office operated under the name Van Buren from 1839 to 1867.^[6]

The completion of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad west of Van Buren in the late 1850s caused river traffic to diminish;^[5] the railway "ruined it and the old site is now under cultivation".^[2]