The current town square of Coldwater, Mississippi is located about two miles south of the Coldwater River, hence the name.  The original town actually began as a village of Elm Grove in 1856.  With the coming of the Mississippi-Tennessee railroad in 1858, rows of stores and other businesses developed on both sides of the tracks, along with houses of worship.  Coldwater was officially incorporate in 1872.  At that time, the Town was located in DeSoto County and was a mile square with the railroad depot at the center.  When another Mississippi county was created in 1873 from land originally located in Desoto, Marshall and Tunica counties, Coldwater found itself to be a part of the newly formed Tate County.

The Town began to grow with an influx of settlers from Virginia, the Carolinas, Alabama and others seeking a better life for themselves and their family.  There were 397 residents of Coldwater according to the 1890 census.  Educating their children was obviously important to the early settlers.  By 1884, there were 96 small schools in Tate County, 54 white and 42 black.  They were mostly one techno, one-room log houses with split logs for seats.

Coldwater opened its first public library in April 1951 to serve the 949 people who lived there according to the 1950 census.  The library was located in the office of the C.O. Pate Insurance Office on land where the present post office is located.  At that time, the library  was open during the office hours of the insurance office.  The Town of Coldwater provided the shelves for the library.  The library was physically moved to different quarters in May 1981 – into a building on Central that was, at one time, the home of the superintendent of the Coldwater School System.

The library operated under the contract between Tate County and the First Regional Library, headquartered in Hernando.  Mrs. Mabel Burford was named the first Librarian of the Coldwater Public Library, followed by Mrs. Katherine Bourland who served from April 1953 until September 1976.  Mrs. Mabel McGee served as Head Librarian from October 1976 until early 1981.  Coldwater opened its 6,000 square feet modem public library building in 2003.  The Jesse J. Edwards Public Library is a splendid example of what community planning and dreaming can accomplish.  The library offers computer stations for the public, complete with access to the Internet, meeting room spaces and a special amphitheater for the children. 

Over the years, Coldwater has produced a number of outstanding citizens.  Jesse J. Edwards, Jr for whom the new library building is named.  Born and raised in the Coldwater area and served as the first African American mayor of Coldwater.  Other family people who hail from the Coldwater area include Dr. Dumas Malone, Pulitzer prize-winning historian and noted Jeffersonian scholar, born in Coldwater on January 10, 1892.  Dorris Bowdon Johnson, a Coldwater native, was a screen actress who played in several motion pictures in the 1930’s and 1940’s alongside such Hollywood legends as Henry Fonda.  Thomas Webber Wilson, a three-term U.S. Congressional Representative from Mississippi was board in Coldwater on January 24, 1893.

The broadcasting pioneer Hoyt B. Wooten was also a Coldwater native.  By 1919, Wooten had started his first commercial radio station in Coldwater, WKNG.  He moved the radio station to the Peabody, his WREC-TV, Channel 3 began regular programming to the Mid-South community. His father, Spencer D. Wooten, known affectionately as “Mr. Spencer” served the Town as an alderman, as Mayor, as president of the school board and as undertaker, among other things.  The log house that his father (also named Spencer D.) built is still standing on Hwy 306 near the Antioch Church of Christ occupied by Mrs. Kathryn Gaines.

Coldwater’s first recipient of a Rhodes scholarship, (the first African American from Mississippi to have won) is C. Damon Miguel More, M.D.  Before becoming a Rhodes scholar, Moore graduated as valedictorian of Coldwater High School in 1982.  Dr. Moore graduate Summa Cum Laude from the University of Mississippi in 1986.  After completing his studies at Oxford University in England, he completed his medical training at John Hopkins University in Baltimore.

Over the course of its history, Coldwater steadily grew in numbers.  However, periodic river flooding  plagued the town as the river would all too often swell its banks, spilling onto area farmland.  When the Arkabutla Lake and Dam project was built in the early 1940’s, the Town felt it had to move.  So, in 1942, the Town of Coldwater moved – lock, stock and barrel to land just about a mile and a half south of its original location.  Today, there are over 1,300 people enjoying live in this “new” location.

Truly, the Town of Coldwater has an interesting and rich history, a record of which now exists in the new Coldwater Room at the Jesse J. Edwards Public Library.  This room contains historical materials that have been collected, cataloged and now made available to researchers of all ages eager to learn about the “big move” or those trying to trace their ancestors.

Currently coming into the Sesquicentennial Year of the Town of Coldwater, the people elected a new mayor.  Mayor Glenn Billingsley, large in stature, had even bigger plans for his town.  Mayor Billingsley was appointed on the Board of Aldermen 8 years prior and knew exactly what the town needed; growth, a sense of pride, togetherness, beautification, but more importantly a place for the citizens to call home and be proud of.  Coming in the door running, the Mayor assisted in securing over $2 million dollars in grants to correct water, sewer and street infrastructures.  The small things were of importance as well.  Street beautification was on his radar.  Working with businesses and homeowners, his first year in office was a success.  Appointed on the Board of Mississippi Municipal League, Mayor Billingsley fights hard to gain experience while networking to bring major change slowly but surely to the Town of Coldwater.  Weekly food drives for the citizens were secured as well as consistent water give-aways, toy drives for Christmas and Thanksgiving food baskets.   The Town under his leadership also received a $350,000 grant for its volunteer fire department for a new fire truck to replace a 32-year-old truck currently in operation.  Although, his first year was filled with many trials, the Town of Coldwater is in for more victories.  Be prepared to be amazed, astonished and honored to call Coldwater HOME as Mayor Billingsley works closely with the community for future developments.