Tupelo, Mississippi was originally inhabited by the Chicksaw Native American tribe. In 1540, Hernando de Soto passed through the area, but was driven away by the fierce Chickasaws. Over two hundred years later, the French and Indian War in brought bloody battles between the Chicksaws (armed by the British) and the French. The Chicksaws established The Trace, a route of commerce linking the area with other tribes to the south. In later years, the Natchez Trace brought settlers to the area and a town began to take shape. The town was originally called Gumpound because of the large number of tupelo sweetgun trees in the area. During the Civil War, The Battle of Tupelo was the last major conflict in Mississippi. Today, the Tupelo National Battlefield is a popular tourism site.

Following the Civil War, the Gumpond was incorporated and the name was changed to Tupelo. By the late 1880s, Tupelo was the crossroads for the Mobile & Ohio, Kansas City and Memphis & Birmingham Railroads. Manufacturing and rail distribution brought solid growth and prosperity. The Natchez Trace extended 444 miles connecting Tupelo with Nashville and southern Mississippi. Tupelo was the first city in the United States to buy electricalpower from the Tennessee Valley Authority and the home of the first U.S. fish hatchery. Recognized by the National Civic League as an “All America Community in 1969, 1989 and 1999, Tupelo boasts a high quality of life and is a progressive small city on the move.