Leland, Mississippi developed in the late nineteenth century as a railroad town during a period when rail access determined whether a community would grow or disappear. At the time, towns without a railroad risked being abandoned or physically moved to meet the tracks. Railroads not only connected rural areas to larger markets but also encouraged new settlements to form around depots and stops, creating economic opportunity across the Delta. Leland’s origins reflect this pattern, with the railroad serving as the catalyst for the town’s establishment and early success.
Like many railroad towns of the era, Leland was named through personal ties to railroad officials. A young railroad auditor selected the town’s name in honor of his future wife, Miss Lela McCutcheon of Vicksburg, Mississippi. As rail service expanded, businesses quickly followed. Industries such as Leland Oil Works and the Darnell-Love Lumber Company relied on the railroad to ship their products, strengthening the town’s role as a regional commercial hub. The presence of the railroad brought workers, commerce, and travelers, solidifying Leland’s place within the Delta’s growing economic network.
The town’s early prosperity was visible in its commercial and hospitality development. The Y. & M.V. Railroad Hotel, one of only two first-class hotels in the area, opened with 30 rooms and served railroad passengers and visitors until it was destroyed by fire in 1910 and never rebuilt. Main Street developed directly across from the hotel site and became Leland’s commercial center, home to prominent businesses such as McGee, Dean & Co., Leland Drug Company, Cascio Grocery, Paterson Jeweler, Best Mercantile, and the Commercial Hotel. Together, these establishments laid the foundation for downtown Leland and shaped the community’s enduring identity.