Mississippi Highway 397

Mississippi Highway 397
Route information
Maintained by MDOT
Length	33.564 mi[1] (54.016 km)
Existed	1957–present
Major junctions
South end	MS 16 near De Kalb
Major intersections	MS 21 in Preston
North end	MS 14 in Louisville
Location
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
Counties	Kemper, Winston
Highway system
Mississippi State Highway System Interstate US State
← MS 395 → MS 403

Mississippi Highway 397 (MS 397) is a 33+1⁄2-mile-long (53.9 km) state highway in eastern Mississippi. Running generally in a southeast to northwest direction, it is signed north—south traveling from the De Kalb vicinity at MS 16 to Louisville at MS 14.

Route description

The state highway begins west of De Kalb along MS 16. MS 397 heads northwest through barren forest land as a two-lane 55 miles per hour (89 km/h) speed limit highway. First, an access road to Kemper Lake intersects the highway, later Sinai Road branches off the highway providing access to a small settlement. Continuing northwest, MS 397 intersects the northern end of unsigned MS 493 and a second access road to Kemper Lake. About 0.9 miles (1.4 km) later, it reaches the northern terminus of MS 495. Then about 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) after that, MS 397 reaches the settlement of Preston which has an intersection with MS 21, some houses, and a pair of stores.[2]

To the north of Preston, MS 397 heads through more woodlands, though as it approaches the Winston County line, some open fields appear along the road. After entering Winston County, MS 397 heads northwest through a mix of woods and fields. The highway passes Nanih Waiya High School, and a small traveler stop. MS 397 reaches an intersection with MS 490 and the two highways run concurrent for about 0.8 miles (1.3 km) to the west. At the settlement of Vernon, MS 490 breaks off to head southwest while MS 397 continues northwest. It passes more woodlands and field mix as well as a hunting lodge and lake. As it enters the city of Louisville, the road name officially becomes E John C. Stennis Drive. It passes a few clusters of houses, a cemetery, and small businesses. MS 397 curves to the due west, crosses S Columbus Avenue, and becomes W John C. Stennis Drive for the next block. At the next intersection, S Church Avenue, MS 397 turns north onto it through Louisville's central business district. The highway ends at MS 14 which carries Main Street in the city.[2]

History

A state highway connecting De Kalb and Louisville had existed since 1940.[3][4] By 1950, with the portion of the road in Winton County being fully paved, was given the designation of MS 397.[5][6] The remaining portion of MS 397 was paved by 1955.[7][8]

Major intersections

County	Location	mi[1]	km	Destinations	Notes
Kemper	​	0.000	0.000	MS 16 – De Kalb, Philadelphia	Southern terminus; to John C. Stennis Memorial Hospital
	Lynville	8.792	14.149	MS 493 south – Joe W. Williams Field	Northern terminus of MS 493
	​	9.702	15.614	MS 495 south / Nell Burnett Road	Northern terminus of MS 495
	Preston	10.937	17.601	MS 21 – Philadelphia, Shuqualak
Winston	​	20.031	32.237	MS 490 east – Mashulaville	Southern end of MS 490 concurrency
	Vernon	20.848	33.552	MS 490 west – Noxapater, Nanih Waiya State Park	Northern end of MS 490 concurrency
	Louisville	33.564	54.016	MS 14 / North Church Avenue – Kosciusko, Macon	Northern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

References

1. "MS Highways". Mississippi Geospatial Data Catalog. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
2. "Mississippi Highway 397" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
3. Mississippi State Highway Commission (July 1939). Official Highway Map State of Mississippi (PDF) (Map). Jackson: Mississippi State Highway Commission. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
4. Mississippi State Highway Department (1940). Road Map of Mississippi (PDF) (Map). Jackson: Mississippi State Highway Department. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
5. Mississippi State Highway Commission (1949). Official Road Map State of Mississippi (PDF) (Map). Jackson: Mississippi State Highway Commission. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
6. Mississippi State Highway Commission (1950). Official Road Map State of Mississippi (PDF) (Map). Jackson: Mississippi State Highway Commission. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
7. Mississippi State Highway Commission (1953). Official Road Map State of Mississippi (PDF) (Map). Jackson: Mississippi State Highway Commission. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
8. Mississippi State Highway Commission (1955). Official Road Map State of Mississippi (PDF) (Map). Jackson: Mississippi State Highway Commission. Retrieved October 20, 2021.

External links

Template:Attached KML/Mississippi Highway 397

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