Lyon is absolutely everywhere...even in the United States! In the heart of the state of Mississippi, there is a small town whose name sounds strangely familiar to us: Lyon. Perfectly echoing our beloved capital of the Gauls, this American city offers radically different landscapes. The lush hills of the Monts-d'Or give way to desertic horizons bathed in the southern American sun. But Lyon, Mississippi, has a history all its own.
Founded in 1897, this small community of just 288 inhabitants experienced its glory days with a population peak of 446 souls in 1990. Though surrounded by mystery, one thing is for sure: Lyon, Mississippi, shares more than just a name with our beloved French city. According to unconfirmed but persistent information, this American town may have been named in homage to the Lyon we know.
A town mentioned by one of the greatest American writers
Lost in the rural expanses, about 1h30 away …The vibrant Memphis car of Lyon, Mississippi, reveals its charm with modesty. Despite its status as a small village, it has seen remarkable personalities pass through, contributing to weaving the fabric of its history. Among them, the poet and war veteran Lamar Fontaine, the legendary blues singer Son House, the professional footballer Charles Mitchell, and the writer Lacy Banks have left their mark in this remote corner of Mississippi.
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But it is undoubtedly the immense Tennessee Williams, one of the most influential playwrights of the 20th century, to whom we owe A Streetcar Named Desire (1947), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1955) and Sweet Bird of Youth (1959), who has bestowed Lyon, Mississippi, a particular notoriety. In his poem "The Couple", he evokes a mysterious duo wandering in Lyon, a ghostly couple perched on a wooden scaffold. We are almost jealous... But here is at least a very good reason to go take a walk in Mississippi!
Source: Lyon Secret
