History of Iuka, Mississippi

The name "Iuka" is actually a contraction for a longer name of Ish- ta-ki-yu-ka-tubbe (ki-yu-ka) -- the name of an endorser for the Treaty of Pontitock Creek, dated October 20, 1832. Iuka, Mississippi is located on the site of a Chickasaw village named for one of the lesser chiefs of the tribe, Tishomingo. The chief supposedly died while camping at the springs there and was buried at the site. The Iuka Guaranty Bank now Bancorp South, of Iuka, Mississippi was reportedly built on the Indian chief's grave.

Iuka has a history in the Civil War. On September 18, 1862 the Battle of Iuka was fought. The town of Iuka was only four years old when the Civil War began. Iuka had already acquired a reputation as a resort on account of its famous mineral springs.