Walter Payton was a beloved football star and played for the Chicago Bears. While this simple fact makes it clear where Payton lived, fans have often wondered, where is Walter Payton from originally.

Walter Payton is from Columbia, Mississippi. He was born there on the 25th of July 1954. 

His family was small, with three siblings including himself and his parents. 

Payton’s father was a semi-pro football player in his time but worked as a factory worker. His mother Alyne was a housewife and was Payton’s biggest support.

So let’s discuss in depth the life of the legend himself, where he grew up, what his early life was like, and how he carried his identity to the thing he loved most, football.

Columbia: The City of Charm on the River Pearl 

To understand where is Walter Payton from you must know about his city, Columbia. 

It is a small town in the state of Mississippi, U.S., and was formed before the state of Mississippi even came into statehood. Here are a few notable facts about Walter Payton’s hometown:

• Population: Columbia has a population of approximately 5,814 people as of 2020.

• History: Columbia was incorporated in 1819 and is one of the oldest towns in Mississippi. It is thought to be named after Christopher Columbus. However, it was named after Columbia South Carolina, the city from where most of the settlers migrated to this town in Mississippi.

• Economy: Historically, Columbia’s economy has been based on agriculture, particularly timber and poultry farming. In recent years, the city has diversified its economy to include manufacturing and retail.

• Education: Columbia is served by the Columbia School District, which includes Columbia High School and Columbia Elementary School.

• Attractions: Columbia is home to several attractions, including the Marion County Courthouse, the Columbia Water Park, and the Columbia-Marion County Airport.

• Sports: The Columbia Wildcats represent the city in high school sports, particularly in football, basketball, and baseball.

• Events: The city hosts various events throughout the year, such as the Columbia Expo, which features arts and crafts, food vendors, and live entertainment.

• Location: Columbia is located approximately 30 miles west of Hattiesburg and about 80 miles southeast of Jackson, the capital city of Mississippi.

More Fun Facts about Columbia:

• Columbia relied on the Pearl River for the transportation of goods in its first century.

• Famous steamboat captains, such as John Black, lived in Columbia.

• During the Civil War, Union troops camped outside Columbia under the lead of General John Wynn.

• The city survived Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but after going through severe damage.

• A tornado of scale EF3 hit the city in 2014. The damage was so extensive it took mutual aid across states to help the city recover.

• In 1953, the first rodeo of the state of Mississippi was held in Columbia and it later became the headquarters for the Rodeo Hall of Fame of Mississippi.

Payton’s early life in Columbia:

Walter was a very sweet kid growing up. Being the youngest he was spoiled and loved by his mother, in fact, he often referred to himself as Mama’s boy in his interviews. 

Walter used to volunteer in the community. He attended church with his family and was part of the chorus at his church. He had a variety of hobbies growing up. He was active in social work as a young boy, from helping out at the local store to mowing lawns for his neighbors. 

His soft demeanor made him loved by his whole town. 

He went to his town’s public school and eventually to Jackson State University. He lived in Mississippi his whole life to the point he got drafted by the Bears and his whole life changed. 

So, the question of where is Walter Payton from can only be defined by the kind of man he grew up to be.

Payton Life at JSU

Joining high school and adjusting to the change of pace was an easy feat for a social butterfly like Payton. Here’s an overview of how his life at Jackson State Uni went:

• He started off his official semi-pro football career in junior high. He also played other sports like lacrosse and athletics. But football was meant for him, as he was for football. 

• Even at that age, Payton was crazy good at this sport. He ran blazing fast and his quick feet made him practically uncatchable. He became the football star of his college in no time. By senior high, Payton was already in the sights of national-level teams. 

• He had made such a name for himself in his school that even his taunting nickname Sweetness had become a part of his identity already.

• The history behind Sweetness is known by many and has an important role when we talk about where is Walter Payton from. He was initially bullied for his soft high-pitched voice and his generally humble attitude. 

• Other players, who fit the typical ‘Jock’ personality, would pick on him and tell him he didn’t belong in such a sport with a personality so sweet. He used to be called names. And one of those was Sweetness. 

• Those who knew Payton knew he was never one to give up. And of course, he was an Exceptional player. Combine those two and he became his bullies’ worst nightmare. He quickly turned the tables on this new nickname and in one game after scoring he shouted out:

“Sweetness is Your Weakness”. 

• After that, Everyone knew not to mess with Sweetness. His soft-spokenness did not mean he was weak, especially in football. He was quite the offensive player as his position of a running back demanded.

Conclusion

In nutshell, Payton grew up in Mississippi, in a city called Columbia. 

It is a small city with a long and rich history. It borders the Pearl River and most of its business with the rest of the world used to take place through this river.

Payton was a sweet kid growing up and actively took part in his community. From volunteer work to chorus singing at the local church, Walter did it all. 

He was loved in his high school and picked football as his career then and there.

Payton became extremely famous across the state for his performance on JSU’s football team and his nickname Sweetness caught on long before his career’s success. 

He was drafted into the Chicago Bears by the end of his high school and well, the rest is history!

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