They named it Jones County after John Paul Jones, the early American Naval hero who rose from humble Scottish origin to military success during the American Revolution. Ellisville, the county seat, was named for Powhatan Ellis, a member of the Mississippi Legislature who claimed to be a direct descendant of Pocahontas.
An avalanche occurs when the stress (from gravity) trying to pull the snow downhill exceeds the strength (from bonds between snow grains) of the snow cover. Four conditions must be present for an avalanche to occur: 1  a steep slope. 2  a snow cover. 3  a weak layer in the snow cover. 4  a trigger.
An avalanche is a sudden flow of snow down a slope, such as a mountainside. The amount of snow in an avalanche will vary based upon many factors, but it can be such a huge amount as to bury the terrain at the bottom of the slope in dozens of feet of snow. Avalanches can be caused by many different things. Some of them are natural. For example, new snow or rain can cause accumulated snow suddenly to dislodge and cascade down the side of a mountain. Earthquakes and the natural movements of animals have also been known to cause avalanches. Artificial triggers can also cause avalanches. For example, snowmobiles, skiers, gunshots and explosives have all been known to cause avalanches. Avalanches usually occur during the winter and spring, when snowfall is greatest.