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.
Landslides occur when gravity overcomes the force of friction. Several common causes of landslides are: 1  Water: Perhaps the most common trigger of a landslide, water reduces the friction between the bedrock and the overlying sediment, and gravity sends the debris sliding downhill. 2  In sand and clay soils, a small amount of water may increase stability.