Name: The reservoir was named after Ross R. Barnett, the 52nd governor of Mississippi. Construction: Construction of the lake began in 1960 and was completed in 1963.

According to reservoir general manager John Sigman, the reservoir has carried the name Ross Barnett since its completion in 1963 and the name was adopted by the reservoir board of directors; the ...

Barnett Reservoir: Some still want to rename lake, civil rights legend calls it frivolous 'Our state wants to be a progressive state and changing the name from Ross Barnett would be an indication ...