Yazoo. The word rolls off the tongue, bringing to mind a fabled land of lush, rolling hills rising abruptly from the fertile flatlands of the Mississippi Delta.

Yazoo County - where these picturesque hills meet broad, open fields has struck visitors for almost two centuries, providing, surpassing, scenic vistas and a diverse economic base.

Gifted with a colorful history, abundant forests and wildlife, thriving industries and an unparalleled agricultural economy, Yazoo County offers a unique range of opportunities for residents and visitors alike.

For most, the dominant impression of Yazoo County is the sudden appearance of the Delta, stretching to the horizon from the top of the last, long hill from which Yazoo City's Broadway Street descends.

 
Down every side road lie unexpected treasures.

Yazoo County's geographic location has long been a major factor in its history. Civil War gunboats plied the waters of the Yazoo River winding past Satartia and Yazoo City.

The river provided early trade as farmers from Eden, Holly Bluff and all points in between shipped their cotton to market aboard steamboats bound for New Orleans. The shady hills offered welcome relief from the summer heat and refuge from floods before levees tamed the Yazoo River The Delta, in turn, provided fertile ground for the agricultural economy upon which Yazoo County depended.

Yazoo City - the county seat and principle city - was originally named Manchester It was laid out in the 1830s on acreage owned by a half French, half Choctaw Indian planter named Greenwood Leflore.

Fire destroyed some Yazoo City homes and most of its businesses in 1904, but the central business district was rebuilt in turn-of-the-century splendor Local lore places blame for the fire on "The Witch of Yazoo," who was chronicled in Pulitzer Prize winning author and Yazoo City native Willie Morris' novel, Good Old Boy.

 
Wildlife and outdoor recreational opportunities
are abundant in Yazoo County

In the Delta, the flat terrain gives way to a different perspective. Open roads and rows of crops make beelines for the horizon. Here the landscape is broken only by occasional homes and farm buildings, catfish ponds, serpentine rivers, lakes and bayous. The Delta National Forest and two national wildlife refuges provide an expanse of hardwood timber teeming with fish and wildlife

Art in the Park Festival .

The diverse culture of Yazoo County has produced a range of notable residents including the late comedian Jerry Clower; authors the late Willie Morris and Zig Ziglar; actress Stella Stevens and blues singers Gatemouth Moore and Jack Owens.

Whatever your interest - history; the arts, shopping, recreation or commerce - you'll find what you're looking for where the Delta meets the hills in Yazoo County.

Experience the magic!

Sites and Attractions

Ante-bellum homes and sacred Indian mounds. Wildlife and agriculture. Literature and blues music. All can be found in colorful Yazoo County.

The best place to start is Yazoo City, where attractions offer a historic look at the region. The Oakes African American Cultural Center, the Triangle Cultural Center, Glenwood Cemetery, the B.S. Ricks Memorial Library and the Confederate Memorial Monument lure visitor's year-round.

Just outside Yazoo City are a host of important and historic sites, such as Mississippi Chemical Corporation, founded in 1948 as the world's first farmer-owned chemical fertilizer plant. Remnants of the historic Bell Road, built in the 1820s as a route to Vicksburg, can also be found in Yazoo County.

The Tinsley Oil Field Site, south of Highway 3, marks the spot where oil was first discovered in Mississippi in 1939.

Northwest of Satartia, near Holly Bluff, are fascinating and rare Native American mounds dating as early as 1500 B.C. The Delta National Forest and Panther Swamp National Wildlife Refuge provides natural beauty and great hunting and fishing.

For railroad buffs, nearby Vaughan is home to the Casey Jones Railroad Museum State Park, which commemorates the fatal wreck of the well-known train engineer. Close by is Greg Harkins Woodworks, where plantation-style rocking chairs are still manufactured by hand using techniques passed down from the mid 19th century;

Yazoo County's renewed emphasis on preserving history, culture, tradition and sense of community have made this part of the South a premier destination for visitors from across the country'. Quality lodging, exciting gift and antique shops and a variety of fine-dining facilities offer the comfort and enjoyment you expect.

Walking and Driving Tours

A tour of the historic cities, quaint towns and lush countryside of Yazoo County is always beautiful in spring when azaleas, dogwoods and wisteria create a burst of color amid the rolling hills. Autumn in the Delta means a seemingly endless sea of white cotton beneath a clear blue sky, providing a picturesque reflection of the Deep South.

Yazoo County's historic architecture is reflected in Yazoo City, Satartia, Bentonia, Benton and along quiet rural roads in between. Most of these homes are private residences and open only under special arrangements. A driving or walking tour can provide a satisfying glimpse of the county's architectural heritage.

Downtown Historic District, rebuilt in 1905

Where the Delta Meets the Hills

For additional Information contact Click Here to e-mail Us
Yazoo County Convention and Visitors Bureau
P.O. Box 186
Yazoo City, MS 39194
(800)-381-0662