14 Facts About Mississippi Delta

1.

Mississippi Delta, known as the Yazoo–Mississippi Delta, or simply the Delta, is the distinctive northwest section of the U S state of Mississippi that lies between the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers.

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2.

Rather, the Mississippi Delta is part of an alluvial plain, created by regular flooding of the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers over thousands of years.

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3.

Mississippi Delta includes all or part of the following counties: Washington, Western DeSoto, Humphreys, Carroll, Issaquena, Western Panola, Quitman, Bolivar, Coahoma, Leflore, Sunflower, Sharkey, Tate, Tunica, Tallahatchie, Western Holmes, Western Yazoo, Western Grenada, and Warren.

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4.

Much of the Delta is included in Mississippi's 2nd congressional district, represented by Democrat Bennie Thompson.

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5.

The Italians of the Mississippi Delta brought with them elements of Italian cuisine to the region, and possibly most importantly, elements of Southern Italian music such as the mandolin, which became a part of the music of the Mississippi Delta Blues.

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6.

Mexican immigrants to the Mississippi Delta greatly influenced the cuisine of the Mississippi Delta, leading to the development of one of Mississippi and the Gulf Coast's most famous culinary inventions, the Delta-style tamale, known as the hot tamale, formed from syncretism of Mexican and African-American culture and cuisine.

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7.

The mechanization of agriculture and the availability of domestic work outside the Mississippi Delta spurred the migration of Mississippi Delta residents from the region.

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8.

Since the late 20th century, lower Mississippi Delta agriculture has increasingly been dominated by families and nonresident corporate entities that hold large landholdings.

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9.

The 1990s state legalization of casino gambling in Mississippi has boosted the Delta's economy, particularly in the areas of Tunica and Vicksburg.

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10.

Mississippi Delta politics was dominated by pro-slavery Democrats during the post-Civil War era, though areas of resistance from blacks and whites remained throughout the era.

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11.

Civic groups such as the Red Shirts in Mississippi Delta were active against Republicans and blacks, sometimes using violence to suppress their voting for state candidates.

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12.

The Mississippi Delta counties were sites of fierce and violent resistance to change, with blacks murdered for trying to register to vote or to use public facilities.

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13.

Mississippi Delta is strongly associated as the place where several genres of popular music originated, including Mississippi Delta blues and rock and roll.

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14.

Northern Mississippi Delta is served by The Commercial Appeal and The Daily News newspapers based in Memphis, Tennessee, plus several radio and TV stations based there.

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