Yazoo County has a history full of legends and characters, both real and fictional, that could only come out of the Mississippi Delta. The late Willie
Morris and Jerry Clower are two of Yazoo’s native sons who gained fame with their tales of this colorful area.
The name Yazoo comes from the Yazoo Indian tribe, which mysteriously became extinct around 1740, after Hernando DeSoto made his trek through the area. The meaning of the word Yazoo
died with them, although there are a number of interesting theories.
Yazoo County was created in 1822, with the county seat at Beatties Bluff. Six years later, it was moved to Benton and in 1848, Yazoo City became the final county seat. Originally
named Manchester, Yazoo City was one of the first planned communities in Mississippi. In 1826, the half-French Indian Chief Greenwood LeFlore sold the Yazoo City land, which he had
received in the Treaty of Doak’s Stand, for $10 an acre to a group of developers. They laid out the town in a precise grid plan, named the streets after presidents and after
themselves, and successfully auctioned off the lots between 1830-1834. In 1839, the name of the town was changed to reflect its close ties to the Yazoo River.
Yazoo is full of the richness that small towns are know for: beautiful homes, unique events, historic sites, friendly people, intriguing tales, and unresolved mysteries. Yazoo
has taken advantage of its history and every year offers times for the world to discover the “land of legacies.”
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The Triangle Cultural Center in downtown Yazoo City is in the handsome old Main Street School building, which dates from 1904. The Center
offers everything from art exhibits to dance classes and the original auditorium can be rented for entertainment events. There is also a historic museum on the third floor which
covers Yazoo history from prehistoric times to the present.
The building is also home to the Yazoo County Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Bureau has an excellent website offering indepth information on all things Yazoo
at www.yazoo.org. |
Photo by Scott Jones |
| Most of the historic homes are still lived in, and many of the residents are
descendants of the first owners. These “living museums” all have their own history and reflect significant architectural
features. |
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| The beautifully restored home of A.J. Oakes, a prominent African- American businessman and educator, now houses the Oakes African American Cultural
Center. |
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Author Willie Morris
Comedian Jerry Clower
The Manchester, built in 1904, has been renovated and is now used for meetings, weddings, receptions, etc.
Trinity Episcopal Church, one of Yazoo City's many churches.
Dedicated to the women of the Confederacy, this statue is one of
only two in the state. |
