Belzoni, Mississippi

Belzoni (/bɛlˈzoʊnə/ bel-ZOHN-ə) is a city in Humphreys County, Mississippi, United States, in the Mississippi Delta region, on the Yazoo River. The population was 2,235 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Humphreys County.[3] It was named for the 19th-century Italian archaeologist/explorer Giovanni Battista Belzoni.[4]

For the Italian explorer of Egyptian antiquities, see Giovanni Battista Belzoni.

Belzoni, Mississippi
City
Motto(s): 
"Heart Of The Delta"
Location of Belzoni, Mississippi
Belzoni, Mississippi
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 33°10.9′N 90°29.1′W
CountryUnited States
StateMississippi
CountyHumphreys
Government
 • MayorCarol M. Ivy
Area
 • Total1.02 sq mi (2.64 km2)
 • Land1.02 sq mi (2.64 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
112 ft (34 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total2,235
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
1,915
 • Density1,879.29/sq mi (725.84/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
39038
Area code(s)662
FIPS code28-05140
GNIS feature ID0666815
Websitewww.belzonims.com/profbel.htm

The area was named Farm-Raised Catfish Capital of the World in 1976 by then Governor Cliff Finch, since it produces more farm-raised catfish than any other U.S. county.[5] About 40,000 acres (160 km2) of the county are under water in ponds used to grow catfish. About 60% of U.S. farm-raised catfish are grown within a 65-mile (100-km) radius of Belzoni. The title "Catfish Capital" is also claimed by Savannah, Tennessee, Des Allemands, Louisiana, and Selkirk, Manitoba. Belzoni is known for the World Catfish Festival held every April.[5]

History

The area that eventually became Belzoni was originally known as "Greasy Row" because of saloons along the bank of the Yazoo River, which was the main transportation route until replaced by railroads.[6] In 1895, a charter was granted for the village of Belzoni, although the area had been settled by European Americans and African Americans for several decades previously. It was developed for cotton plantations before the Civil War and relied on agriculture well into the 20th century. Steve Castleman, who secured the charter, was elected as the first mayor of Belzoni.[6] When Humphreys County was formed by the state legislature in 1918, Belzoni was selected as the county seat.[6]

Civil Rights Movement
Segregated movie theater in Belzoni, 1939

Belzoni was the site of the murder of an early civil rights pioneer. The Rev. George W. Lee, an African American minister who was seeking voting rights for the disenfranchised blacks of the Mississippi Delta and registered to vote, was murdered in 1955 in "Bloody Belzoni" by white residents committed to upholding segregation.[7] His killers were never found, as the governor of Mississippi, Hugh L. White, refused to investigate the case.[8] Many consider Lee the first martyr of the modern civil rights movement.[8]

As an undergraduate at the University of California, Berkeley, Margot Adler, later a National Public Radio correspondent, was active in the voter registration drive in Humphreys County (Belzoni) in the summer of 1965, before the passage of the Voting Rights Act on August 6 of that year. In 2000, she recalled:

"I remember how difficult it was to register people: the fear was palpable. I remember that after one month of daily work there were only seven people registered, and a bunch of us almost got ourselves killed after being chased onto private property by a group of men who belonged to the White Citizens Council". She said that the civil rights movement changed Humphreys County, and bettered the lot of African Americans. "There was real change in Belzoni. Streets were paved in hog town, sewers no longer overflowed into the dirt streets. Several black families I knew from then have held political office during the last decade".[9]

Recent history

In 2006, Belzoni elected Wardell Walton as mayor, the first African-American to hold the position. He was re-elected to a second term. He was succeeded in 2013 by Lenora Sutton, the first female mayor of Belzoni. In 2017 Carol M. Ivy was elected mayor.

Historical markers and attractions

Belzoni's role in history has been recognized primarily through historical marker campaigns. The Mississippi Blues Trail has two markers located in city limits: one for Denise LaSalle, who spent her childhood in Belzoni;[10] and another for Turner's Drug Store, an early sponsor for radio shows that broadcast Delta blues, and location of some performances by native artists Sonny Boy Williamson II and Elmore James.[11] There is a marker for Reverend George Lee as part of the Mississippi Freedom Trail, detailing his contribution to the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi, located near his burial site.[12] In 1990, the local African-American community placed concrete markers on each side of George Lee Avenue.[13][14]

Other attractions located in Belzoni[15] include the Catfish Museum; Jaketown Museum, which contains artifacts of a nearby Native American mound; Mama's Dream World, a museum commemorating Ethel Wright Mohamed; and Wister Gardens, a local garden highlighting local flowers and plant life, often used for events in the area.

In the early-2000s, the city, in conjunction with the Humphreys County Art Council and Belzoni-Humphreys Development Foundation, sponsored the art project Catfish on Parade, a collection of fiberglass catfish decorated by local artists.[16] Each catfish's design is based on a reference to its specific commercial sponsor ("D. Fin-Der, Esquire" sponsored by a local law firm) or on a theme chosen by that sponsor ("Fishin' for Words", detailing works and images of famous Mississippi writers).

Geography

Belzoni is located at 33°10′53″N 90°29′09″W (33.1813, -90.4857).[17]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2), all land.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1900263—
19101,059302.7%
19202,277115.0%
19302,73520.1%
19403,78938.5%
19504,0717.4%
19604,1421.7%
19703,394−18.1%
19802,982−12.1%
19902,536−15.0%
20002,6635.0%
20102,235−16.1%
2019 (est.)1,915[2]−14.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[18]

As of the census[19] of 2000, there were 2,663 people, 934 households, and 640 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,777.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,072.5/km2). The 1,018 housing units averaged 1,061.9 per square mile (410.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 30.49% White, 68.08% Black, 0.04% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.60% from other races, and 0.15% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.35% of the population.

Of the 934 households, 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.3% were married couples living together, 28.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were not families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.49.

In the city, the population was distributed as 32.2% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $20,690, and for a family was $25,521. Males had a median income of $26,466 versus $15,833 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,022. About 29.3% of families and 35.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 47.4% of those under age 18 and 27.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public schools

The City of Belzoni is served by the Humphreys County School District:

  • Humphreys County High School
  • Thomas C. Randle Career and Technical Center
  • Humphreys County Junior High School
  • O.M. McNair Upper Elementary School
  • Ida Greene Lower Elementary School

Private schools

Media
  • Radio stations
  • Newspaper
    • Belzoni Banner

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Belzoni has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.[20]

Climate data for Belzoni, Mississippi
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 12
(54)		 14
(58)		 19
(67)		 24
(76)		 29
(84)		 33
(91)		 34
(93)		 34
(93)		 31
(88)		 26
(78)		 19
(66)		 14
(57)		 24
(75)
Average low °C (°F) 2
(35)		 3
(38)		 7
(45)		 12
(53)		 17
(62)		 21
(69)		 22
(71)		 21
(70)		 18
(64)		 11
(52)		 6
(43)		 3
(37)		 12
(53)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 140
(5.4)		 120
(4.9)		 140
(5.6)		 130
(5.2)		 120
(4.9)		 91
(3.6)		 110
(4.3)		 76
(3)		 74
(2.9)		 84
(3.3)		 120
(4.7)		 140
(5.5)		 1,360
(53.4)
Source: Weatherbase [21]

Notable people

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. Rowland, Dunbar (1907). Encyclopedia of Mississippi History: Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions and Persons. S.A. Brant. page 229
  5. "Catfish Festival". Belzoni–Humphreys Development Foundation. Archived from the original on January 15, 2010. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  6. "History of Belzoni". Belzoni–Humphreys Development Foundation. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  7. Klopfer, Susan (December 2, 2005). "Rev. George Lee 'Died to Vote' in 'Bloody' Belzoni". Buzzle.com. Archived from the original on January 3, 2006. Retrieved November 13, 2009.
  8. "Rev. George W. Lee" (PDF). The Middle of the Internet. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 5, 2006. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  9. Adler, Margot (November 23, 2000). "Margot Adler". Veterans of the Civil Rights Movement. Westwind Writers Inc. Archived from the original on October 29, 2009. Retrieved November 13, 2009.
  10. "Denise LaSalle Map". www.msbluestrail.org. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  11. "Turner's Drug Store Map". www.msbluestrail.org. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  12. "History & Heritage | Visit Mississippi". www.visitmississippi.org. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  13. Google (February 9, 2017), English: Street View of marker placed at 100 George Lee Avenue, Belzoni, MS, USA (image taken in July 2013), retrieved February 9, 2017
  14. Google (February 9, 2017), English: Street View of marker placed at 611 George Lee Avenue, Belzoni, MS, US (Image taken in July 2013), retrieved February 9, 2017
  15. "BELZONI-HUMPHREYS DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION: Belzoni Area Attractions". www.belzonims.com. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  16. "BELZONI-HUMPHREYS DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION: Catfish on Parade Art Project". www.belzonims.com. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  17. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  18. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  19. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  20. Climate Summary for Belzoni, Mississippi
  21. "Weatherbase.com". Weatherbase. 2013. Retrieved on September 21, 2013.
  22. Erikson, Hal (February 7, 2005). "We're Sorry". New York Times. New York: The New York Times Company. Retrieved November 13, 2009.
  23. "City of Belzoni". Belzoni–Humphreys Development Foundation. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  24. "Trail of the Hellhound". National Park Service. April 20, 2001. Archived from the original on May 3, 2010.
  25. Chancey, Jill R. (June 4, 2007). "The Needle's Song: The Folk Art of Ethel Wright Mohamed". Resource Library. Traditional Fine Arts Organization, Inc. Retrieved August 27, 2010.

Further reading
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