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Greenwood is a city in and the county seat of Leflore County[1], Mississippi, United States,[1] located at the eastern edge of the Mississippi Delta approximately 96 miles north of Jackson, Mississippi and 130 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee. The population was 18,425 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of the Greenwood Micropolitan Statistical Area. The Tallahatchie River and the Yalobusha River meet at Greenwood to form the Yazoo River.
[edit] History
The flood plain of the Mississippi River has long been an area rich in vegetation and wildlife, feeding off the Mississippi and its numerous tributaries. Long before Europeans migrated to America, the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indian nations settled in the Delta's marsh and swampland. In 1830 the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek was signed by Choctaw Chief Greenwood Leflore, opening the swampland to European settlers. The first settlement on the banks of the Yazoo River [2]was a trading post founded by John Williams in 1830 and known as Williams Landing. The settlement quickly blossomed, and in 1844 was incorporated as "Greenwood," named after Chief Greenwood Leflore. Growing into a strong cotton market, the key to the city's success was based on its strategic location in the heart of the Delta; on the easternmost point of the alluvial plain and astride the Tallahatchie River and the Yazoo River[3]. The city served as a shipping point to New Orleans, Louisiana, Vicksburg, Mississippi, Memphis, Tennessee and St. Louis, Missouri. Greenwood continued to prosper until the latter part of the American Civil War. During that war, Greenwood played an important, if little-known, role in the famous Siege of Vicksburg. In early 1863, it was clear that the Union intended to attack the strategic port of Vicksburg on the Mississippi River. After failed attempts at a frontal assault of the city, General Ulysses S. Grant hatched a new plan to attack from the rear by way of the Tallahatchie and Yazoo Rivers [4]. A hastily constructed Confederate fort was placed between the two rivers at Fort Pemberton. Here the Confederates met the oncoming Union flotilla with fierce resistance and the sinking of the paddle wheeler Star of the West in the channel of the Tallahatchie River, successfully stopping their advance. As a result, Grant abandoned the Yazoo Expedition and retreated north to the Mississippi River to assault Vicksburg by another route. The end of the Civil War in the mid-1860s and the following year of Reconstruction severely diminished the cotton industry and crippled the city's previously thriving economy. Greenwood saw very little growth during these years of hardship. The arrival of railroads in the 1880s saved the city – with two lines running to downtown Greenwood, close to the Yazoo River. Once again, Greenwood emerged as a prime shipping point for cotton. Downtown's Front Street bordering the Yazoo [5]bustled with cotton factors and other related businesses, earning that section the name Cotton Row. The city continued to prosper in this way well into the 1940s. Recent years have seen a decline in cotton planting.[2] Greenwood's Grand Boulevard was once named one of America's ten most beautiful streets by the U.S. Chambers of Commerce and the Garden Clubs of America. The 1000 oak trees lining Grand Boulevard were planted in 1916 by Sally Humphreys Gwin, a charter member of the Greenwood Garden Club. In 1950, Gwin received a citation from the National Congress of the Daughters of the American Revolution in recognition of her work in the conservation of trees.[3][4] From 1962 through 1964 Greenwood was a center of protests and voter registration struggles during the Civil Rights Movement. SNCC, COFO, and the MFDP were all active in Greenwood. During this period hundreds were arrested on nonviolent protests, civil rights activists were subjected to repeated violence, blacks were denied the right to vote, and economic retaliation was used against African-Americans who attempted to register to vote.[5] In the 21st Century, Greenwood is experiencing a cultural renaissance. Its historic downtown boasts dozens of completed renovations with several others in progress. There are upscale shops, unique dining experiences, a boutique hotel, galleries and museums. All the while, Greenwood has retained its small-town beauty, Delta personality and deep-South hospitality. (from the Greenwood Convention and Visitor's Bureau) [edit] TourismThe establishment of Greenwood as a tourist destination came with the revitalization of Howard Street in historic Downtown Greenwood. Notable businesses that make their home on Howard Street include The Alluvian Hotel, The Alluvian Spa, The Viking Cooking School, The Mississippi Gift Company [6], Blue Parrot Restaurant and Veronica's Bakery, the Delta Bistro, Olde World Antiques, Russell's Antiques, Turnrow Books, Matties, Sweet Pea, Fincher's Gifts, Traditions, Ashley's Rug World, The Cat Walk and several bank headquarters. [edit] African-American heritageThe African-American contribution to the Greenwood region is invaluable. In fact, the Delta has exported as much music as cotton, sprouted from the spirit of the people. That spirit rose from historic neighborhoods such as Browning Community in Greenwood, the oldest African-American community in Mississippi, and home to the important Browning Artesian Well. The spirit was fed by the town and country churches, including the area's oldest African-American church, Wesley United Methodist in downtown Greenwood, organized in 1870. The spirit was shaped by centers of learning such as Mississippi Valley State University, which has borne generation of historic figures, from sports stars and Olympians to Civil Rights leader and present-day civic leaders. Leflore County has produced extraordinary music stars, from the early bluesmen such as Mississippi John Hurt from nearby Teoc, Mississippi and Walter "Furry" Lewis to the talent of today including B.B. King [7], Hubert Sumlin and Denise LaSalle. Another famous blues musician, Robert Johnson[8], has three memorial gravestones [9] in the Greenwood area. Not all great African-Americans left the Delta. Others stayed and forged freedom a day at a time, through their own efforts. Noted Civil Rights leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King held a rally in the summer of 1966, along with Stokely Carmichael of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and Floyd McKissick of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). Sites such as East Percy Street Christian Church and the home of Dewey Greene were Civil Rights-era meeting places. After Memphis, Tennessee cartoonist J. P. Alley was introduced to Greenwood resident Tom Hunley, he was inspired to create his long-run syndicated illustrated feature Hambone's Meditations, prominent throughout the South because Alley's drawings were seen daily on The Commercial Appeal's front page. Hunley later became known as the real-life Hambone. The Mississippi Delta is rich in the accomplishments of African-Americans who struggled, transcended, created, inspired and motivated.[6] [edit] Mississippi Blues Trail markersRadio station WGRM on Howard Street was the location of B.B. King's first live broadcast in 1940. On a Sunday night King performed live gospel music.[7] In dedication to this event, the Mississippi Blues Trail [10]has placed its third historic marker in this town at the site of the former radio station.[8][9] Another Mississippi Blues trail marker is placed near the grave of blues singer Robert Johnson[11].[10] There is also a Blues Trail marker at the Elks Lodge.[11] [edit] Notable natives and residents
[edit] City governmentGreenwood is governed by city council form of government composed of council members from seven wards and headed by a mayor. [edit] Mayor
[edit] Council Members
[edit] Education[edit] Post-Secondary Institutions
[edit] Greenwood Public SchoolsMain article: Greenwood Public School District
Leflore County Schools:
Private Schools
Parochial Schools
[edit] Media and publishing[edit] Newspapers, Magazines and Journals
[edit] Television[edit] AM/FM Radio
[edit] Transportation[edit] RailroadsGreenwood is served by two major rail lines. Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Greenwood, connecting New Orleans to Chicago from Greenwood station. [edit] Air TransportationGreenwood (GWO) is served by Greenwood-Leflore Airport to the east and is located midway between Jackson, Mississippi and Memphis, Tennessee and about halfway between Dallas, Texas and Atlanta, Georgia. [edit] Highways
[edit] EmployersThe largest employers in Leflore County are:
[edit] Sites of interest[edit] Museums and History
[edit] Historic Downtown
[edit] Fine Dining
[edit] GeographyGreenwood is located at 33°31′7″N 90°11′2″W / 33.51861°N 90.18389°W (33.518719, -90.183883)[12]. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.5 square miles (24.7 km²), of which, 9.2 square miles (23.9 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.8 km²) of it is water. The total area is 3.15% water.
[edit] DemographicsAs of the census[13] of 2000, there were 18,425 people, 6,916 households, and 4,523 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,997.8 people per square mile (771.6/km²). There are 7,565 housing units at an average density of 316.8/km² (820.3/sq mi). The racial makeup of the city was 30.82% White, 75.36% Black, 0.11% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.03% of the population. There were 6,916 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.4% are married couples living together, 27.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.29. In the city the population was spread out with 31.0% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 84.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.9 males. The median income for a household in the city is $21,867, and the median income for a family was $26,393. Males had a median income of $27,267 versus $18,578 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,461. 33.9% of the population and 28.8% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 47.0% of those under the age of 18 and 20.0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. [edit] Watch[edit] References
[edit] External links
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