The Delta

I went to Cleveland, MS today to judge barbecue. Cleveland is in the Mississippi Delta. I’m sure most of you have heard of the Delta, but I’ll give you a brief history and some fun facts!  

The Delta is an alluvial plain which runs from Memphis, TN to Vicksburg, MS. One author wrote that, “The Delta begins in the lobby of the Peabody Hotel in Memphis and ends at Catfish Row in Vicksburg.”  It lies between the Mississippi River to the west, and the Talahatchie/Yazoo Rivers to the east.  It is the home of some of the richest farm land in the world, made up of sediment deposited by floods over millions of years.  Cotton used to be king in the Delta, but due to high production costs and low market price for cotton, soybeans and corn have become the predominant crops.  Catfish and rice are also grown there   

The Delta is rich in cultural diversity. The area is made up of whites, African Americans who descended from slaves, Italians and Chinese who came here as little more than indentured servants, but worked and became a new merchant class.  Nearly every town in the Delta has a Chinese or Italian grocery store.  Each of these groups have left their mark on the region.  

The Delta is where blues music began. It is the home of such blues artists as B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and Robert Johnson, who supposedly sold his soul to the devil in exchange for musical talent.  Highway 61, the Blues Highway, runs through the middle of the Delta and was the primary route for African Americans during the “Great Migration” where they went north to find better jobs and a better standard of living.  

The Delta also has a great literary and artistic heritage. It is the home of poet William Alexander Percy, his cousin, author Walker Percy, and author and historian, Shelby Foote, all of Greenville.  One of the most famous residents of the Delta is Kermit the Frog!  Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets, was born in Leland. 

The Delta is also where the Teddy Bear got its name.  In 1903, on a hunting trip to the Delta, President Theodore Roosevelt refused to shoot a captive bear.  Word quickly spread of “Teddy’s bear” and soon toy makers were scrambling to make stuffed bears for children all over the country.

The Delta gives off a certain “vibe”, if you will, that is different from any other area.  A mixture of the old and the new, a blend of cultures,  arts and artists of many genres. Even though I’ve never lived there, it feels like home to me.

I enjoyed my trip today. Not just visiting with friends over some great barbecue, but because I love the Delta this time of year. The old farmer in me loves to see the harvest in full swing. To me, there’s nothing more beautiful than a field of open, white cotton ready to be harvested.  

If you’ve never visited the Mississippi Delta, I encourage you to take a trip there.  There is so much to do and see.  You won’t be disappointed. 

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