Belzoni, Mississippi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Belzoni, Mississippi
City
Flag
Motto(s):  "Heart Of The Delta"
Location of Belzoni, Mississippi
Belzoni, Mississippi Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
County	Humphreys
Area
• Total	1.02 sq mi (2.64 km2)
• Land	1.02 sq mi (2.64 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	112 ft (34 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,938
• Density	1,901.86/sq mi (734.56/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	39038
Area code(s)	662
FIPS code	28-05140
GNIS feature ID	2403852

Belzoni (pronounced bel-ZOHN-uh) is a city in Humphreys County, Mississippi, United States. It is located in the Mississippi Delta region, right by the Yazoo River. In 2010, about 2,235 people lived there. Belzoni is the county seat of Humphreys County, which means it's where the main government offices for the county are. The city got its name from Giovanni Battista Belzoni, an Italian archaeologist and explorer from the 1800s.

In 1976, Belzoni was officially named the "Farm-Raised Catfish Capital of the World." This is because more farm-raised catfish are produced here than anywhere else in the U.S. A huge area, about 40,000 acres (162 square kilometers), is covered with ponds for growing catfish. In fact, about 60% of all farm-raised catfish in the U.S. come from within 65 miles (100 km) of Belzoni. The city is also famous for its World Catfish Festival, which happens every April.

Belzoni's History

The area where Belzoni now stands was once called "Greasy Row." This was because of the many saloons along the Yazoo River, which was the main way to travel and transport goods before railroads were built.

In 1895, Belzoni officially became a village. People from Europe and Africa had already settled there many decades before. Before the Civil War, the area was known for its large cotton farms. Farming remained very important to the economy well into the 1900s. Steve Castleman helped get the village charter and became Belzoni's first mayor. When Humphreys County was created in 1918, Belzoni was chosen as its county seat.

Civil Rights Movement in Belzoni

Belzoni played a role in the Civil Rights Movement. In 1955, an African American minister named George W. Lee was murdered here. He was working to help Black citizens register to vote, which was very difficult and dangerous at the time. His killers were never found. Many people see Reverend Lee as one of the first heroes of the modern Civil Rights Movement.

In 1965, a student named Margot Adler helped with voter registration in Humphreys County. She later became a reporter for National Public Radio. She remembered how scared people were to register. Even after a month, only seven people had registered. She also recalled being chased by a group of men. However, she said that the Civil Rights Movement brought real change to Belzoni. Streets were paved, and some Black families she knew later held political offices.

Recent Mayors

In 2006, Wardell Walton became Belzoni's first African-American mayor. He served two terms. After him, Lenora Sutton became the first female mayor in 2013. In 2017, Carol M. Ivy was elected mayor.

Historical Markers and Attractions

Belzoni's history is remembered through special historical markers. The Mississippi Blues Trail has two markers in the city. One honors Denise LaSalle, a blues singer who grew up in Belzoni. The other marks Turner's Drug Store, which used to sponsor radio shows featuring Delta blues music. Famous artists like Sonny Boy Williamson II and Elmore James sometimes performed there.

There is also a marker for Reverend George Lee on the Mississippi Freedom Trail. It tells about his important work in the Civil Rights Movement. In 1990, the local African-American community placed concrete markers on George Lee Avenue to honor him.

Other interesting places to visit in Belzoni include:

• The Catfish Museum, where you can learn all about catfish farming.
• The Jaketown Museum, which has old tools and items from a nearby Native American mound.
• Mama's Dream World, a museum celebrating the artist Ethel Wright Mohamed.
• Wister Gardens, a beautiful garden with local flowers and plants.

In the early 2000s, the city started an art project called Catfish on Parade. Local artists decorated fiberglass catfish statues. Each statue's design was inspired by its sponsor or a special theme. For example, one was called "Fishin' for Words" and showed famous Mississippi writers.

Geography and Climate

Belzoni covers about 1.0 square mile (2.6 square kilometers) of land. The climate in Belzoni is called a humid subtropical climate. This means it has warm temperatures and rain throughout the year.

People in Belzoni

The table above shows how Belzoni's population has changed over the years.

Belzoni's Population in 2020

In 2020, there were 1,938 people living in Belzoni. These people made up 809 households and 525 families.

Education in Belzoni

Belzoni has several schools for students.

Public Schools

The public schools in Belzoni are part of 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

• Humphreys Academy

Media

Belzoni has its own radio stations and a newspaper.

• Radio stations
  • WELZ 1460AM (plays Country)
  • WBYP 107.1FM (plays Country)
• Newspaper
  • Belzoni Banner

Famous People from Belzoni

Many talented people have come from Belzoni, Mississippi. Here are a few:

• Eddie "Guitar" Burns – A musician known for Delta blues music.
• Jim Clark – A football coach who led McNeese State University's team.
• Boyd Gilmore – A blues singer and guitarist.
• Charles Gordon – A film producer.
• Lawrence Gordon – Another film producer, who worked for big studios like 20th Century Fox.
• Elmore James – A famous blues guitarist.
• Denise LaSalle – A blues singer and member of the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame.
• Ethel Wright Mohamed – An artist known as the 'Grandma Moses of Stitchery'.
• Ollie Mohamed – A former member of the Mississippi Senate.
• Pinetop Perkins – A Grammy Award-winning blues musician and Blues Hall of Famer.
• Otis Spann – A blues pianist who played with Muddy Waters's band for a long time.
• Benjamin Swan – A member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
• Monroe Swan – A member of the Wisconsin State Senate.
• Ernie Terrell – A professional boxer.
• Jean Terrell – An R&B and jazz singer who joined The Supremes in 1970.
• Herb Washington – A track and field athlete who also played Major League Baseball.
• Annette Polly Williams – A member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.
• Ben Williams – A former National Football League defensive end.

Images for kids

• 

  A movie theater in Belzoni in 1939.

See also

In Spanish: Belzoni (Misisipi) para niños