Concordia, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Concordia, Mississippi
|
|
|---|---|
 Concordia, Mississippi
Location in Mississippi
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Bolivar |
| Elevation | 164 ft (50 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 691781 |
Concordia is a ghost town in Bolivar County, Mississippi, United States. It is located on the eastern edge of the Mississippi Levee, about 2.5 miles (4 km) west of Mississippi Highway 1.
Once, Concordia was an important port for shipping cotton on the Mississippi River. Today, not much is left of the community, mostly just a cemetery.
Contents
History of Concordia
Concordia is one of the oldest settlements in Bolivar County. The Concordia Cemetery, which is south of where the town used to be, has been used since 1848. It even has a special historic marker. The Concordia Methodist Church was also once located there.
Town Formation and Growth
Concordia officially became a town in 1866. It included an area known as "Carson's Landing," which was a bit north of the main settlement. By 1879, Concordia had about 250 people living there.
The Yellow Fever Outbreak
In 1879, a serious sickness called yellow fever spread through Concordia. Sadly, about half of the town's population passed away because of it. To try and stop the sickness from spreading further, the town was isolated for a period of time.
Impact of the Railway
A new railway, called the Louisville, New Orleans and Texas Railway, was built in 1889. However, it passed about 3 miles (5 km) east of Concordia. Because of this, many people decided to leave Concordia and move to a new railway town called Gunnison, which was closer to the railway. This made Concordia less important.
The River Changes Course
Sometime before 1939, the Mississippi River changed its path. The river used to flow right by Concordia, following a curve called the "Concordia Bend." The town was on the east bank of this bend. But after the river changed course, its main channel moved about 5 miles (8 km) to the west. This left behind a curved lake called "Old River Lake," which is a type of lake known as an oxbow lake. This change also created two islands, Island No. 70 and Island No. 71. The river moving away made Concordia even more isolated.
Modern Use of the Area
Today, the land west of Concordia, between the levee and the Mississippi River, is used by the Concordia Hunting Club. This area covers about 6,200 acres (2,500 ha).
