Duncansby, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Duncansby, Mississippi
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Locations in East Carroll Parish, Louisiana, and Issaquena County, Mississippi; Duncansby on far right
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 Duncansby, Mississippi
Location in Mississippi
Duncansby, Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Issaquena |
| Elevation | 102 ft (31 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 687591 |
Duncansby is a fascinating ghost town located in Issaquena County, Mississippi, United States. A ghost town is a place where people used to live, but now almost no one does. Duncansby was once an active community right on a part of the Mississippi River called Duncansby Chute.
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The Story of Duncansby
Duncansby has an interesting history, especially how it served as an important center for its county.
Early Days and County Seat Changes
In 1844, a nearby place called Skipwith was chosen as the first "county seat." A county seat is like the main town or capital of a county, where the government offices are located. Just four years later, in 1848, Duncansby became the new county seat. However, it didn't stay that way for long. Later that same year, the county seat moved again to Tallula.
Life in Duncansby
By 1887, Duncansby was home to about 100 people. It had several stores where residents could buy goods. There were also three "fraternal organizations," which are like social clubs where people with shared interests or goals meet.
However, big changes were coming. A new railroad, the Louisville, New Orleans and Texas Railway, was built. This meant that people started using trains more often to transport goods and travel. Because of the railway, the river port at Duncansby became much less important.
By 1900, Duncansby still had two churches and its population had grown slightly to 157 people. The town even had its own post office, which operated for many years, from 1874 until 1919.
The River's Impact
The Mississippi River was very important to Duncansby, but it also caused problems. During the 1800s, the town built special walls called "dikes" to help protect itself from river floods.
A major change happened in 1935. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a group that manages rivers and waterways, started building something called the Sarah Cutoff. This project changed the path of the Mississippi River.
The Sarah Cutoff created a new type of lake called an "oxbow lake." An oxbow lake forms when a bend in a river gets cut off from the main flow. This new oxbow lake, called Old River Chute, left Duncansby far away from the main Mississippi River.
Because of these changes, Duncansby was no longer connected to the busy river. Over time, people moved away, and the town slowly disappeared. Today, there is nothing left of the old community of Duncansby.
