Holly Bluff, Mississippi facts for kids
Holly Bluff is a small community in Yazoo County, Mississippi. It's not an official city, but a close-knit place where people live.
This area was first known as "Sharbrough's Landing." It was started in 1877 by the Sharbrough family. The community is located right on the Sunflower River. Long ago, farmers grew a lot of cotton here. They used the river to ship their cotton to big cities like Vicksburg and New Orleans.
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Where is Holly Bluff?
Holly Bluff is located at 32°49′17″N 90°42′32″W / 32.82139°N 90.70889°W. This means it's in a specific spot on the map.
The Sharbrough Family Story
After the Civil War, two brothers named Franklin Wilson and John Walter Sharbrough came to this area. Their father had been a cotton farmer in Smith County, Mississippi. He lost everything he owned during the war.
The Sharbrough brothers first lived near a place called Green Hill Plantation. They worked hard together to buy land and clear it for farming. Franklin Wilson Sharbrough bought land on the north side of the Sunflower River. He started a farm called Valley Home Plantation.
His brother, John Walter, bought land on the south side of the river. He named his farm Patmos Plantation. The brothers worked together to build the first roads, bridges, and levees. They also built the first cotton gin in this part of Mississippi. A cotton gin is a machine that separates cotton fibers from their seeds.
Later, they built the first church in the area. It was called "Sharbrough's Chapel." Today, this church is still open and is known as Holly Bluff United Methodist Church.
In 1906, a railroad company wanted to change the name of Sharbrough's Landing. They suggested "Sharbroughville." But the family thought that name would be too hard to spell. So, they decided on the name Holly Bluff instead. The Holly Bluff post office officially opened on July 31, 1906. Marcia M. Hackler was the first postmaster.
The Yazoo Delta Railroad
The Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroad was created in 1882. It was part of the Illinois Central company. Its goal was to build train tracks into the rich farming area of the Yazoo Delta.
In 1905, a train line was built from Silver City, Mississippi to Holly Bluff. People often called this train line the "Yellow Dog."
The main reason for building the Holly Bluff line was to reach the cotton farms. The Sharbrough family grew a lot of cotton in this fertile area. After the railroad was built, most of the cotton from Holly Bluff was sold in Memphis. Before the railroad, it was usually sent to New Orleans.
Ancient Mounds Near Holly Bluff
Just outside Holly Bluff, on Mississippi Highway 16, is a very old place. It's called the Lake George Mound site. These mounds were built a long, long time ago by Native Americans. They were built during a time called the Temple Mound period.
The biggest mound is 55 feet tall. It is the fourth tallest Native American mound in the United States. These mounds were used for religious ceremonies, not for people to live on. This site is important because it shows where different ancient cultures met. It's on the southern edge of the Mississippian culture and the northern edge of the Cole's Creek and Plaquemine cultures.
Climate in Holly Bluff
The weather in Holly Bluff has hot and humid summers. The winters are usually mild or cool. According to a system that classifies climates, Holly Bluff has a humid subtropical climate. This type of climate is often shown as "Cfa" on climate maps.
Education for Kids
Students who live in Holly Bluff go to schools in the Yazoo County School District. They attend Yazoo County Middle School and Yazoo County High School.
