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Liverpool, Mississippi facts for kids

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Liverpool, Mississippi
Liverpool, Mississippi is located in Mississippi
Liverpool, Mississippi
Liverpool, Mississippi
Location in Mississippi
Country United States
State Mississippi
County Yazoo
Elevation
328 ft (100 m)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
GNIS feature ID 686677

Liverpool is a ghost town in Yazoo County, Mississippi, United States. A ghost town is a place where people used to live and work, but now very few or no people live there. Liverpool was once a busy community. Its port, called Liverpool Landing, was on the Yazoo River, about 0.9 miles (1.5 km) west of the main settlement. Today, Liverpool Road goes through where the town used to be, and Mississippi Highway 3 runs near the old river landing.

A Busy River Town: Liverpool's Past

Yazoo River 1863 Porter
Map from 1863 showing Liverpool

Before the American Civil War (which happened from 1861 to 1865), Liverpool Landing was a very important place. It was a busy stop for steamboats, which were like big boats powered by steam. People used it as a shipping point for cotton, which was a major crop grown in the area. This made Liverpool a lively center for trade and travel.

Liverpool During the Civil War

Because of its location on a bend in the Yazoo River, Liverpool Landing became very important during the Civil War. It was a good spot for the Confederate Army to defend against the Union Army. The land around the river had steep, brush-covered hills. One of these hills, called "Rudloff Ridge," was chosen as a strong defensive spot.

River Obstructions and Battles

In June 1862, Confederate soldiers built a large log chain raft across the Yazoo River at Liverpool Landing. This raft was meant to block big Union Army ships from moving up the river. The New York Times newspaper called the raft "a perfect lock against ascending boats." Several Confederate ships, including the Arkansas and Polk, were sent to protect this important raft.

Another big river battle happened at Liverpool Landing from May 20 to 23, 1863. During this time, Confederate commander William Wirt Adams fought against Federal Army gunboats in the area. To further block the river, the Confederate ships Ivy and Capitol were sunk on purpose at Liverpool Landing.

Decline of Liverpool

After the Civil War ended, Liverpool and Liverpool Landing began to decline. This happened because railroads started to become more common for transporting goods and people. Trains slowly replaced riverboats as the main way to move things, which meant the river landing was no longer as important.

Today, the Liverpool Baptist Church and its cemetery are still located where the old settlement used to be. They are a reminder of the community that once thrived there.

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