Norfolk, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Norfolk, Mississippi
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 Norfolk, Mississippi
Location in Mississippi
Norfolk, Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Desoto |
| Elevation | 210 ft (64 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 692114 |
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Norfolk is a small, unincorporated community located in Desoto County, Mississippi, United States. This means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Norfolk Landing, also known as Helm's Landing, was a port on the Mississippi River very close to Norfolk.
History of Norfolk
Norfolk started as a steamboat landing on a large farm (plantation) owned by a man named Helms. By 1854, it had grown into a small village.
Norfolk Landing's Role in History
Norfolk Landing was the first port you would reach south of the border between Mississippi and Tennessee. During the American Civil War, in 1862, the newly formed Confederate States of America set up a customs office there. A customs office is a place where officials check goods coming into or leaving a country or area. All boats passing by had to stop and show what cargo they were carrying.
This rule made many people in the northern and western parts of the United States very angry. They believed that being able to travel freely on the Mississippi River was a right for all Americans. The idea of a "foreign power" (which is how they saw the Confederacy) telling them how they could use "their river" was unacceptable.
Norfolk also had its own post office. It operated for many years, from 1854 until 1913.
Hernando DeSoto Park
Today, Norfolk Landing has been turned into a public park called "Hernando DeSoto Park." This park is about 41 acres (16.6 hectares) in size.
The park offers many fun things to do. You can enjoy a hiking or walking trail, look out over the Mississippi River, and have a picnic. There is also parking and a place to launch boats. This park is special because it's the only spot in DeSoto County where the public can easily get to the Mississippi River.
See also
In Spanish: Norfolk (Misisipi) para niños
