Trotter Landing, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Trotter Landing, Mississippi
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 Trotter Landing, Mississippi
Location in Mississippi
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| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Tunica |
| Elevation | 157 ft (48 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 692276 |
Trotter Landing (sometimes called Trotter's Landing) is a ghost town in Tunica County, Mississippi, United States. A ghost town is a place where people used to live, but now it's empty. This town was once a very important port on the Mississippi River. Today, nothing is left of the original settlement.
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History of Trotter Landing
Trotter Landing was founded in 1820 by a person named C. L. Moore. He started a ferry service there. This ferry carried people and goods across the river to Helena, Arkansas. Helena was on the other side of the Mississippi River.
From Glendale to Trotter's Landing
At first, the place was called "Glendale Landing." But in 1846, Captain John Trotter bought land in the area. He then changed the name to "Trotter's Landing."
A Busy River Port
Trotter Landing became a very busy river port. A river port is like a harbor for boats on a river. Farmers would bring their crops and other products here. These goods were then loaded onto boats and sent down the river. Even though it was busy, the town mostly stayed important just as a river port. It did not grow into a big city.
Steamboat Accident
In 1870, a newspaper called the Ohio Statesman reported some news. A steamboat named the Kenton was traveling from Cincinnati to New Orleans. When it reached Trotter Landing, it hit something in the water. The boat ended up lying on its side on the river bank. The newspaper said the steamboat was "probably a total loss." This means it was likely too damaged to be fixed.
Railroad Connection
In the 1870s, a railroad line was built to Trotter Landing. It was a branch of the Mobile & North Western Railroad. This railroad line traveled west from Lula, Mississippi, to Trotter Landing. This helped connect the river port to other places by train. However, this railroad is no longer used today.
The Glidden Tour
In 1910, a special event called the Glidden Tour came through Trotter Landing. This was an annual event where people drove cars across the country. It was sponsored by the American Automobile Association. To cross the Mississippi River, large barges were sent from Helena to Trotter Landing. These barges carried all the cars across the "Father of Waters" (a nickname for the Mississippi River). Part of the river bank had to be cut away temporarily to help the cars get onto the barges.
Southern National Highway
Later, in 1915, the ferry from Trotter Landing to Helena became part of a major road. It was included as a section of the Southern National Highway. This shows how important the ferry crossing was for travel at that time.
Why Trotter Landing Disappeared
Several things caused Trotter Landing to become a ghost town.
- New Railroads: After the American Civil War, many new railroads were built. People started using trains more often to transport goods. This meant they relied less on the Mississippi River for transportation.
- New Bridges: Bridges were also built across the river. For example, the Frisco Bridge opened in nearby Memphis in 1892. These bridges made ferry crossings less necessary.
- River Changed Course: The Mississippi River itself changed over time. The river moved its path and flowed west of Trotter Landing. This left the town some distance away from the river. Since it was no longer right on the river, it lost its main purpose as a port.
Trotter Landing Today
Even though Trotter Landing is a ghost town, it is still important to some people. It is special for canoeists and paddlers on the Mississippi River. The town was located at the entrance to "Old River Chute." This is a historic oxbow lake. An oxbow lake is a U-shaped lake that forms when a river changes its course. People describe "Old River Chute" as a "primeval world." You can reach it by using a small boat from the Mississippi River.
