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The Clarksdale Region is located in northern Mississippi. The destination is named after the city Clarksdale, which is in turn named after John Clark. John Clark founded the city during the mid-19th century.[5] A few of the cities within the area include Clarksdale, Batesville, Oxford, Grenda, and Charleston. Sardis Lake is located within the zone and is a 98,520-acre reservoir.[1] Oxford is one of the most populated cities within the region.[2]
Clarksdale Region is named after the city of Clarksdale. Clarksdale offers rich culture, history, and arts to explore. The Delta Blues Museum displays artifacts, blues artists, artwork, and photographs in order to preserve the genre. The Delta Blues Museum is the oldest music museum in the state and was established in 1979. Visitors will see guitars played by B.B. King, Big Joe Williams, and John Lee Hooker.[9] Events, exhibits, and shopping are all available for guests to experience while visiting the destination.[6]
One big draw to the area is the University of Mississippi. The University of Mississippi has been named one of the most beautiful campuses in the country. The University receives the highest number of enrollment in Mississippi. The University admitted the first students to start attending the school in 1848.[3] Historic Downtown Square is another site to see while visiting the destination. The square has various things to explore, including shops, restaurants, and museums.[4]
When it comes to weather and tourism in the region, late April to early June are pleasant months to visit the area and late August to mid-October.[7] Tourists can find opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, listen to live music and dive into the area's shops and history.[8] Tourists are guaranteed to find blues music being performed 365 days of the year. The blues culture in the area spans throughout the town with shops, galleries, and restaurants.[9] There is a rich history for tourists to experience and plenty to learn while touring the museums. For example, Mississippi has the most artists that were nominated for Grammys than any other state.[12] The destination has a lot of culture to offer, including different food options. Barbecue is one of the most popular food options in the area. Abe's BBQ opened in 1924 and is one of Clarkdale's most popular dining spots. Mexican food, pizzerias, and more are found in the area.[13]
The Clarksdale Region is located in the North-East part of Mississippi. Nearby cities include Shelby, Parchman, and Charleston. The zone consists of Abbeville, Sardis Lake, and Oxford. Sardis Lake is a reservoir of around 98,000 acres. A wide variety of fish can be found in the lake, and some of those fish include Largemouth bass, Spotted bass, Blue catfish, and Channel catfish. The Sardis Lake brings in those individuals who are interested in swimming, boating, and fishing. The marina has docks, a restaurant, boat rentals, and more.[1]
Weather in the destination varies throughout the year, with hot and muggy summers and short and wet winters. Regarding tourism, the mildest months of weather include late April to early June and late August to mid-October. The hottest months last from May to September. The average temperature during these months is 83 degrees. November through February are the coldest months of the year, with an average temperature between 35 degrees and 52 degrees. The area receives the most rain during December of about 5.1 inches. Overall, the zone has high levels of humidity throughout the year.[7]
Mississippi is full of fertile grounds and has a variety of native animals and plants in the state. The jack-in-the-pulpit can grow up to a foot tall and has small red berries that emerge at the top. Goat's beard is another Mississippi flower that grows up to six feet with white blossoms. Other Mississippi wildflowers include swamp hibiscus, blazing stars, and cardinal flowers. Animals within the destination include white-tailed deer, skunks, beavers, raccoons, and black bears. The state bird of Mississippi is the northern mockingbird. The northern mockingbird can imitate songs from other species and is found in various locations, including urban areas and orchards.[10]
Before the Europeans' arrival and settlement, the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians were the first to inhabit the area. Starting in 1830, efforts began in moving the Choctaw people and the Chickasaw Nation to move to Indian Territory. After this time, the settlers noticed how the soil was ideal for growing cotton. They cleared the land and brought thousands of African American slaves to develop cotton plantations throughout the county.
Clarksdale was named after John Clark, who founded the town in 1848. During this time, John Clark also started a timber business. His business ended up turning into a trading center. John Clark was also later elected as both the US Senator and the governor of the state. Clarksdale was called "The Golden Buckle on the Cotton Belt" because of the cotton trade and other businesses' success.
After the Civil War, many black families labored as sharecroppers. Many families were still at a disadvantage in the area because of their illiteracy. Racial problems within the area didn't end after the Civil War but continued to be a problem for many years. Martin Luther King Jr. visited Clarksdale twice and where a crowd of 1,000 citizens peacefully protested. Today around 18,000 people are living in Clarksdale. 79% are African American, 19.5% are white, .6% are Asian, .6% are Native American, .4% are another race, .5% are two or more races, and .9% are Hispanic or Latino.[5] Metso, Boardwalk Pipelines, and McKesson are a few of the major companies within the destination. Metso is an industrial company focused on mining, recycling, and more industrial solutions.
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