Where is Belzoni located in Mississippi, United States?
Belzoni (pronounced Bell-zone-uh) is a city in Humphreys County, Mississippi, in the Mississippi Delta region, on the Yazoo River. The population was 2,663 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Humphreys County. It was named for the 19th century Italian archaeologist/explorer Giovanni Battista Belzoni.
Who was the first mayor of Belzoni Mississippi?
In 1895, a charter was granted for the village of Belzoni, although the area had been settled for several decades previously. Steve Castleman, who secured the charter, became the first mayor of Belzoni. When Humphreys County was formed in 1918, Belzoni was selected county seat.
Why is Belzoni Mississippi the Catfish Capital of the world?
The area was named Farm-Raised Catfish Capital of the World in 1976 by then Governor Cliff Finch, since it produces more farm-raised catfish than any other U.S. county. About 40,000 acres (160 km 2) of the county are under water in ponds used to grow catfish.
How many acres are under water in Belzoni Mississippi?
About 40,000 acres (160 km 2) of the county are under water in ponds used to grow catfish. About 60% of U.S. farm-raised catfish are grown within a 65-mile (100-km) radius of Belzoni. The title „Catfish Capital“ is also claimed by Savannah, Tennessee, Des Allemands, Louisiana, and Selkirk, Manitoba.
Who is the mayor of Belzoni, Mississippi?
Recent history. In 2006, Belzoni elected Wardell Walton as mayor, the first African-American to hold the position. He was re-elected to a second term. He was succeeded in 2013 by Lenora Sutton, the first female mayor of Belzoni. In 2017 Carol M. Ivy was elected mayor.
Who was assassinated in Belzoni, Mississippi in 1955?
Belzoni was the site of the murder of an early civil rights pioneer. The Rev. George W. Lee, an African American minister who was seeking voting rights for the disenfranchised blacks of the Mississippi Delta and registered to vote, was murdered in 1955 in „Bloody Belzoni“ by white residents committed to upholding…
Why is Belzoni Mississippi known as Greasy Row?
Belzoni is known for the World Catfish Festival held every April. The area that eventually became Belzoni was originally known as „Greasy Row“ because of saloons along the bank of the Yazoo River. In 1895, a charter was granted for the village of Belzoni, although the area had been settled for several decades previously.