History
A remarkable blend of tradition and progress has established Vicksburg as a modern city, yet one which retains all the charm and elegance associated with the Old South. The splendor of its setting nestled in the bluff hills along the confluence of the mighty Mississippi River with Interstate 20, and the hospitality of its people have combined perfectly for Vicksburg to merit the title of "The Red Carpet City of the South".
Vicksburg has an interesting and diverse history with records dating back to the territorial days. First claimed by the French in 1680, along with every foot of land rained by the Mississippi River, the area was later transferred to Spain by King Louis XV. Spain in turn sold the land to the United States in 1795. Georgia organized the County of Bourbon in southwest Mississippi and in 1795 sold huge tracts of land to syndicates for speculation. In 1798, Congress bought the Georgia claims and created the territory of Mississippi. Warren County was organized in 1809. Vicksburg, "America's River Port City,” was founded in 1819 on the plantation of William Vick and John Lane.
By 1825, Vicksburg was a thriving frontier settlement. From that time until the Civil War, the community continued to grow and by 1861, was a well ordered and prosperous city. Vicksburg's role during the days when civil strife scarred the nation is historic. Modern writers have called Vicksburg "The Gibraltar of the Confederacy,” for the force that held her bluffs controlled the vital Mississippi River and linked the country to the west. The Confederates surrounded, with few supplies, little ammunition and no prospects of reinforcement were finally starved out and forced to surrender the city to Union General U.S. Grant on July 4, 1863. It has only been in recent years that the “Fourth of July” has been celebrated with any semblance of pride and joy in the city. This defeat has also been recorded as the turning point of the Civil War in favor of the Union. Dedicated to the memory of the valiant soldiers and citizens who served and sacrificed, an Act of Congress established the Vicksburg National Military Park in 1899. This park, now a part of the National Park Service, was established to preserve the field of battle and the scenic and historic heritage of Vicksburg. It is considered by many as one of the county's most beautiful national memorials.
Reconstruction was a trying period for the city, as it was for the entire South. Civic progress was slow. Only because this was the era of the packet boat, coupled with Vicksburg's location, which made her a center for steamboat trade, was it possible for the community to prosper. However, on April 27, 1876, the Mississippi River cut itself off from Vicksburg on its ever- changing course, leaving the city's wharf high and dry. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began work in 1892 to divert the Yazoo River into the old Mississippi River bed, thus restoring a harbor on the river. Work on the new canal was completed in January 1903. Also, during the latter part of the century, the Port of Vicksburg was developed. As other modes of transportation developed across the country, Vicksburg’s landscape was further redrawn. The combination of the convergence of U.S. 80 and U.S. 61, I-20, the navigable Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, and the railroad systems allowed Vicksburg to be a crossroad for the country and of course a bridge between east and west. These progressions in transportation led to residential growth, urban development, and an influx of business and industry. Now a city with a sound basic economy and considerable possibilities, Vicksburg can look to the future with faith that her strategic location will lead to a commercial prominence in Mississippi.