Natchez, Historic river port in Mississippi, United States
Natchez is a town on the eastern bank of the Mississippi, spread across hills above the river. Residential streets wind through older neighborhoods with 19th-century homes, while the downtown area near the water maintains its connection to river commerce.
In 1716 the French built a military post here that later became a trading crossroads between French, British, and Spanish colonial territories. After 1800 the town grew into one of the wealthiest in the American South through cotton trade.
The town takes its name from the Natchez people who lived here for centuries before European settlers arrived. Street names and memorials still honor these indigenous roots today.
The downtown core is compact enough to explore on foot, with marked paths along the bluffs and through the main streets. Some mansions open for tours during certain seasons, so it helps to check ahead.
The river valley at Natchez marked the southern end of the Natchez Trace, an old overland route stretching north into Tennessee. Traders and travelers followed this path for centuries before steamboats dominated the river.
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