Yazoo City

Yazoo City is the county seat in west-central Mississippi, sitting along the Yazoo River at roughly 34 meters elevation. Cotton fields, forests, and catfish ponds surround the town, while the downtown features single-story buildings and wide streets.

The settlement began in 1824 as Hannan's Bluff on the riverbank and was renamed Manchester in 1830. The current name Yazoo City was adopted in 1841 when the town became the official county seat.

The name comes from the Yazoo River, which was home to the Yazoo people before French explorers arrived in the region. The river location still shapes how residents manage flood protection and farmland use, especially during spring rain periods.

The town sits roughly 40 miles (64 kilometers) north of state capital Jackson along Highway 49. Main roads run flat and straight, making orientation during a walk easy.

Mississippi's first oil field was discovered near here in 1939, changing the local economy significantly. Oil had been present underground for ages, but its extraction brought new jobs and businesses to the rural area.

Location: Yazoo County

Inception: 1824

Elevation above the sea: 34 m

Website: http://yazoo.org

GPS coordinates: 32.85639,-90.40750

Latest update: December 13, 2025 18:32