When we think of history, we tend to think of places like Paris, New Orleans, and other cities on the southern coast. Natchez, Mississippi, is no exception. This city began as a Spanish colony in 1779, a period when British troops were largely absent. Despite this, the city quickly became a center of commerce and developed large cotton plantations. These plants eventually attracted wealthy Southern planters. These planters also used slave labor to grow their crops, and the city became a major port for export.
The city was home to many famous Americans, including Jefferson Davis, Aaron Burr, and Henry Clay. In the Civil War, many Southern cities were burned or abandoned, but Natchez was spared. Many famous citizens visited this city, including John James Audubon, Henry Clay, Andrew Jackson, and Zachary Taylor. The city also boasts more antebellum mansions than any other city in the country.
Natchez has an above-average percentage of black residents. It is the most-populated city in Mississippi, with over nine-thousand people of African descent. It is also home to five-thousand white residents. The city's poverty rate is higher than the state average. It has a slightly higher percentage of two and three-person households than the average. The area is also home to several small businesses, including restaurants and other stores.
After the Civil War, Natchez became an important center of Ku Klux Klan activity and opposed integration. In 1964, E. L. McDaniel, Grand Dragon of the United Klans of America, located his office in Natchez. He and his followers began a klavern of the UKA in Natchez, which operated under the cover name of Adams County Civic and Betterment Association.