The Mississippi Delta is the distinctive northwest section of
the U.S. state of Mississippi that lies between the Mississippi
and Yazoo rivers. The region has been called "The Most Southern
Place on Earth" ("Southern" in the sense of "characteristic of
its region, the American South") because of its unique racial,
cultural, and economic history. It was one of the richest
cotton-growing areas in the nation. Before the American Civil
War (1861-1865), the region attracted many speculators who
developed land for cotton plantations; they became wealthy
planters dependent for labor on black slaves. The majority of
residents in several counties across the region are still
predominately Black, although tens of thousands left the region
in the 20th century Great Migration to northern industrial
cities. The agricultural economy does not support much business,
and the region has worked to diversify. The strong musical
tradition of African Americans developed blues and jazz. At
times the region has suffered heavy floodin