Historical Marker

Sharkey County Courthouse

Marker installed: 2015
Marker provided by: Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Since 1949 the State Historical Marker program has identified and interpreted historic sites across Mississippi. More than one thousand markers can be found near buildings, battlefields, cemeteries, churches, temples, forts, homes, schools, and abandoned towns.

For tourists the markers may be their only glimpses into the state’s rich and varied history. For Mississippi communities the markers can be points of pride that memorialize locally important people and events.

State Historical Markers are privately sponsored and funded. Anyone may sponsor a marker. To qualify a site must have unique historical significance to the local community, the state, or the nation.

The state has a diverse population that includes Native American tribes such as the Choctaw and Chickasaw, as well as African Americans, European Americans, and Hispanic Americans.
Mississippi random facts
Sharkey County, located in the state of Mississippi, has a rich history that spans back to the early 19th century. It was established in 1876 and named after William L. Sharkey, a prominent politician and judge in the region. The county was primarily settled by European farmers who migrated from the eastern states, specifically Virginia, North Carolina, and Kentucky. They were attracted to the fertile land along the Mississippi Delta, which was ideal for agriculture.

During the antebellum period, Sharkey County experienced a boom in cotton production, making it an integral part of the Mississippi planter class. The county was heavily dependent on enslaved labor, with large plantations dominating the agricultural landscape. However, such prosperity was marred by the brutal treatment of slaves and the perpetuation of the plantation system.

After the Civil War and the emancipation of slaves, Sharkey County faced widespread economic devastation. The once-thriving plantations were unable to adapt to the new labor system, leading to a decline in cotton production. Many former slaves also struggled to find stability and opportunities for economic advancement. Consequently, sharecropping became a prevalent form of labor in the county, with many former slaves and poor white farmers working on the land of large landowners.

In the 20th century, Sharkey County endured the challenges of the Great Depression, the decline of the cotton industry, and racial segregation. The transformation of agriculture led to a shift from cotton to other crops such as soybeans and rice. Additionally, the civil rights movement brought attention to the racial injustices within the county, leading to protests and demonstrations. Despite these challenges, Sharkey County continues to be a vibrant community with a resilient spirit rooted in its historical legacy.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Sharkey County, Mississippi.

  • 1876 - Sharkey County was established on February 2.
  • 1890 - The county courthouse was completed.
  • 1927 - The Great Mississippi Flood significantly affected Sharkey County.
  • 1933 - The Great Depression brought economic challenges to the county.
  • 1964 - Sharkey County played a role in the Civil Rights Movement.
  • 1978 - The Yazoo-Mississippi Delta Joint Water Management District was formed.
  • 2010 - Sharkey County's population was 4,916 based on the census.