Teddy Roosevelt's Bear Hunt
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.
Mississippi played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Many of the most important events of the movement, including the Freedom Rides and the March Against Fear, took place in Mississippi.
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.
Sharkey County Timeline
This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped 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.