Natchez and the Mississippi River are inseparable. Since the early days of Native American settlement in the area, the river was an integral part of life.

Even today, the Mississippi River continues to serve valuable, practical functions.

Millions of tons of cargo float down the massive river each year, providing an efficient route to get materials to and from ports of call.

Even more practical is the river’s true calling: draining the waters from half of the United States.

But for residents of Natchez and the rest of the Miss-Lou, the river is more than just the sum of its practical parts. The river is majestic and magical. Its beauty provides a soothing backdrop to our community, making it one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Thousands and thousands of visitors come to Natchez each year, lured by the antebellum houses and the river.

In recent years, our community has begun trying to capitalize on the river. In Vidalia, their riverfront is booming with growth and the publicly accessible riverwalk.

In Natchez, riverfront development is still under way, with projects like the Natchez Trails Project, which will eventually be great additions to the area. But at the moment, we’ve still got much work to do. Our riverfront is currently underutilized and we need to keep working to make it more accessible for visitors and residents alike.