Greenwood
Around Greenwood
Photo: USDAgov · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Mississippi · 35k people
Greenwood
Locals say The Delta · “Cotton Capital of the World”, “The Emerald City”
Where the blues sing and the catfish fry.
Mississippi Valley State greenDelta soil brown
Welcome to Greenwood, the heart of the Mississippi Delta. Here you'll find the blues, catfish, and friendly folks. Come for the music, stay for the tamales.
Clubs for Greenwood
No clubs for Greenwood yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Greenwood. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Greenwood. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Cottonlandia Museum Museum of Delta history and culture in Greenwood.
- Whittington Park City park with green space and walking paths.
- Mississippi Delta Community College Public community college in Moorhead.
- Mississippi Valley State University Public university in Itta Bena, home of the Delta Devils.
- Leflore County Courthouse Historic courthouse in downtown Greenwood.
- Greenwood Leflore County Civic Center Arena for concerts and events.
- Outdoors Fish the Tallahatchie River
- Outdoors Duck hunt in the Delta
- With kids Visit Cottonlandia Museum
- With kids Attend a Delta Devils game
- Evenings Visit a juke joint
- Evenings Go to a blues club
- Locals love Juke joints
- Locals love Blues clubs
Through the year
- World Catfish Festival April Celebrates Belzoni's catfish heritage with food, music, and contests.
- Cotton Row Festival May Greenwood's street festival with arts, crafts, and live music.
- Leflore County Fair September County fair with rides, livestock shows, and local exhibits.
- Delta Blues Challenge October Blues competition showcasing regional artists.
- Mississippi Valley State Homecoming October Delta Devils football game and campus festivities.
The Delta has a humid subtropical climate with hot, muggy summers and mild winters. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to be outdoors. Best: Spring and fall are the best times to be outside, with mild temperatures and lower humidity.
Talk like a local
- “The Delta”
- The region itself, the Mississippi Delta.
- “Juke”
- A juke joint, a small blues venue.
- “Hot tamales”
- Spicy beef tamales, a local specialty.
- “Catfish”
- Catfish, a staple food and fishing target.
Getaways
- Grenada Lake Fishing, boating, and camping at Grenada Lake.
- Cleveland Visit the Grammy Museum and Delta State University.
- Greenville Riverfront views and the Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Festival.
- Clarksdale Delta Blues Museum and the famous Crossroads.
Local flavour
Teams
- Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils NCAA Division I (FCS)
Also rooting for Mississippi State Bulldogs, Ole Miss Rebels, New Orleans Saints
Eat and drink
- Delta hot tamales Spicy corn-husk-wrapped tamales, a Delta specialty.
- Fried catfish Farm-raised in the Delta, often served with hushpuppies.
- Sweet tea A Southern staple, served over ice.
Where people go
- Juke joints Informal blues clubs, often in converted houses or shacks.
- Blues clubs Venues like the Club Ebony in nearby Indianola, but the area has its own spots.
- Catfish restaurants Local eateries serving fried catfish and Delta tamales.
- Cotton fields Vast expanses of cotton, a defining landscape.
Heritage and traditions
The Mississippi Delta is the birthplace of the blues and a land of rich cotton history, soulful food, and resilient communities. Locals are proud of their deep musical heritage, civil rights legacy, and down-home Southern hospitality.
This time of year in Greenwood
- Cotton harvest and football Fall Fall brings the cotton crop and Friday night games.
- Fannie Lou Hamer Memorial Celebration October Honoring the civil rights icon in Ruleville.
Say it like a local: “fixin' to” — about to
Festivals
- Emmett Till Memorial Commemoration August Annual pilgrimage to Money, MS, honoring the slain teenager.
- Fannie Lou Hamer Memorial Celebration October Honoring the civil rights icon in Ruleville.
Landmarks with a story
- Emmett Till Memorial in Money Marker where the 14-year-old was abducted in 1955.
- Fannie Lou Hamer Memorial Garden in Ruleville Garden and statue honoring the civil rights leader.
- B.B. King Birthplace in Itta Bena Marker at the birthplace of the blues legend.
- First Baptist Church in Greenwood One of the oldest African American churches in the Delta.
- Tallahatchie County Courthouse in Sumner Site of the Emmett Till trial in 1955.
- Greenwood Cemetery Historic cemetery with Confederate and local graves.
Food traditions
- Hot tamales A Delta specialty brought by Mexican laborers, now a local comfort food.
- Sunday dinner after church Fried chicken, collard greens, cornbread, and sweet tea.
- Fish fries on Fridays during Lent Catfish and hushpuppies, a Lenten tradition.
- Pecan pie Made from local pecans, a holiday favorite.
- Grits and eggs for breakfast A hearty start to the day.
Music and arts
- Delta blues Raw, acoustic style born in the region.
- Gospel music Powerful church choirs and quartets.
- Juke joints Informal venues where blues and dancing thrive.
- Blues harmonica A signature instrument of Delta blues.
A little history
- 1834 Greenwood founded as a trading post on the Tallahatchie River.
- 1880s–1920s Cotton boom makes Greenwood a wealthy river port.
- 1927 Great Mississippi Flood devastates the Delta.
- 1930s Blues music flourishes in juke joints and on plantations.
- 1955 Emmett Till murdered in Money, sparking the civil rights movement.
Rivalries
- Mississippi Valley State vs. Alcorn State SWAC football rivalry between Delta Devils and Braves.
- Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State The Egg Bowl college football rivalry.
- Greenwood vs. Greenville Friendly rivalry over blues and catfish bragging rights.
- New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons NFC South rivalry among NFL fans.
- Game day Friday night high school football
- Game day MVSU Delta Devils athletics
- Outdoors Duck hunting in the winter
- Outdoors Fishing for catfish and bass
- With kids Going to the catfish festival
- With kids Attending church and community events
People speak with a slow Southern drawl, using phrases like 'y'all,' 'fixin' to,' and 'over yonder.' The speech is influenced by African American Vernacular English and rural Southern idioms.
Only here
- The Mississippi Delta is called 'the most Southern place on Earth.'
- Birthplace of the blues.
- Hot tamales are a Delta specialty.
- The Emmett Till case is a pivotal civil rights event.
New here? A few tips
- Embrace the heat and humidity; stay hydrated.
- Try a hot tamale and sweet tea.
- Visit a juke joint for live blues.
- Be respectful of the region's history.
- Drive carefully on rural roads, especially at night.
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Nearby
Every areaGrenadaMississippiCatfish and quiet mornings by the lake.IndianolaMississippiFlat land, deep soul—where the blues breathe.ClevelandMississippiHeart of the Mississippi Delta, where blues and hospitality meet.KosciuskoMississippiWhere the pines meet the red clayGreenvilleMississippiThe Delta's beating heartClarksdaleMississippiHome of the blues and the crossroadsOxfordMississippiWhere the Grove meets the SouthStarkvilleMississippiWhere cowbells ring and sweet potatoes grow.
Greenwood, MS. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.