Mississippi State University - Reveille Yearbook (Starkville, MS)

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Mississippi 19

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The Natchez Pilgrimage and round tours of the antebellum r sions draw thousands of vis Often called the Old Black Belt, the Heartland brings to mind the lavish plantation homes and ostentatious lifestyles. It was this area of Mississippi that cast the pattern for the setting of countless novels and movies. The Mississippi Heartland was cultivated recklessly in the early days by the cotton planters, and the soil was rapidly exhausted. Today new methods of cultivation and new crops have re- juvenated the farming industry in this area. Although the Heartland is geographically distant from Mississippi State, 1,911 MSU students are from that area, and they contribute a depth to the University because of the rich background from which they come. The Plains are often sectioned into the Central Prairie, the Tombigbee Prairie, the North-Central Sand Clay Hills and the Flatwoods. MSU has 1,189 students from the Plains region Mississippi. The prairies were among the f: areas to turn to raising livestock. 1 Tombigbee Prairie was introduced dairying in the 1850 ' s, and the area 1 become a major dairying center. 1 rich black soil of the prairies prov the best pasturage in the state. Hills and poor soil dominate North-Central Sand Clay Hills, mak cotton farming unprofitable. The a has largely turned to industry beca of the many industrial uses for area ' s clay. The Flatlands experience many the limiting factors of the Sand C Hills but to a greater degree. Flatlands may eventually offer m opportunities for economic devel; ment with exploitation of its clays industrial uses.

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There are many deltas around the world, but to Mississippi, there is only one. The luxurious black soil was deposited over the centuries by the mighty Mississippi River. The in- famous seasonal floods by the River were devastating to crops, but they also brought rich Yankee soil to make the Delta soil even richer. Centered in a rich cotton area is Greenwood, one of the world ' s great cotton markets. Mechanization has revolutionized the Delta ' s agriculture for maximum yield with minimum dif- ficulty. This cotton center attracts scores of cotton-related industries. Greenville is the largest river port in Mississippi. The Mississippi Delta is known for spending sizable sums of money on education. Mississippi State University draws 1,527 from the Delta region. Industry began locating in the Hi] region resulting in the growth of smi communities into large cities. Much the farm population left the farms ai migrated to the factories. Because this movement, the Hills region becoming distinguished for its i dustrial growth. Tupelo is one of the faster growii cities in the Hills region. It was the fii city in the country to sign with fl Tennessee Valley Authority for elect) power. Because of less expensive el( tricity, the city ' s industrial communi has grown tremendously. The University of Mississippi at C ford is located in the Hills region of t state and draws many students becai of its location. However, Mississip State attracts 3,913 students Starkville. •Two cotton pickers dump their payload into a I trailers waiting to take the harvest for ginning ' nlV Coahoma County. The 1981 cotton harvest one of the best in many years. The Clarksdale Press I «t