In 1716, the French founded Natchez as Fort Rosalie, and our great city became a dominant town and trading post of the area. In 1817, elected delegates wrote a constitution and applied to Congress for statehood. The western portion of the Mississippi Territory became the State of Mississippi and the 20th state of the union.

What may be surprising to our younger generation is the fact that Natchez was once the capital of Mississippi. The Mississippi River, which was a great place for trade, commerce and interchange, was the main basis as to why Natchez was the capital.

Special recognition is given to our city in United States history because of its role in the development of the old southwest during the first half of the 19th century.

Adams County has the opportunity to utilize the river and have it serve its original purpose of being a major transportation thoroughfare for economic development and trade.

Seven years of collaboration between the National Highway System Intermodal Connector Improvement Program, the Mississippi Department of Transportation and Adams County will soon save two miles of travel for major transportation vehicles entering the port.

The Government Fleet Road project is designed to allow easier access for traffic entering and departing the port. Our county will see how $3.6 million and careful planning connects us to other major regions and thereby influences out county’s potential to become what it was projected to be more than 200 years ago.

Potential new industries in Adams County will offer us the prospect to; once again, become the foremost center of trade. This has begun to happen and the future holds more prospects for utilization of the river and the new Government Fleet Road access point.

This is evident because of what a new company is presently doing. Enersteel has begun to make the most use of the river to ship their freight.

We are now placing ourselves in a position to once again become the pivotal center of trade, commerce and interchange for Mississippi. History has a chance to repeat itself in an optimistic manner.

 

Calvin Butler is the District 5 supervisor in Adams County.