Country United States County Desoto GNIS feature ID 692114 Local time Friday 3:09 AM | Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6) Elevation 64 m | |
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Weather 11°C, Wind W at 8 km/h, 74% Humidity | ||
Norfolk is an unincorporated community located in Desoto County, Mississippi, United States. Norfolk Landing (also called Helm's Landing), located a short distance west of Norfolk, was the community's port on the Mississippi River.
Contents
Map of Norfolk, MS 38641, USA
History
Norfolk began as a steamboat landing on a plantation belonging to a man named Helms. In 1854, Norfolk was a small village.
Norfolk Landing was the first port south of the Mississippi-Tennessee border. In 1862, the newly formed Confederate States of America established a customs office there, and all passing vessels were required to stop and provide a list of cargo. Regarding this action, historian Marion Bragg wrote:
Men who had previously been neutral and disinterested in the issues which had aroused others in the North were suddenly enraged. Free navigation of the Mississippi was a natural birthright of every American, the westerners believed, and they would gladly fight to death for it. The idea of a "foreign power" dictating the terms upon which they could navigate "their river" was unthinkable.
Norfolk had a post office from 1854 to 1913.
Hernando DeSoto Park
Norfolk Landing has been converted into a 41-acre (17 ha) public park called "Hernando DeSoto Park", which features a hiking/walking trail, river overlook, picnic area, parking and boat launch. The park is the only place in DeSoto County with public access to the Mississippi River.