LeFleur's Bluff State Park
Encyclopedia
LeFleur's Bluff State Park is a Mississippi state park in Jackson
, Hinds County
, Mississippi
in the United States. The park is 305 acres (123.4 ha) and sits at an elevation of 259 feet (78.9 m). It is located off of Interstate 55
on the banks of the Pearl River within the city of Jackson. The park is named for Louis LeFleur, a French Canadian
trader who established a trading post on the banks of the Pearl River
in the late 18th century called LeFleur's Bluff. This village eventually grew to become Jackson.
Nation. Under pressure from the United States government, the Choctaw
Native Americans
agreed to removal
from their lands east of the Mississippi River
under the terms of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek
in 1830. Although many Choctaws then moved to present-day Oklahoma
, a significant number chose to stay in Mississippi.
LeFleur's Bluff State Park is named for Louis LaFleur. LeFleur was a French Canadian trader, along the Natchez Trace
. The area where he established a trading post in the late 18th century then became known as LeFleur's Bluff.
In 1821, the Mississippi Legislature
, meeting in the then-capital of Natchez
, had sent Thomas Hinds
, James Patton, and William Lattimore to look for a location on which to establish a more centrally located state capital. After surveying
areas north and east of what is now Jackson, they proceeded southwest along the Pearl River
until they reached LeFleur's Bluff in Hinds County. Their report to the General Assembly stated that this location had beautiful and healthful surroundings, good water, abundant timber
, navigable waters, and proximity to the trading route Natchez Trace
. On November 28, 1821, the state assembly authorized the location to become the permanent seat of the government
of the state of Mississippi.
The Pearl River and Mayes Lake are open to fishing and boating. Common game fish include catfish
, bass
, bream, and crappie
. A nine-hole golf course
is open to the public. There are two nine-hole disc golf
courses in the park. One is along the Pearl River and the other is on the shores of Mayes Lake. There are 28 campsites at the park. They are open to tent
or RV
camping and are equipped with electrical and water connections. Two villas near the golf course are available to rent for business and family functions.
is in the park. The museum features aquarium
s, habitat exhibits, and nature trails featuring the flora and fauna of Mississippi. The museum houses the state's systematic collections, containing more than a million specimens of fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, mammals, invertebrates, plants, and fossils. Twenty-one outdoor nature exhibits managed by the museum are within the park. The native plant garden features swamp azalea, smooth phlox, mountain laurel, bell flower, sweet shrubs and spiderwort. The prairie garden plot uses minimal amounts of pesticide
s and fertilizer
s to recreate a patch of prairie
featuring prairie and purple coneflower, goldenrod
, gay feather, thimbleweed
and New England aster
. A woodland pond is a reminder of the days when the park was a farm
. It provides a habitat for frog
s and other amphibian
s. The upland ridge section of the park is a wooded area that hosts a disc golf course. It is a habitat for a mixture of woodland trees and was formerly farmland. Fifty to sixty million years ago what is now LeFleur's Bluff State Park was covered by an inland sea. Fossils from this era can be found on the parks bluffs.
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
, Hinds County
Hinds County, Mississippi
As of the census of 2000, there were 250,800 people, 91,030 households, and 62,355 families residing in the county. The population density was 288 people per square mile . There were 100,287 housing units at an average density of 115 per square mile...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
in the United States. The park is 305 acres (123.4 ha) and sits at an elevation of 259 feet (78.9 m). It is located off of Interstate 55
Interstate 55
Interstate 55 is an Interstate Highway in the central United States. Its odd number indicates that it is a north–south Interstate Highway. I-55 goes from LaPlace, Louisiana at Interstate 10 to Chicago at U.S. Route 41 , at McCormick Place. A common nickname for the highway is "double...
on the banks of the Pearl River within the city of Jackson. The park is named for Louis LeFleur, a French Canadian
French Canadian
French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
trader who established a trading post on the banks of the Pearl River
Pearl River (Mississippi-Louisiana)
The Pearl River is a river in the U.S. states of Mississippi and Louisiana. It forms in Neshoba County, Mississippi from the confluence of Nanih Waiya and Tallahaga creeks. It is long. The Yockanookany and Strong rivers are tributaries. Northeast of Jackson, the Ross Barnett Reservoir is formed by...
in the late 18th century called LeFleur's Bluff. This village eventually grew to become Jackson.
History
The area which is now LeFleur's Bluff State Park was once part of the ChoctawChoctaw
The Choctaw are a Native American people originally from the Southeastern United States...
Nation. Under pressure from the United States government, the Choctaw
Choctaw
The Choctaw are a Native American people originally from the Southeastern United States...
Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
agreed to removal
Indian Removal
Indian removal was a nineteenth century policy of the government of the United States to relocate Native American tribes living east of the Mississippi River to lands west of the river...
from their lands east of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
under the terms of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek
Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek
The Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek was a treaty signed on September 27, 1830 between the Choctaw and the United States Government. This was the first removal treaty carried into effect under the Indian Removal Act...
in 1830. Although many Choctaws then moved to present-day Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, a significant number chose to stay in Mississippi.
LeFleur's Bluff State Park is named for Louis LaFleur. LeFleur was a French Canadian trader, along the Natchez Trace
Natchez Trace
The Natchez Trace, also known as the "Old Natchez Trace", is a historical path that extends roughly from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee, linking the Cumberland, Tennessee and Mississippi rivers...
. The area where he established a trading post in the late 18th century then became known as LeFleur's Bluff.
In 1821, the Mississippi Legislature
Mississippi Legislature
The Mississippi Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Mississippi. The bicameral Legislature is composed of the lower Mississippi House of Representatives, with 122 members, and the upper Mississippi Senate, with 52 members. Both Representatives and Senators serve four-year...
, meeting in the then-capital of Natchez
Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez is the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. With a total population of 18,464 , it is the largest community and the only incorporated municipality within Adams County...
, had sent Thomas Hinds
Thomas Hinds
Thomas Hinds was a politician from the U.S. state of Mississippi.Born in Berkeley County, Virginia , Hinds would later move to Greenville, Mississippi...
, James Patton, and William Lattimore to look for a location on which to establish a more centrally located state capital. After surveying
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
areas north and east of what is now Jackson, they proceeded southwest along the Pearl River
Pearl River (Mississippi-Louisiana)
The Pearl River is a river in the U.S. states of Mississippi and Louisiana. It forms in Neshoba County, Mississippi from the confluence of Nanih Waiya and Tallahaga creeks. It is long. The Yockanookany and Strong rivers are tributaries. Northeast of Jackson, the Ross Barnett Reservoir is formed by...
until they reached LeFleur's Bluff in Hinds County. Their report to the General Assembly stated that this location had beautiful and healthful surroundings, good water, abundant timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
, navigable waters, and proximity to the trading route Natchez Trace
Natchez Trace
The Natchez Trace, also known as the "Old Natchez Trace", is a historical path that extends roughly from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville, Tennessee, linking the Cumberland, Tennessee and Mississippi rivers...
. On November 28, 1821, the state assembly authorized the location to become the permanent seat of the government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
of the state of Mississippi.
Recreation
LeFleur's Bluff State Park is open for year-round recreation including hiking, boating and fishing. Since the park is surrounded by the city of Jackson, the hiking trails are fairly short with all of them being under 0.5 mile (0.80467 km).- The Purple Trail at 0.49 mile (0.7885766 km) is the longest trail in the park. It passes by the store at Mayes Lake which is the only stop on the trail system with restrooms.
- The Blue Trail is 0.36 mile (0.5793624 km) and is steep in parts with some boardwalkBoardwalkA boardwalk, in the conventional sense, is a wooden walkway for pedestrians and sometimes vehicles, often found along beaches, but they are also common as paths through wetlands, coastal dunes, and other sensitive environments....
steps and platforms. It connects the red and green trails. - The Red Trail is 0.32 mile (0.5149888 km) and is described as being the trail that is "most natural".
- The Green Trail provides access to a scenic overlook and is 0.21 mile (0.3379614 km).
- The Yellow Trail is the shortest trail in the park at 0.16 mile (0.2574944 km) with some boardwalk decking.
The Pearl River and Mayes Lake are open to fishing and boating. Common game fish include catfish
Catfish
Catfishes are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest and longest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the second longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores...
, bass
Bass (fish)
Bass is a name shared by many different species of popular gamefish. The term encompasses both freshwater and marine species. All belong to the large order Perciformes, or perch-like fishes, and in fact the word bass comes from Middle English bars, meaning "perch."-Types of basses:*The temperate...
, bream, and crappie
Crappie
Crappie is a genus of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of order Perciformes. The type species is P. annularis, the white crappie...
. A nine-hole golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
is open to the public. There are two nine-hole disc golf
Disc golf
Disc golf is a disc game in which individual players throw a flying disc into a basket or at a target. According to the Professional Disc Golf Association, "The object of the game is to traverse a course from beginning to end in the fewest number of throws of the disc." Of the more than 3000...
courses in the park. One is along the Pearl River and the other is on the shores of Mayes Lake. There are 28 campsites at the park. They are open to tent
Tent
A tent is a shelter consisting of sheets of fabric or other material draped over or attached to a frame of poles or attached to a supporting rope. While smaller tents may be free-standing or attached to the ground, large tents are usually anchored using guy ropes tied to stakes or tent pegs...
or RV
Recreational vehicle
Recreational vehicle or RV is, in North America, the usual term for a Motor vehicle or trailer equipped with living space and amenities found in a home.-Features:...
camping and are equipped with electrical and water connections. Two villas near the golf course are available to rent for business and family functions.
Nature exhibits
The Mississippi Museum of Natural ScienceMississippi Museum of Natural Science
The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is located in Jackson and is the largest museum in state of Mississippi.-History:The museum was founded in 1933 by Francis A. Cook as a part of the Mississippi Game and Fish Commission. Francis 'Fannie' Cook led a drive to found the Game and Fish Commission...
is in the park. The museum features aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
s, habitat exhibits, and nature trails featuring the flora and fauna of Mississippi. The museum houses the state's systematic collections, containing more than a million specimens of fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, mammals, invertebrates, plants, and fossils. Twenty-one outdoor nature exhibits managed by the museum are within the park. The native plant garden features swamp azalea, smooth phlox, mountain laurel, bell flower, sweet shrubs and spiderwort. The prairie garden plot uses minimal amounts of pesticide
Pesticide
Pesticides are substances or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.A pesticide may be a chemical unicycle, biological agent , antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest...
s and fertilizer
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is any organic or inorganic material of natural or synthetic origin that is added to a soil to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants. A recent assessment found that about 40 to 60% of crop yields are attributable to commercial fertilizer use...
s to recreate a patch of prairie
Prairie
Prairies are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type...
featuring prairie and purple coneflower, goldenrod
Goldenrod
Solidago, commonly called goldenrods, is a genus of about 100 species of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. Most are herbaceous perennial species found in the meadows and pastures, along roads, ditches and waste areas in North America. There are also a few species native to Mexico, South...
, gay feather, thimbleweed
Thimbleweed
The common name Thimbleweed may refer to any of a number of plants with seed heads resembling a thimble, including:*Rudbeckia laciniata*Anemone virginiana*Anemone cylindrica...
and New England aster
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae , commonly known as the New England Aster, is an herbaceous perennial in the composite family...
. A woodland pond is a reminder of the days when the park was a farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
. It provides a habitat for frog
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
s and other amphibian
Amphibian
Amphibians , are a class of vertebrate animals including animals such as toads, frogs, caecilians, and salamanders. They are characterized as non-amniote ectothermic tetrapods...
s. The upland ridge section of the park is a wooded area that hosts a disc golf course. It is a habitat for a mixture of woodland trees and was formerly farmland. Fifty to sixty million years ago what is now LeFleur's Bluff State Park was covered by an inland sea. Fossils from this era can be found on the parks bluffs.