These Small Towns in the Mid-South Have the Best Historic Districts

The Mid-South is a region of the United States that includes the states of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Missouri, Mississippi, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana, Arkansas, Kentucky, Kansas, Oklahoma, and West Virginia. It is sandwiched between what is considered the Deep South below it and the Mid-Atlantic above it. This region is full of exciting history and a rich culture to go along with it. With distinctive foods, music, industries, and other aspects of life, the Mid-South is sure to be a highlight to anyone visiting from the outside.

Uncover seven small towns with the best historic districts that are sure to add an element of education to your next trip through the region.

Natchez, Mississippi

Just west of Jackson, the capital of Mississippi, is Natchez, a town of about 15,000 residents. It sits on the Mississippi River, the longest river in the United States, and has had much of its history and culture formed by this mighty body of water.  

Natchez is full of wonderfully preserved buildings that hark back to the Civil War era. The Towers of Natchez, Magnolia Hall, and Rosalie Manson and Gardens are just some among many that are worth stopping at for some photos. The iconic antebellum architecture is hard to miss, and most contain plaques or even tours to help educate you more on the history of this small town. 

Be sure to take a walk along the riverfront, which connects to the historic district right in the center of downtown.  

Eureka Springs, Arkansas

The Ozarks is a forest and slightly high region within the Mid-South that many Americans may have heard of from the popular show on Netflix. This less developed part of the Mid-South has many charms, and its lonesome nature is both open to visitors and a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. While there, why not visit Eureka Springs, a town in Arkansas with a population of just around 2,200 people?

This forested and hilly place is a great starting point for any outdoor adventurer. Many parks with accessible trails are nearby, including the enchanting Pivot Rock Park with its interesting natural rock formations. The downtown area boasts architecture that gives visitors a look back to the early twentieth century when Eureka Springs was more prosperous and less reliant on tourism for income. Regardless, this photogenic historic district is a pleasure for those who want to take a stroll in the city. 

Paducah, Kentucky

Paducah is located in the far western reaches of Kentucky, along the confluence of the Ohio River and the Tennesse River. A total of twenty blocks of this town have been designated on the National Register of Historic Places, making it a top spot for history fans traveling through the area. 

Being a major stop along the Illinois Central Railroad, Paducah grew into a sizable town with many cultural influences from around the country. Today, with a population of about 28,000, it is still worth a stop, whether by car or train, to see the iconic downtown district and all the other charms it holds.

Check out the National Quilt Museum or learn more about the Civil War at the Lloyd Tilghman House & Civil War Museum. There is something for history buffs of all kinds here. 

Clarksdale, Mississippi

Clarksdale, Mississippi, provides the visitors with the epitome of small-town charm. An escape from the nearby metropolis of Memphis, considered to be the heart of the Mid-South, this place is a fun spot to visit for travelers and residents of the area alike. 

In Clarkedale, you can immerse yourself in music that best represents the local culture, the blues, and, more specifically, the delta blues. If this is a genre you want to learn more about, give the Delta Blues Museum a visit.  Take a photo at the Crossroads Monument, an intricate piece of public art comprised of electric guitars that are similar to those used by the various blues artists of the area. 

The barbeque in this part of the Mid-South is among the best, so definitely make a point of grabbing a bite to eat while you're here. 

Jonesborough, Tennessee

Eastern Tennesse is most well known for its hill county within the Appalachian Mountain Range, a range that extends all the way into Canada. While in this more southern part of the mountains, Jonesborough is an ideal place to not just rest your head but spend some extra time learning more about.  

Besides an abundance of trails to explore in the hills around town, there are many museums and destinations to check out to learn the history of this storied area. The Heritage Alliance is a quaint structure that looks exactly like a local homestead from the eighteenth century. A great place to see some displays and artifacts pertaining to the original settling of Jonesborough, Tennessee. In fact, the entire town almost feels like a big, functioning pioneer village, with many other preserved eighteenth-century buildings like the Chester Inn, built in 1797. Because of this, the downtown core is on the National Register of Historic Places.  

Greenville, Mississippi

Yet another town sitting on the banks of the Mississippi River, Greenville, Mississippi, is interesting, being situated right at a bend of the river that has since detached. This is known as an "oxbow," and in its place is now a gorgeous wetland called Ferguson Lake that can be explored.  

A museum dedicated to a devastating flood that hit the area in 1927, aptly called the 1927 Flood Museum, can be visited to get a better understanding of the sheer power of the Mississippi River. For a more general overlook of Greenville's path, the Greenville History Museum is just the place to do it year-round. 

For music fans, Nelson Street is widely considered to be one of the most historic hotbeds for the blues during its development as a genre, as this was the place where many African American artists resided and performed in their time. 

Vicksburg, Mississippi

Just a bit downriver is the town of Vicksburg, Mississippi, a crucial place in American military history. Most historians, both amateur and professional, seem to agree that the history of warfare is among the most important and exciting. Vicksburg is the site of one of the longest and most brutal sieges of the Civil War, one that lasted a grueling seven days as the Union crashed down on the rebel forces of the South. Because of this, the name of this town has become synonymous with the conflict.

The Vicksburg National Military Park is a park at the northern end of town that you could easily spend a day walking around and exploring within many historical sites and monuments, including the visitor center, the Michigan monument, and former artillery batteries like Logan's Approach and the Battery De Goyler. This is one of the biggest military parks in the country and hosts over half a million visitors per year. 

Experience the Heart of History in the Mid-South's Historic Towns

Hopefully, these towns can be added to your list the next time you take a road trip to the Mid-South. If you're already a resident, better yet, you can learn more about your backyard in this region, which is highly significant to the history and culture of the United States. Civil War battlefields, the blues, mouth-watering BBQ, lush parks along the Mississipi, and quilts, there is just about something for everyone here. The beauty of the Mid-South is that with its mild winters and hot summers, it can be enjoyed just about any time of the year.