Rolling Fork is the county seat of Sharkey County, in the mid-western part of the state, along Highway 61, the Blues Highway, in the Deep Delta of Mississippi. The community was founded as a plantation in 1826, at the junction of Deer Creek and Rolling Fork Creek, for which it was named, but the town wasn’t incorporated until 1880. Its incorporation lapsed, and it was reincorporated in 1919. During the American Civil War, Union General William T. Sherman was stopped on his infamous March to the Sea at Rolling Fork in March of 1863, when Admiral David Porter’s Mississippi River Squadron traveled along Steele’s Bayou to Deer Creek. The creek was made impassable as the ironclads were halted by trees and willow branches felled by local residents and Confederate troops, while their attempts to retreat were frustrated by Confederate soldiers and more trees. Eventually, Union forces were able to fight off the badly defeated Confederate troops, but they were forced to retreat back along Steele’s Bayou to the Mississippi River. McKinley “Muddy Waters” Morganfield, the father of the Chicago Blues, was born in Rolling Fork. Also of interest, the Teddy Bear was inspired by a political cartoon depicting President Theodore Roosevelt’s refusal to shoot a black bear while on a hunt just outside Rolling Fork in 1902, an event that is commemorated each October. The town is served by US Highway 61. Nearby communities include Egremont, Lorenzen and Mount Helena. Anguilla, Mississippi is about six miles north of Rolling Fork.
Recommended Resources
The “teddy bear” stuffed animal got its start from political cartoon depicting an incident when President Roosevelt refused to shoot a bear. As it took place near Rolling Fork, the community commemorates this each year in an event that includes musical acts, archaeological tours seminars, chainsaw wood carvings, arts and crafts, food vendors, and other activities and events.
http://www.greatdeltabearaffair.org/
Mississippi Christian Family Services, Inc.
Founded in 1975, MCFS provides family services to the distressed, underprivileged, and developmentally disabled. Its memberships, administration and board are posted, with an overview of its programs and resources, contacts, and a history and profile of the organization.
http://www.mschristianfamily.org/
Situated in the Deep Delta of Mississippi, Rolling Fork is the county seat of Sharkey County. The official municipal web site offers a profile of the city, demographics, and an overview of its organizational structure, including administrative and departmental contacts, meeting agendas and minutes.
http://www.cityofrollingfork.org/
The largely agricultural county produces corn, soybeans, rice, and cotton. Its county seat is Rolling Fork. The official county web site offers a profile and brief history of the county, an economic profile and demographics, as well as administrative contacts, meeting agendas and minutes, and information about licensure, voting, and other resources.
http://www.sharkeycounty.net/
Located in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, SIA is a member of the Mississippi Private School Association. An academic calendar, student handbook, school supply list, tuition schedule, and admissions policies are highlighted, along with directions, staff contacts, and access to various forms and documents.
https://sites.google.com/a/siacademy.net/sia/
Offering general and cosmetic dentistry services, the Rolling Fork, Mississippi clinic accepts walk-in patients Tuesday through Thursday. Its location, office hours, and appointment policies and contacts are posted, and access to clinic forms and insurance information are included.
http://www.southdeltadental.com/
Headquartered in Rolling Fork, the public school system offers a PK-12th grade curriculum, as well as a vocational training program, through an elementary school, middle school, high school, and Vocational Center campus, each of which are highlighted here, with photographs, directions, staff contacts, and schedules.
http://www.southdelta.k12.ms.us/
