Sweet Potato Queens is a women's organization based in Jackson, Mississippi , that has over six thousand registered chapters in over twenty countries.
50-606: The Sweet Potato Queens concept has been explained and made popular by a series of books by Jill Conner Browne , born in Tupelo and raised in Jackson, who came up with the idea in 1982. (Browne is the author of a number of books which form the backbone of the Sweet Potato Queen "movement.") It involves a belief in a sisterhood that promotes self-esteem and positive thinking, appealing to mostly middle-aged middle-class women. As John Ray,
100-462: A French and Choctaw attack on the then-Chickasaw village of Ackia. The French, under Jean Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville , governor of French Louisiana , had sought to link Louisiana with Acadia and the other northern colonies of New France . In the early 19th century, after years of trading and encroachment by European-American settlers from the United States, conflicts increased as
150-402: A gospel , country music , and Appalachian folk music center. Country blues artist Robert Wilkins and Songster Jim Jackson of Hernando made influential recordings in the late 1920s-1930s. The Leake County Revelers ' brand of folk music saw some national popularity late in the 1930s, at around the same time as Mississippi native Jimmie Rodgers innovated modern country music. McComb
200-731: A booth or run a contest. Among the parades on the STQ participate in are the Cowpens, South Carolina "Mighty Moo parade", the Gaffney, South Carolina Peach Festival, Spartanburg Spring Fling, Hendersonville , North Carolina 's King Apple parade, and a number of upstate South Carolina Christmas parades. They have appeared in feature articles in the Spartanburg Herald Journal , South Carolina Magazine , Travel and Leisure , Belle magazine and others. They have also been guests on WSPA-FM 's morning show
250-630: A children’s hospital in the area. The Sweet Tea Queens is a chapter based in Spartanburg , South Carolina . It was founded by Carolyn "Boss Queen" Steinecke. The Sweet Tea Queens are among the most active of chapters. The members come from all walks of life including a pilot, a comptroller, teacher’s aides, nurses and artists. The Sweet Tea Queens have appeared at festivals and events to raise funds for charity. They have their own float to ferry them through local parades. When they appear on behalf of charity organizations at fundraising events, they often staff
300-514: A major tornado in 1936 that still ranks as one of the deadliest tornadoes in American history. Following electrification, Tupelo boomed as a regional manufacturing and distribution center and was once considered a hub of the American furniture manufacturing industry. Although many of Tupelo's manufacturing industries have declined since the 1990s, the city has continued to grow due to strong healthcare, retail, and financial service industries. Tupelo
350-412: A male householder with no wife present, and 22.5% had a female householder with no husband present. 32.2% were non-family households, with 28.4% had a householder living alone and 3.8% having a householder not living alone. In addition, 39.7% of householders were living with related children under 18 and 60.3% with no related children under 18. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size
400-504: A number of times as well as being featured in Episode eight of Charter Cable's Talk Of The Town show. Tupelo, Mississippi Tupelo ( / ˈ t uː p ə l oʊ / TOO -pə-loh ) is a city in and the county seat of Lee County, Mississippi , United States. Founded in 1860, the population was 37,923 at the 2020 census . It is the 7th most populous city in Mississippi and
450-662: A total of 1,931 students enrolled during the 2018–2019 school year. Some portions of Tupelo are zoned to the Lee County School District . For post-secondary education, the city has satellite campuses of the University of Mississippi , Itawamba Community College , and the Mississippi University for Women . The local daily newspaper is the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal . Tupelo
500-514: Is Todd Jordan. The Tupelo Council is made up of seven representatives, each elected from single-member districts . They annually elect the president of the council on a rotating basis. In 2021, the President of the Tupelo City Council is Travis Beard. Other council members are Janet Gaston, Rosie Jones, Chad Mims, Buddy Palmer, Lynn Bryan, and Nettie Davis. Tupelo Public School District is
550-636: Is a rapper, record producer and occasional actor. Banner was born in Jackson and graduated from Southern University. He started his music career as a member of the rap duo Crooked Lettaz before going solo in 2000 with Them Firewater Boyz, Vol. 1 and signed to Universal Records in 2003. With Universal, Banner released four albums: Mississippi: The Album (2003), MTA2: Baptized in Dirty Water (2004), Certified (2005), and The Greatest Story Ever Told (2008). Nate Dogg (August 19, 1969 – March 15, 2011)
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#1732852444639600-477: Is also served by the weekly Lee County Courier . Tupelo is home to three television stations serving the 133rd-ranked designated market area among 210 markets nationwide as determined by Nielsen Media Research : WTVA (9), an NBC and ABC affiliate; and WLOV (27), a CW affiliate. Both stations are located on Beech Springs Road and were controlled by Frank K. Spain until his death on April 25, 2006. The Christian fundamentalist American Family Association
650-759: Is best known as the home of the blues which developed among the freed African Americans in the latter half of the 19th century and beginning 20th century. The Delta blues is the style most closely associated with the state, and includes performers like Charley Patton , Robert Johnson (buried in Greenwood, MS), David "Honeyboy" Edwards , Willie Brown , Tommy Johnson , Ishmon Bracey , Bo Carter , Sam Chatmon , Mississippi John Hurt , Furry Lewis , Son House , Skip James , Muddy Waters , Howlin' Wolf , John Lee Hooker , Pinetop Perkins , Albert King and B.B. King . The fiddle and banjo are common folk instruments in Mississippi, which has also seen some development as
700-517: Is considered a commercial, industrial, and cultural hub of northern Mississippi . Tupelo was incorporated in 1870. The area had earlier been settled as "Gum Pond" along the Mobile and Ohio Railroad . On February 7, 1934, Tupelo became the first city to receive power from the Tennessee Valley Authority , thus giving it the nickname "The First TVA City". Much of the city was devastated by
750-622: Is located in Tupelo, and operates the national American Family Radio network and the OneNewsNow news service. Tupelo is served by BNSF Railway and Kansas City Southern Railway for freight transportation via rail. U.S. Route 45 , U.S. Route 78 , U.S. Route 278 , and Natchez Trace Parkway run through Tupelo; Interstate 22 runs north of the city on an east–west route. The city is served by Tupelo Regional Airport , with service on Contour Airlines . Music of Mississippi Mississippi
800-658: Is the only city in the Southern United States to be named an All-America City five times, most recently in 2015. Its Main Street program, Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association, was the winner of the national Main Street 's Great American Main Street Award in 2020. The Tupelo micropolitan area contains Lee, Itawamba , and Pontotoc counties and had a population of 140,081 in 2017. Indigenous peoples, including
850-514: Is the smallest city in the United States that is the headquarters of more than one bank with over $ 10 billion in assets. Tupelo has a deep connection to Mississippi's music history , being known as the birthplace of Elvis Presley . The city is home to multiple art and cultural institutions, including the Elvis Presley Birthplace and the 10,000-seat Cadence Bank Arena , the largest multipurpose indoor arena in Mississippi. Tupelo
900-651: The Billboard 200 chart, such as 3 Doors Down in 2008. The post-grunge band Saving Abel , known for " Addicted ", formed in Corinth . The trap duo Rae Sremmurd from Tupelo had a No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit with " Black Beatles " in 2016. The Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson is one of the most famous music venues in the state, since it opened in 1962 and has hosted a few MS musicians from Presley to 3 Doors Down. Gus Cannon , born in Red Banks , helped popularize jug bands in
950-638: The Chickasaw and Choctaw , occupied the area prior to European settlement. The French and British traded with these indigenous peoples and tried to form alliances with them. The French established towns in Mississippi mostly on the Gulf Coast. At times, the European powers came into armed conflict. On May 26, 1736, the Battle of Ackia was fought near the site of present-day Tupelo; British and Chickasaw soldiers repelled
1000-515: The Tupelo-Gainesville tornado outbreak of April 5–6 in that year. The storm leveled 48 city blocks and over 200 homes, killing 216 people and injuring more than 700 persons. It struck at night, destroying large residential areas on the city's north side. Among the survivors was Elvis Presley , then a baby. Obliterating the Gum Pond neighborhood, the tornado dropped most of the victims' bodies in
1050-751: The United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 51.4 square miles (133 km ), of which 51.1 square miles (132 km ) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km ) (0.62%) is water. Like the rest of the state, Tupelo has a humid subtropical climate ( Cfa in the Köppen climate classification ); it is part of USDA hardiness zone 7b. The normal monthly mean temperature ranges from 43.4 °F (6.3 °C) in January to 82.3 °F (27.9 °C) in July, while, on average, there are 3.0 days where
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#17328524446391100-415: The 1920-1930s with his "Jug Stompers". The Delta blues is often regarded as the most rootsy or traditional style of the blues, or as the ultimate origins of the blues . The style has also been called the "most influential form of rural blues (with an) eerie, sometimes demonic power that is unmatched by other American acoustic music". Many of these performers recorded in the early 20th century; however, by
1150-567: The 1950s, they were largely forgotten outside of Mississippi. Many moved to Chicago, and became a part of the more mainstream Chicago blues scene. In the 1960s, however, a roots revival began across the United States, and interest in Mississippi's blues musicians increased. Jazz tenor saxophonist Lester Young was born in Woodville . Double-bassist Milt Hinton and pianist Hank Jones were born in Vicksburg . Blues and jazz pianist Mose Allison
1200-686: The US settlers tried to gain land from these nations. In 1830, Congress passed the Indian Removal Act and authorized the relocation of all the Southeast Native Americans to federal territory west of the Mississippi River , which was completed by the end of the 1830s. In the early years of settlement, European-Americans named this town "Gum Pond", supposedly due to its numerous tupelo trees, known locally as "blackgum". The city still hosts
1250-689: The annual Gumtree Arts Festival. During the Civil War , Union and Confederate forces fought in the area in 1864 in the Battle of Tupelo or battle of oldtown Creek. Designated the Tupelo National Battlefield , the battlefield is administered by the National Park Service (NPS). In addition, the Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield , about ten miles north, commemorates another American Civil War battle. After
1300-570: The beginning of the Great Depression, out of 20,000 total residents. Temple B'nai Israel was established in Tupelo in 1939. The congregation first met in Tupelo City Hall. It later rented space on South Spring Street above the Fooks' Chevrolet dealership. In 1953, it moved to space over Biggs Furniture Store. A synagogue building was dedicated in 1957, with then-Mayor James Ballard giving
1350-446: The chapters participate in parades and fund-raisers in their local communities. Each chapter, of which there are over 6,000 of various sizes, assumes its own theme and designs its own costumes. Some of the chapters participate in parades and fundraisers in their local communities. In 2005, almost ten thousand women from the chapters dressed up in costume and came to Jackson for their St Patrick's Day parade, proceeds from which benefited
1400-670: The city of Tupelo twice, in 2018 and 2019. He held a campaign rally for Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith on November 26, 2018, at the Tupelo Regional Airport . Nearly one year later, the president returned to Tupelo to hold another rally (this time for Governor Tate Reeves ) on November 1, 2019, at the BancorpSouth Arena . These campaign rallies were broadcast on national television and received attention from news networks, such as CNN and Fox News . The spring of 1936 brought Tupelo one of its worst-ever natural disasters, part of
1450-429: The city. The racial makeup of the city was 58.7% White , 36.8% African American , 0.1% Native American , 1.0% Asian , 0.01% Pacific Islander , 2.0% from other races , and 1.4% from two or more races. 3.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. According to the 2007–2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, there were 13,395 households, 42.8% were married couples living together, 2.6% had
1500-402: The date of the all-time record low for December; additionally, while highs can reach 100 °F (38 °C) several days a row during severe heat waves, several years may pass between such readings. Precipitation is high, averaging 57.74 inches (1,467 mm) annually. On average, December is the single wettest month, and February through May are also especially wet; September and October are
1550-530: The driest months. The rainiest calendar day on record is March 21, 1955 when 9.40 inches (239 mm) of rain fell; monthly precipitation has ranged from trace amounts in August 1983 to 19.89 inches (505 mm) in December 1982. Snow is uncommon, with many years receiving trace amounts or no snowfall at all, and normal (1981–2010) winter snowfall stands at 2.1 inches (5.3 cm). The most snow in one calendar day
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1600-506: The fates of blacks injured in the tornado. Based on this, historians now estimate the death toll was higher than in official records. Fire broke out at the segregated Lee County Training School, which was destroyed. Its bricks were salvaged for other uses. The area is subject to tornadoes. On May 8, 2008 , one rated an EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale struck the town. On April 28, 2014 , another large EF3 tornado struck Tupelo and
1650-489: The last passenger train in northeast Mississippi. In 2007, the nearby village of Blue Springs was selected as the site for Toyota 's 11th automobile manufacturing plant in the United States. In 2013 Gale Stauffer of the Tupelo Police Department died in a set up ambush following a bank robbery, possibly the first officer killed in the line of duty in the department's history. President Donald Trump visited
1700-470: The mills employed only white adults and children. Reformers documented the child workers and attempted to protect them through labor laws. The last known bank robbery by Machine Gun Kelly , a Prohibition -era gangster, took place on November 30, 1932, at the Citizen's State Bank in Tupelo; his gang netted $ 38,000 ($ 849,000 in current dollar terms). After the robbery, the bank's chief teller said of Kelly, "He
1750-460: The ordering manager at Politics and Prose in Washington once said of the Sweet Potato Queen books, "they began to empower women." In 2005, almost ten thousand women dressed up in costumes and came to Jackson for the annual Hal and Mal's St. Patrick’s Day parade, proceeds from which benefited a local children’s hospital. Each local chapter assumes its own theme and designs its own costumes. Some of
1800-463: The pond. The storm has since been rated F5 on the Fujita scale . The Tupelo Tornado is recognized as one of the deadliest in U.S. history. The Mississippi State Geologist estimated a final death toll of 233 persons, but 100 whites were still reported as hospitalized at the time. Because the white newspapers did not publish news about blacks until the 1940s and 1950s, historians have had difficulty learning
1850-568: The remarks. Into the late 1950s several long-distance trains served Tupelo. These included the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio 's Gulf Coast Rebel (St. Louis - Mobile) and the Frisco Railroad 's Kansas City-Florida Special (Kansas City - Memphis - Jacksonville), Memphian (Memphis - Birmingham) and its Sunnyland (Kansas City to the west; sections east to Birmingham and Pensacola). The Frisco's Southland ceased running on December 9, 1967, marking
1900-511: The school district for the vast majority of Tupelo. It participates in the Chromebook Distribution Policy, which means students in grades 6 to 12 are each given a school-owned Google Chromebook to use during the school year. In 2008, Sports Illustrated ranked the high school athletic department as the third-best high school athletic program in the nation. Tupelo High School is the largest public high school in Mississippi with
1950-572: The surrounding communities, causing significant damage. On the night of May 2, 2021 , two EF1 tornadoes formed near town with the second being a large tornado that directly struck the northwest side of downtown, prompting a tornado emergency to be issued by the National Weather Service . Tupelo is located in northeast Mississippi, north of Columbus , on Interstate 22 and U.S. Route 78 , midway between Memphis, Tennessee (northwest) and Birmingham, Alabama (southeast). According to
2000-435: The temperature stays at or below freezing, 55 days with a low at or below freezing, and 67 days with a high at or above 90 °F (32 °C) per year. The all-time record low is −14 °F (−26 °C), set on January 27, 1940, while the all-time record high is 109 °F (43 °C), set on July 29, 1930. However, temperatures at or below 0 °F (−18 °C) are rare, having last occurred December 23, 1989,
2050-422: The war, a cross-state railroad for northern Mississippi was constructed through the town, which encouraged industry and growth. With expansion, the town changed its name to Tupelo, in honor of the battle. It was incorporated in 1870. By the early twentieth century the town had become a site of cotton textile mills , which provided new jobs for residents of the rural area. Under the state's segregation practices,
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2100-569: Was 3.08. The median income for a household in the city was $ 39,415. The poverty rate was 20%. Historically, Tupelo served as a regional transportation hub, primarily due to its location at a railroad intersection. More recently, it has developed as strong tourism and hospitality sector based around the Elvis Presley birthplace and Natchez Trace . The city has also been successful at attracting manufacturing, retail and distribution operations (see 'Industry' section below). Tupelo's current mayor
2150-441: Was 8.0 inches (20 cm) on January 24, 1940, contributing to the 9.2 inches (23 cm) that fell that month, the snowiest on record; the snowiest winter was 1935–36 with 14.8 inches (38 cm). As of the 2020 United States Census , there were 37,923 people, 14,751 households, and 9,648 families residing in the city. As of the census of 2010, there were 35,456 people, 13,602 households, and 8,965 families residing in
2200-698: Was also home to Malaco Records , a well-known indie R&B label. Record producers such as Quin Ivy and Quinton Claunch were from Mississippi also. Elvis Presley from Tupelo , had 18 No. 1 hits in the U.S. from 1956 to 1969. Jimmy Buffett was born in Pascagoula, MS and graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1969. Southern rock band North Mississippi Allstars formed in Hernando in 1996. Alternative rock band 3 Doors Down , known for "Kryptonite" are from Escatawpa . They had two No. 1 albums on
2250-516: Was born in Clarksdale and lived there until age 14. He is known as a member of the group 213 and for his many collaborations including being featured on 50 Cent's No. 1 Hot 100 hit " 21 Questions " in 2003. Classical composer William Grant Still was born in Woodville . Samuel Jones was born in Inverness. Opera soprano Leontyne Price , who rose to international acclaim in the 1950s-1960s,
2300-565: Was born in Cleveland . The International Sweethearts of Rhythm formed in Piney Woods . The hip hop scene of Mississippi includes performers such as Dear Silas , and many more. Justin Scott (born August 26, 1986), better known by his stage name Big K.R.I.T., is a hip hop musician and record producer from Meridian . Lavell Crump (born April 11, 1973), better known by the stage name David Banner,
2350-870: Was born in Natchez . Tenor saxophonist Brew Moore was born in Indianola . Trumpeter and composer Wadada Leo Smith was born in Leland . Tenor saxophonist Frank Wright was born in Grenada . Drummer Charles "Bobo" Shaw was born in Pope . Pianist and singer Cleo Patra Brown and drummer Alvin Fielder were born in Meridian . Pianist and composer Mulgrew Miller and double bassist Eddie Jones were born in Greenwood . Trumpeter and cornetist Bobby Bradford
2400-661: Was born in Tippo . Alto saxophonist and bandleader Jimmie Lunceford was born in Fulton . Alto saxophonist Captain John Handy was born in Pass Christian . Tenor saxophonist Teddy Edwards , drummer Freddie Waits , trumpeter Charlie Allen , and singer Cassandra Wilson were born in Jackson . Trumpeter Gerald Wilson was born in Shelby . Jazz and blues cornetist, guitarist, and singer Olu Dara
2450-558: Was the birthplace of Bo Diddley (d.2008), a highly influential early rock and roll artist. R&B singer Rufus Thomas was born in Cayce . James Carr, Otis Clay , Dorothy Moore, Denise Lasalle and Wiilie Mitchell were from Mississippi. Electric blues singer and guitarist Little Milton was born in Inverness . Soul singer and songwriter Jerry Butler was born in Sunflower . Mississippi
2500-646: Was the kind of guy that, if you looked at him, you would never thought he was a bank robber." During the Great Depression , Tupelo was electrified by the new Tennessee Valley Authority , which had constructed dams and power plants throughout the region to generate hydroelectric power for the large, rural area. The distribution infrastructure was built with federal assistance as well, employing many local workers. In 1935, President Franklin Roosevelt visited this "First TVA City". Tupelo had only 20 Jewish residents at
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