I love learning something new about our state, be it historical facts, economic stats, or even interesting particulars about Mississippians. I just love learning all things Mississippi.
So, it is no wonder that Satartia, Mississippi, grabbed my attention today, as I learned quite a few interesting specifics about this little town.
Did you know that Satartia, with an official zip code of 39162, is the smallest incorporated municipality in the state of Mississippi? I did not! Nor did I realize that this small Mississippi town is located only 43 miles outside of Jackson, near Mississippi roads/highways 3 and 433.
I also had no clue that Satartia used to be a very busy little port city in the 19th century. Situated on the banks of the Yazoo River, it was a popular destination for those traveling through Mississippi. Things are different now, with the current population of Satartia estimated at only 36, down five residents since the official 2020 United States Census.
Truthfully, in the last century, the town has never claimed over 150 citizens. However, I learned that Satartia, like many other small places in Mississippi, is allowed to keep its township status despite its population since it has been incorporated for so long, according to the 2024 version of MS Code 1972. (So, don’t go thinking that you and your momma and them can start your own official Mississippi town.)
Historically speaking, Satartia deserves its place in the records of Mississippi’s cities and towns. After all, it is one of our state’s oldest non-native settlements, with Native Americans inhabiting that portion of what is now Yazoo County way longer than that. The name “Satartia” is actually a Choctaw word for “pumpkin,” indicating the small gourd that once grew profusely in that mounded area of the state.
If you take a trip through this historic little hamlet, you might not spot any pumpkins today, but you will see the historic Satartia Bridge built over the Yazoo River. This vertical lift bridge is one of only three moveable bridges in Mississippi, and this landmark is the site of multiple local legends.
Satartia is also legendary for its fishing, including the state record for an alligator gar, while the Yazoo River claims the state’s largest flathead catfish. But even if a state fishing record is not in your future, Mississippi’s beloved catfish are plentiful in and around Satartia.
So much so that a children’s book, Eli – Pride of the Yazoo River, was written by Daniel E. Brown to share the legend of a legendary catfish named Eil that lives in the Yazoo River under Satartia Bridge and continually evades capture.
But Mississippi sculptor Alexander Brown of Bentonia captured the elusive Eli’s likeness in a 3,500-pound woodcarving of white oak that measures 14 feet and three inches long. This gigantic wooden art piece was commissioned by the town of Satartia to commemorate the book and the legend of Eli the Catfish for future generations of Mississippians to enjoy.
So, make sure to go by and “catch” a glimpse of Eli – a gigantic catfish at home in the tiny town of Satartia, Mississippi.
