Few People Know The Real Reason Behind Belzoni Becoming The Catfish Capital Of The World
By Jackie Ann|Published February 27, 2024
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Jackie Ann
Author
Louisiana native and LSU Alum (Geaux Tigers!), Jackie has lived in Louisiana for over three decades and currently lives in New Orleans. She's been writing for OnlyInYourState since 2016 and can often be found with a coffee at her side, dreaming of her next adventure.
Sitting pretty as the county seat of Humphreys County, Belzoni, Mississippi is a tiny town on the Yazoo River that’s home to about 2,000 folks. Home to historic sites including some of the oldest bald cypress trees on earth, Belzoni also draws countless music lovers following the Mississippi Blues Trail, too. Perhaps the town’s biggest claim to fame is being the Catfish Capital of the World, a title it has held for nearly 50 years. Today, we’re taking a deep dive into the history of Belzoni, Mississippi, and how it came to be known as the best place for catfish in the United States.
Catfish is the largest aquaculture industry in the United States, and the sixth most popular seafood dish served in the country. Though it’s typically thought of as a southern staple, catfish is served all across the United States.
While you may find catfish on the menu in any state, over 50% of all farm-raised catfish are grown in the southern states. Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi make up 94% of all farm-raised catfish in the United States.
Channel catfish and Blue catfish are the most popular in the United States, with Channel catfish making up 90% of the farm-raised catfish industry. Blue Catfish are larger, but they take longer to mature so they are typically less popular for companies to breed.
The first World Catfish Festival was held in 1976, which was also the same year that the Governor of Mississippi declared Humphreys County the Catfish Capitol of the World. Since then, the festival has grown to become one of the best festivals in Mississippi, with hundreds of vendors coming out to celebrate every April.
In the early 2000s, the city sponsored an art project called “Catfish on Parade,” where local artists would design fiberglass catfish to be peppered around the city.
Each catfish’s design is unique and represents the company that sponsored that specific statue. You’ll see dozens of them as you wander around downtown Belzoni. It adds a quirky, whimsical vibe to the town, that’s for sure!
Did you know why Belzoni is called the Catfish Capital of the World? Have you ever been? Let us know in the comments below. If you’re planning a trip to Belzoni, this vacation rental is too good to pass up!
Read on to discover one of Belzoni’s most beautiful hidden gems, Wister Gardens:
