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Non-Political Mississippi River Question
Posted on 8/1/23 at 1:43 pm
Posted on 8/1/23 at 1:43 pm
Does anyone know why almost all of the Mississippi River port cities are on the Left Bank of the river and not the Right Bank?
New Orleans
Baton Rouge
Natchez
Vicksburg
Memphis
etc.
If you look at the now-ghosttowns that were once river ports, they too seem to all have been on the Left Bank (Port Gibson, Rodney, etc.)
Just struck me as odd. Anyone know the answer?
New Orleans
Baton Rouge
Natchez
Vicksburg
Memphis
etc.
If you look at the now-ghosttowns that were once river ports, they too seem to all have been on the Left Bank (Port Gibson, Rodney, etc.)
Just struck me as odd. Anyone know the answer?
19
Posted on 8/1/23 at 1:44 pm to AggieHank86
Wasn't the Mississippi re-routed at one point by Army Corps of Engineers?
My only guess
My only guess
Posted on 8/1/23 at 1:46 pm to Leto II
quote:My first thought was that the US was much more proactive than France or Spain in developing the territory, so the first cities to develop were on the US side of the border ... but that is purest supposition. It applies to Memphis perhaps, since it was founded after the Louisiana Purchase, but (for example) Natches was founded before it, when the French still controlled both sides of the River prior to the 1763 Treaty of Paris.
Wasn't the Mississippi re-routed at one point by Army Corps of Engineers?
My only guess
But as you go north, you do see more early development on the Right Bank. St. Louis, for example.
This post was edited on 8/1/23 at 1:53 pm
Posted on 8/1/23 at 1:47 pm to AggieHank86
quote:
Baton Rouge
Natchez
Vicksburg
Memphis
All built on bluffs opposite flood plain/farmland across the river.
New Orleans is a bit more happenstance, but it was still the most relatively high ground, and had more to do with easier access to Lake Pontchartrain/the Gulf.
Posted on 8/1/23 at 1:47 pm to AggieHank86
You mean the port cities are on the east bank rather than the West Bank.
East answer. The United States developed from East to West, rather than vice versa. Makes sense to build a town on the side of the river closer to civilization, especially before there were any bridges
East answer. The United States developed from East to West, rather than vice versa. Makes sense to build a town on the side of the river closer to civilization, especially before there were any bridges
Posted on 8/1/23 at 1:47 pm to AggieHank86
Because we came from Europe not Asia.
St. Louis is on the wrong side.
St. Louis is on the wrong side.
Posted on 8/1/23 at 1:48 pm to AggieHank86
What am I missing? You just named cities on the right (east) side of the river.
Manifest destiny moved from east to west, so I guess they set up where they were. Of course, that doesn’t explain St. Louis or Dubuque.
Manifest destiny moved from east to west, so I guess they set up where they were. Of course, that doesn’t explain St. Louis or Dubuque.
Posted on 8/1/23 at 1:49 pm to AggieHank86
Left bank? You mean the East bank? 
The country was on the East side of the river, if you are building a new city and doing trade/business with other places you obviously would want to be on the East side of the river with the rest of the country?
The country was on the East side of the river, if you are building a new city and doing trade/business with other places you obviously would want to be on the East side of the river with the rest of the country?
Posted on 8/1/23 at 1:49 pm to AggieHank86
Because settlers moving west generally stopped on the east bank first and started their communities there.
They didn’t have bridges back then Hank. It was a bitch to ferry supplies across.
They didn’t have bridges back then Hank. It was a bitch to ferry supplies across.
Posted on 8/1/23 at 1:49 pm to AggieHank86
Dumb thread for someone who acts like the smartest person on the board.
Posted on 8/1/23 at 1:50 pm to TIGERHOLD
quote:No, I do not. Rivers seldom flow on pure compass coordinates, meaning that twists and turns of a river render east/west descriptions problematic. There are plenty of places where the Mississippi (for example) flows in a different direction. New Orleans would be on the NORTH bank.
You mean the port cities are on the east bank rather than the West Bank.
That is why rivers are traditionally described Left/Right (when facing downstream). Think of the famous Left Bank in Paris, France.
Posted on 8/1/23 at 1:50 pm to The Boat
quote:
Dumb thread for someone who acts like the smartest person on the board.
Seriously. I'm waiting for some kind of gotcha.
ETA: I was beaten by mere seconds with Hank's dumb gotcha.
This post was edited on 8/1/23 at 1:51 pm
Posted on 8/1/23 at 1:52 pm to The Boat
quote:
Dumb thread for someone who acts like the smartest person on the board.
He will eventually tell everyone that gave “simple logistics” as a reason that they are 100% wrong.
Posted on 8/1/23 at 1:53 pm to AggieHank86
quote:
Non-Political Mississippi River Question
wrong board
Posted on 8/1/23 at 1:53 pm to AggieHank86
Never really thought about it but honestly don't know. However, if you are interested in things about the river, pick up a copy of Rising Tide. It's a story of the 1927 flood but more to do with what not to do leading up to the flood. I used to hunt just south of the "27 break Hunting Club.
Posted on 8/1/23 at 1:53 pm to Y.A. Tittle
quote:Geographically, that makes sense. Thanks.
All built on bluffs opposite flood plain/farmland across the river.
New Orleans is a bit more happenstance, but it was still the most relatively high ground, and had more to do with easier access to Lake Pontchartrain/the Gulf.
Odd that the bluffs all seem to be on the Left Bank, but it is what it is.
Posted on 8/1/23 at 1:55 pm to AggieHank86
quote:
That is why rivers are traditionally described Left/Right (when facing downstream
Hank is correct. That’s why we say Algiers, Marrero, and Westwego are in the famous Right Bank area on Nola.
Also explains why there is Left St Louis IL and Right Memphis, AR.
Posted on 8/1/23 at 1:55 pm to AggieHank86
quote:
New Orleans would be on the NORTH bank
Funny, the suburbs across the river are called “West Bank”
Posted on 8/1/23 at 1:55 pm to AggieHank86
quote:
No, I do not. Rivers seldom flow on pure compass coordinates, meaning that twists and turns of a river render east/west descriptions problematic. There are plenty of places where the Mississippi (for example) flows in a different direction. New Orleans would be on the NORTH bank.
That is why rivers are traditionally described Left/Right (when facing downstream). Think of the famous Left Bank in Paris, France.
The left/right description of the river banks in Paris is based upon facing West. If using compass directions is "problematic" then using directions relative to compass directions is doubly "problematic".
Posted on 8/1/23 at 1:55 pm to AggieHank86
quote:
Non-Political
Why the frick is this on THIS board, named POLITICAL Talk.
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