Beulah

History

The land southwest of Beulah was owned by a Choctaw family in the 1830s. A series of lawsuits caused them to lose their land, and Charles Clark took ownership. Clark established the Doro Plantation during the late 1840s and early 1850s, which grew to over and became the most prosperous slave-owning plantation in the region. It continued to operate after the end of slavery until 1913. During that time, the Mississippi River flowed next to Beulah along "Beulah Bend" (now Lake Beulah), and Clark was often visited by Mark Twain while writing Life on the Mississippi. In 1858, Frank A. Montgomery purchased a tract of land along the river north of the Doro Plantation and established a plantation. Beulah was one of its villages. Mississippi River boats landed at points in the community, and there was a noted river trade. Freshwater clam harvesting – "clammin" – enabled a thriving pearl button industry. In 1863, Union soldiers altered the course of the river by constructing a channel to avoid Beulah Bend, and the town became shut off from river commerce. The pearl button industry declined, as freshwater clams tend to concentrate in the bends of rivers, though many families still participate in clam harvesting at places they can access the river. Altering the river's course also destroyed the nearby towns of Prentiss and Napoleon. In 1866, Montgomery donated the village of Beulah to the county, and gave $1,600 to build a courthouse. A two-room log jail was also built. Beulah became the first county seat, and had a Masonic Lodge, church, school, bank, stores, and post office. The Bolivar Times newspaper was also edited there. In 1872, the county seat was moved to Floreyville (now called Rosedale). After the Civil War, numerous freedmen bought and cleared land in…

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all land. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Beulah has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  166
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  153
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  152
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  148
• Killdeer

  Charadrius vociferus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  139
• Carolina Chickadee

  Poecile carolinensis (Audubon, 1834) · Aves
  117
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  114
• Carolina Wren

  Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  113

Most recent

• M 3.7 — 2019-01-08
  8 km WNW of Hollandale, Mississippi
• M 2.8 — 2003-12-31
  4 km NNE of Monticello, Arkansas
• M 3.1 — 2002-10-26
  3 km SE of Alligator, Mississippi
• M 2.8 — 2002-08-11
  8 km ESE of Darling, Mississippi