The Story of Mound Bayou: A Historic Town Founded by Former Slaves

🏢Mound Bayou was founded in 1887 by Isaiah Montgomery, a former slave, and was a prosperous town until the early 1900s when cotton prices collapsed.

🌽The town's farmland was owned by former slaves, and cotton was the main crop. President Roosevelt praised Mound Bayou as an example of what former slaves could achieve.

🏠Today, Mound Bayou is struggling with a low median household income and high poverty rates. The town has lost almost half its population since 1980.

👥Mound Bayou is a predominantly African-American community, with 100% black population. The median age is 38, and the gender breakdown is 57% female and 43% male.

🔀The town has a low cost of living, with a median home value of $61,000 and affordable prices for gas, groceries, and utilities. Crime rates in Mound Bayou are lower than the US average.

Who founded Mound Bayou?

—Mound Bayou was founded by Isaiah Montgomery, a former slave, in 1887.

When did Mound Bayou prosper?

—Mound Bayou prospered until the early 1900s when cotton prices collapsed.

What is the current population of Mound Bayou?

—The current population of Mound Bayou is 1,834.

What is the median household income in Mound Bayou?

—The median household income in Mound Bayou is $31,100 per year.

What is the median home value in Mound Bayou?

—The median home value in Mound Bayou is $61,000.

00:00Mound Bayou is the oldest US all-black municipality, founded by former slaves in 1887.

02:36Mound Bayou was a prosperous town until the early 1900s when cotton prices collapsed.

05:46Mound Bayou has a predominantly African-American population and struggles with low household income and high poverty rates.

13:21The cost of living in Mound Bayou is low, with affordable housing, gas, groceries, and utilities.

19:33The town has a lower crime rate compared to the US average.