Rosedale, Mississippi

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Rosedale, Mississippi
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

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postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 38769
area_code = 662
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 28-63720
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0676870
website =
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Rosedale is a city in Bolivar County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 2,414 at the 2000 census.

It is the same "Rosedale" that noted bluesman Robert Johnson sang about in his tune "Traveling Riverside Blues" (later recorded as "Cross Road Blues" by the group Cream (band) in the 1960s, then again covered by Led Zeppelin on their "BBC Sessions" album release of November 1997). Locals claim that Johnson sold his soul to the Devil at the intersection of Mississippi State Hwys 1 and 8, located on the south end of town (and mentioned as occurring in Rosedale in 1930 in an episode of "Supernatural (TV Series)". However, a number of other Mississippi River Delta municipalities claim that the transaction took place in or near their boundaries.

Geography

Rosedale is located at coor dms|33|51|13|N|91|1|37|W|city (33.853747, -91.026829).GR|1

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.5 square miles (14.2 km²), of which, 5.4 square miles (14.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it is water. The total area is 1.27% water.

Rosedale is situated on the eastern side of the Mississippi River approximately midway between the mouths of the Arkansas and White Rivers that flow into the Mississippi River from the Arkansas (western) side of the River.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 2,414 people, 780 households, and 567 families residing in the city. The population density was 444.2 people per square mile (171.6/km²). There were 842 housing units at an average density of 154.9/sq mi (59.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 16.86% White, 82.02% African American, 0.37% Asian, 0.17% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.75% of the population.

There were 780 households out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.2% were married couples living together, 37.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.56.

In the city the population was spread out with 34.9% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 85.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $17,955, and the median income for a family was $18,810. Males had a median income of $24,922 versus $15,714 for females. The per capita income for the city was $8,534. About 43.3% of families and 46.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 58.6% of those under age 18 and 34.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The City of Rosedale is served by the West Bolivar School District.

Historic marker

The Mississippi Blues Commission placed a historic marker at Rosedale's old Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad depot site, designating it as a site on the Mississippi Blues Trail. The marker commemorates the original lyrics of legendary blues artist Robert Johnson's "Traveling Riverside Blues" which traced the railway route which ran south from Friars Point to Rosedale among other stops, including Vicksburg and north to Memphis. The marker emphasizes that a common theme of blues songs was riding on the railroad which was seen as a metaphor for travel and escape. [cite web
url=http://www.visitmississippi.org/press_news/BolivarCountyPressReleaseFeb2007.pdf
title=Mississippi Blues Trail Markers To Be Unveiled in Bolivar County
publisher=Mississippi Development Authority
accessdate=2008-05-29
last=
first=] It also commemorates another common blues theme, life on the banks of a moody river bank as Charlie Patton's "High Water Everywhere". [cite web
url=http://www.atlantamagazine.com/uploadedFiles/Atlanta/Travel/November07%20Travel.pdf
title=Great Souther Getaways - Mississippi
publisher=www.atlantamagazine.com
accessdate=2008-05-31
last=Cloues
first=Kacey]

References

External links

* [http://www.nostalgiaville.com/travel/Mississippi/rosedale/rosedale%20ms.htm Rosedale, Mississippi, photo album]