Feb 11, 2011: Map of US slavery

[hampor]

Originally Posted by glatt

Interesting how slavery follows the Mississippi river and is centered around the cities in a lot of places. I suppose only the wealthy could afford to own slaves, and the wealth was near the cities....

Looking at the big map, I'm not sure that I would agree about the city part. In Orleans parish Louisiana, where New Orleans is located, the rate is much lower compared to further upstream. Likewise Baton Rouge, Vicksburg, Memphis, and Washington are lower rates that the counties around them. Atlanta is kind of neutral, and Talahasee is the only city I see with a high rate.

Along the river is flat land that is usually good for farming. With ready transportation by barge it would be ideal commercial farming of rice and cotton.

[Griff]

I was thinking the same thing hampor.