Tutwiler, MS

Located in Tallahatchie County about seventy miles south of Memphis, Tutwiler is a quiet Delta town with deep railroad roots. It started out in 1899 as a rail camp founded by civil engineer Tom Tutwiler, eventually growing into a busy stop with its own train depot and rail yard. Activity slowed down after the railroad operations moved to Clarksdale in the late 1920s, leaving behind the small, easygoing community you see today.

Tutwiler also holds a famous spot in music history. In 1903, composer W.C. Handy heard a man playing slide guitar with a pocketknife at the local train depot, a chance encounter that helped introduce the Delta blues to the world. For everyday living, families are served by the West Tallahatchie School District, with elementary and high school campuses a short drive away in Sumner and Webb. It is a peaceful, historic spot in the heart of the Mississippi Delta.