Established in 1716, Natchez has been around for 300 years, and in that time, a lot of stuff has taken place. From accomplishments to well-known residents, here are 10 things you probably didn’t know about the city.

1. Natchez is the oldest permanent settlement on the Mississippi River.
Ken Lund/Flickr
2. Established in 1802, Historic Jefferson College was the first prep school established in the Mississippi Territory and quickly became the most impressive education institution in the Natchez region.
Historic Jefferson College (HJC)/Facebook
3. If the front doorway of the Natchez mansion Linden looks familiar that’s because it was copied for the doorway of Tara in the movie Gone With the Wind.
Linden Management/TripAdvisor
4. Prior to the Civil War, Natchez had more millionaires per capita than any other city in the country.
Christopher Barnette/Flickr
5. Texada, also known as “Old Spanish House,” is the oldest capitol building in the state.
Courtesy of Mississippi Department of Archives and History

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6. Ever notice that Natchez has a lot of bed and breakfasts? Well, that’s because the city is the Bed and Breakfast Capital of the South.
Devereaux Shields House Management/TripAdvisor
7. The city is also the Biscuit Capital of the World.
Kurman Communications, Inc./Flickr
8. The first African American singer of classical music was Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield, and she was born in Natchez in 1809.
Public Domain/Wikimedia
9. Located in Natchez, St. Mary Basilica is the oldest Catholic building still in use in Mississippi. Now a Natchez landmark, the church was built in 1842 and is a prime example of Gothic-revival architecture.
Christopher Barnette/Flickr
10. Natchez's Longwood is the largest remaining octagonal house in the entire nation.
Kay Gaensler/Flickr

What are some other interesting facts about Natchez? If you enjoyed this article, be sure to check out “11 Fascinating Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Mississippi’s Natchez Trace.”

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