CHOCTAW RIDGE

 

Was / is there a place called Choctaw Ridge, as mentioned in the song Ode to Billie Joe ?

 

YES it was / is !!!  Along the hills of Mississippi, they slope downward into the flat and fertile Delta region.

 

 

Marker on U.S. 61 at the Tunica-Coahoma County Line

 

http://www.vaiden.net/chickasaw_choctaw_line_marker.jpg

 

 

 

Some maps show Choctaw Ridge as being located around the Webster County area (see http://www.lat-long.com/Latitude-Longitude-682822-Mississippi-Choctaw_Ridge.html).  It is true that this is the current (2015) area of the Choctaw Indians, but it is the eastern boundary.  However, Choctaw Ridge (historical) is along the western boundary and around the same location as mentioned in the song (see below).

http://vaiden.net/choctaw_ridge_map.jpg

 

Ancient Chickasaw domain. Map from Arrell M. Gibson’s The Chickasaw, 1971

 

 

Delta illustrated: