This resolution recognizes the 200th anniversary of Vicksburg, Mississippi's incorporation, celebrating its profound historical significance to the state and the nation.
Cindy Hyde-Smith
Senator
MS
This resolution formally recognizes the 200th anniversary of the incorporation of Vicksburg, Mississippi, and celebrates the city's profound historical significance. It highlights Vicksburg's crucial role in the Civil War, its unique contributions to American commerce and culture, and its ongoing importance today. The Senate encourages national recognition of the city throughout its bicentennial year.
Vicksburg, Mississippi Gets a Congressional Shout-Out for Its 200th Birthday
If you’re waiting for Congress to pass a bill that lowers your taxes or fixes that pothole on your commute, this isn’t it. This piece of legislation, a Senate Resolution, is purely ceremonial. It’s essentially a very detailed, very official birthday card from the U.S. Senate to Vicksburg, Mississippi, recognizing the city’s 200th anniversary of incorporation, which officially hits in 2025.
A History Lesson for the Bicentennial
Since this resolution doesn’t change any laws, create new programs, or spend a dime of taxpayer money, its main action is to designate 2025 as the “Vicksburg Bicentennial Year” and encourage national recognition of the city’s contributions. The bulk of the text is a deep dive into Vicksburg’s history, reminding everyone why this city matters. It’s a fascinating read that connects the dots between early Native American tribes, the French trading post of Fort St. Pierre in 1719, and the city’s official founding in 1825 by the Reverend Newitt Vick. For history buffs, this resolution is simply setting the record straight and celebrating a major milestone.
More Than Just the Civil War
When most people think of Vicksburg, they think of the pivotal 47-day Siege of Vicksburg in 1863, which the resolution highlights as a major turning point in the Civil War. It also notes the creation of the Vicksburg National Cemetery and the Vicksburg National Military Park, which preserves miles of trenches and over 1,300 monuments. However, the resolution makes sure to shout out Vicksburg’s unique contributions to everyday life that often get overlooked. Did you know the first bottling of Coca-Cola happened here in 1894? Or that shoes were first sold as pairs in Vicksburg in 1884? The resolution also honors the city’s role in civil rights history, mentioning The Freedmans Bank, established in 1865, as the first Black-owned bank in the U.S.
The Real-World Impact (or Lack Thereof)
Because this is a resolution, it has zero regulatory or fiscal impact on anyone outside of Vicksburg. It won’t change how you file your taxes, it won’t affect your health insurance, and it won’t create a new federal agency. Its benefit is purely symbolic: it raises the profile of Vicksburg, potentially boosting tourism and local pride as the city celebrates its bicentennial. For the residents of Vicksburg, this is a formal, national acknowledgment of their city’s significance—a well-deserved nod to a place that has seen and contributed so much to American history, culture, and even commerce.