Humans have had a long history of living along the Mississippi River Delta Gulf Coast. Prehistoric and historic societies developed many unique cultural adaptations to the landscapes and environments of the Gulf Coast, and many of these cultural adaptations are still present today, giving the region many of its distinctive characteristics. Recent Euro-American societies have profoundly affected the geography and ecology of the Mississippi River Delta Gulf Coast in various ways through extensive engineering programs.
This part of the primer reviews history of human activities in the Mississippi River delta and adjacent portions of the Gulf Coast. Of particular importance is how the recent reshaping of the Mississippi River delta and the landscape of the coast through the construction of levees, canals, and other engineering features has contributed to coastal land loss trends.
Go to: Section 2.1: Prehistoric Native American Activities in the Lower Mississippi Valley