Tunica County was established in 1836. It is one of the northern-most counties of the Mississippi Delta – the alluvial plain that is said to “begin in the lobby of the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tenn., and end on Catfish Row in Vicksburg, Miss. Located just 11 miles south of Memphis, Tenn., Tunica County is bounded on the west by the Mississippi River.

Tunica County was named for the tribe of Indians that had a settlement near the Mississippi River in the southwest corner of the county. The Tunicas, in contrast to the warlike Chickasaws, who inhabited the greater part of the county, were a peaceful, agricultural people. The word means “the people,” and was chosen by our pioneers because the Tunicas were a happy, peaceful and industrious people.

Tunica County claims to be the site of Hernando DeSoto's discovery of the Mississippi River. This is a controversial topic as Coahoma County to the south and Memphis to the north also make this claim. Tunica's flat land is dotted with a series of Indian mounds, some of the few remnants of an ancient civilization that once populated the area. Today, an extensive survey is under way in north Tunica County, at a site which state archeologists describe as a very significant Native American site.

Tunica County has had three county seats. Commerce was the first modern-day settlement in Tunica County. It was a river port that once rivaled Memphis as an economic center. However, it was destroyed more than 100 years ago when shifting river currents undermined parts of its downtown.

Following the demise of Commerce, Austin became the county seat. It was here that the federal troops burned the courthouse during the Civil War, destroying most of the county's oldest records. The Town of Tunica became the county seat in 1885 following the completion of a rail line.

Civilization came slowly to Tunica County, as it did to much of the area around the Mississippi and Coldwater rivers. Prior to the 19th century, Tunica County was covered with thick hardwood stands and canebrakes. Until clearing of the hardwood bottoms began in the early 1800s, farming was impossible except on a very small scale. Clearing the land, however, made a commercial success of two ventures: the hardwood business in nearby Memphis, and cotton plantations in the Delta.

Agriculture remained the staple of the local economy until 1993, when gaming revenues began to equal and then surpass farming as the county's biggest money-maker. Farming still dominates most of the land area of the county. In 2002, Tunica County ranked eighth statewide in cotton production and fourth in rice production. County farmers were also among the early pioneers of the farm-raised catfish industry, where Mississippi is the undisputed world leader.

In 1992 Tunica County 's first casino, Splash, opened to record crowds and ushered in the community's highly successful resort and tourism trade. In 2000, the county became the nation's third largest gaming destination, trailing only Las Vegas and Atlantic City.

In Tunica County, your money goes further due to the low cost of living here. Tunica County falls under the Memphis MSA cost of living index, which is 91.4 (ACCRA Cost of Living Survey, Second Quarter 2005). Tunica has the lowest tax rate in Mississippi; in fact, the Town of Tunica does not levy a property tax at all.

Cost of Living

ACCRA Cost of Living Index, First Quarter 2005 (U.S. Average=100)

One of the many features that makes Tunica County an attractive place to live is its abundant and affordable housing.

The Town of Tunica and Tunica County experienced a 13 percent growth rate between 1990 and 2000, and the community continues to grow at the rate of approximately 9 percent annually. The dramatic growth of the casino industry caught almost everyone by surprise, and housing development initially lagged behind the casino development.

More than 1,000 apartments have been built in the last five years to accommodate the casino industry. Housing on the west side of DeSoto County has also helped to accommodate the needs of the workers. Local real estate professionals report that homes generally sell within 30 days of listing at 98 percent of the list price.

In 2003, Tunica was named 65th out of 3,000 U.S. counties in housing percentage growth (U.S. Census Bureau). Recently the Town of Tunica has seen a surge in the construction of custom single-family homes.

The Canal Park housing development is currently under construction. The new homes will range from 1,400 square feet to 2,000 square feet and will be priced between $90,000 and $160,000. Three other new housing developments are on the drawing boards but have not broken ground yet.

Quick Housing Stats

• New construction costs are between $85 per square foot and $100 per square foot.
• Median cost of an existing home is $135,000.
• Average monthly rent for an unfurnished two-bedroom apartment is $475.
• Average monthly rent for an unfurnished three-bedroom apartment is $585.
  
  
  
  

There is always something to do in Tunica County. There is a seemingly endless array of physical activities that range from working out at the G.W. Henderson Health and Wellness Center to playing golf at Tunica's three world-class golf courses to more relaxing biking and birdwatching along the Mississippi Blues Trail.

For those who prefer more nautical pursuits, Tunica Cut-off Lake boasts a wide variety of fishing and a perfect venue for other watersports. Water skiing and sailing are available on nearby Flower Lake and Arkabutla Lake. Other outdoor activities include duck, goose, deer, and turkey hunting.

Tunica is home to nine casinos, which provide world-class dining, entertainment and gaming facilities. In the northern part of the county, the Casino Factory Shoppes offer numerous outlet stores including Reebok, Gap and Nautica for your shopping pleasure.

Leisure Amenities

• Tunica County's casinos make it the third largest gaming site in the entire United States.
• Casino Factory Shoppes is just minutes from downtown Tunica and offers a wide variety of shopping.
• G.W. Henderson Health and Wellness Center offers the opportunity to be involved in all sports, participate in art and computer classes, and work out in the state-of-the-art Health and Wellness Pavilion. The Recreation Center also offers after-school programs and summer day camps for children.
• The Dundee Community Center offers a fitness room and hosts adult and youth basketball.
• White Oak Community Center hosts several after-school and senior citizens' programs. The center has a multipurpose game room, mini-soccer complex, gym, meeting room and library.
• Paul Battle Arena & Expo Center is a multipurpose facility designed to accommodate a variety of events. This grand facility, the largest indoor arena in Mississippi, seats up to 6,500 people. It features 14 luxurious skyboxes, a banquet kitchen, concession areas, 360 horse stalls, and paved parking for 1,100 vehicles. There are 66 RV spaces plus two self-sufficient outdoor arenas. For more information, call (662) 363-3299.
• The Delta Bowl Speedway offers stock car racing March through October.
• Cottonwoods at Grand Casino is a golf experience like no other. Designed by Hale Irwin, this 18-hole course offers gently rolling fairways, three lakes, and landscaped cart paths. Cottonwoods is a 7,000-yard challenge for seasoned players and offers a sense of fun and adventure for the novice.
• Tunica National Golf & Tennis Center features an 18-hole public championship golf course designed by Mark McCumber and Associates – one of the world's leading golf course architects.  The 212-acre course plus unique 360-degree driving range and practice area offer a challenging experience for beginners as well as pros.  Located in the center of the casino resort area, the complex also has a 20,000-square-foot clubhouse housing the Grille Room Restaurant and pro shop.  Tunica National is also a premier tennis center with four Davis Cup indoor clay tennis courts – the only Hydro-Grid Har-Tru indoor clay courts south of Washington, D.C.
• River Bend Links at Casino Strip Resorts was designed to give discriminating golfers a true test of their game. Designed by Clyde Johnston, this 6,900-plus-yard layout has everything you look for in a great golf course. The fully sodded course has a Scottish links feel – undulating and curving around strategic knolls and bunkers. The tees present a variety of choices in club selection.
• The G.W. Henderson Sr. Aquatic Center is Mississippi's largest natatorium. The 39,000-square-foot center features a 2,000-square-foot children's pool with spray features, an eight-lane, 50-meter Olympic competition pool with a 17-foot diving well, springboards and platforms. Programs include swim lessons, water aerobics classes, SCUBA and snorkeling instruction and canoeing classes.
  
• Robert C. Irwin Public Library is Tunica's public library located in 1285 Kenny Hill Avenuein downtown Tunica.  662.363.2162 
  

There is plenty to do and see in Tunica County and the surrounding region. With Tunica's close proximity to Memphis, residents can also take advantage of the cultural amenities that Memphis offers, from catching a show at the Orpheum Theatre to the Memphis Zoo, and all the ballet, opera, art galleries, sporting attractions and museums in between.

In addition to the regional attractions, Tunica County has its own museum, cultural arts programs, community theater and a variety of local festivals and special events.

Local Attractions

• Tunica County Museum provides interesting and extensive displays about Tunica County. Special emphasis is placed on the county's history and agriculture. This is a definite “must see” for all visitors and residents of Tunica County.
• Rivergate Barbecue Festival is sanctioned by the world-famous Memphis in May and is a popular contest for the award-winning barbecue teams from the Memphis in May BBQ Contest. The Rivergate Barbecue Festival features free live entertainment, children's games and activities, delicious food and the "Running of the Hogs."
• Tunica RiverPark offers an ideal location for visitors and residents alike to enjoy the ambiance of the “Mighty Mississippi,” including a 168-acre park with a climate-controlled observation deck for observing wildlife, barges, and the Mississippi River, plus a marina, nature trails, visitors center, aquarium, gift shop, river museum, and docking facilities to accommodate large excursion boats.

Regional Attractions

•  Beale Street
•  Clarksdale Blues Tour
•  Graceland
•  Memphis Botanic Garden
•  Memphis Grizzlies NBA Basketball
•  Memphis Redbirds AAA Baseball
•  Memphis Zoo and Aquarium
•  National Civil Rights Museum
•  Orpheum Theatre
•  The Children's Museum of Memphis
•  Delta Blues Museum
•  McCarty's Pottery
•  Peter's Pottery

   Ornamental Metal Museum in Memphis

   Rock & Soul Museum

For additional assistance with your site selection process, please call the
Tunica County Chamber of Commerce at (662) 363-2865 or e-mail marketing@tunicachamber.com.