{"id":9657,"date":"2023-10-27T23:55:13","date_gmt":"2023-10-27T22:55:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=9657"},"modified":"2023-10-27T23:55:13","modified_gmt":"2023-10-27T22:55:13","slug":"are-to-the-mississippi-river-obtained-date","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/are-to-the-mississippi-river-obtained-date\/","title":{"rendered":"Are To The Mississippi River Obtained Date"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Background<\/h2>\n

The Mississippi River is the second longest river in North America, stretching 2,320 miles from its source in Lake Itasca in Minnesota, to its delta below New Orleans, Louisiana. It has long been a vital part of the American landscape, and has served as an integral part of transportation, industry, and culture in the United States. Despite its long history, the exact date when humans first obtained control over the Mississippi River is not known, but it can be dated to the early 18th century.<\/p>\n

Historical Overview<\/h2>\n

The French were early explorers and colonizers of the river. Before the area was acquired by the United States in 1803, through the Louisiana Purchase, the French called it “La Louisiane”. They built a fort, also known as Fort Maurepas, along the lower reaches of the river. This was in the year of 1699, so this is the earliest known record of a human presence along the Mississippi. Eventually, the fort was abandoned, and there is no record of exactly when it happened.<\/p>\n

The Americans took control of the Mississippi River and its surrounding area during the Louisiana Purchase, which was signed in 1803. In this agreement, the French sold a huge tract of land to the United States, of which the Mississippi was a major part. This marked the first time that the United States obtained control of the Mississippi.<\/p>\n

In the early 19th century, the United States began exploring and settling along the Mississippi River. This led to increased colonization, as well as to the construction of several large cities and towns along the river in what is now known as the “Midwest”.<\/p>\n

Economic Impact<\/h2>\n