History & Heritage

The Mighty Mississippi River

The river has played and will continue to play an essential role in Diamond Island's past, present, and future. The fabled river of Native Americans, Marquette and Joliet, and Mark Twain, the Mississippi is also a haven for hunters and fishermen. Did you know more than 300 species of North American birds use the Mississippi River Basin as their migratory flyway? And the mighty muddy waters are teeming with fish as well. At its deepest point, the river is 200 feet and nearly 250 species of fish populate the Mississippi and its tributaries. That's tantamount to 25 percent of all fish species in North America.

Diamond Cutoff

Diamond Cutoff was the first artificial cutoff constructed by the Corps of Engineers in the 1930s. There had already been several natural cutoffs in the area, and engineers believe that the river was about to create another at Diamond Island. To forestall the natural cutoff, the engineers began the construction of the artificial channel which was designed to keep the river channel in a more desirable alignment than the river itself might have chosen.

Work commenced in the fall of 1932, and the new channel was opened on Jan. 8, 1933. It was developed slowly but satisfactory, and eventually became the permanent bed of the Lower Mississippi. The channel referenced above is significant because it played a key role in the development of the river lots offered within Diamond Island Plantation.

"Historic Names and Places on the Lower Mississippi River"
By; Marion Bragg

Diamond Island Today

Diamond Island Plantation has been professionally managed and privately owned for more than two decades. The island is the jewel of just a handful of like-minded private individuals who spare no expense in investing in the long-term habitat and health of the wildlife on the island. These owners enjoy hunting the abundance of wildlife and relaxing afternoons overlooking the banks of the rolling Mississippi River with family and friends. Through the years, renowned biologist have played a key role in facilitating wildlife management decisions to ensure proper habitat and development. Located in the lush Farming Delta of the Mississippi, Diamond Island Plantation is bordered by large hardwood sanctuaries and thousands of acres of fertile farm ground planted in a variety of crops including corn and soybeans. From time to time, individual tracts are offered to the public for fee-simple purchases of a minimum of 500 acres. A limited number of annual hunting memberships are also available.