Tunica Resorts, Mississippi
Tunica Resorts
Robinsonville | ||
---|---|---|
FIPS code 28-74820 | |
Tunica Resorts,
Tunica Resorts is the site of six casino resorts, and at one time generated the third largest gambling revenues in the nation, after
History
In the first half of the 19th century, this area was developed as cotton
After emancipation, many African Americans continued to work in agriculture in this area. In the early decades of the 20th century, thousands of African Americans migrated north from Mississippi to Chicago and other industrial cities in the Great Migration to leave the violence and oppression of the South, as well as the loss of jobs due to mechanization of agriculture. Population also declined in the county as railroads and highways drew off traffic from the river.
After 1995, gambling casinos and resorts were developed in the unincorporated community of Robinsonville, north of the county seat of Tunica. In a nod to riverboat gambling, to comply with state law, the casinos are built on floating platforms in the Mississippi River.
Lacking the structure of an organized city or town, Tunica Resorts consists mainly of casinos and cotton fields, with few permanent residents living in the community.
Tunica Resorts has ranked as high as the third-largest casino-gambling destination in the United States, as measured by gaming revenue, behind Las Vegas, Nevada and Atlantic City, New Jersey. Its casinos attract gamblers mainly from nearby Memphis, but also draw visitors from Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, Missouri, Georgia, Illinois and Kentucky. In the second decade of the 21st century, due to increased legalization of gambling in other states, including on Native American reservations, Tunica places sixth in gaming revenue, after the Las Vegas Strip, Atlantic City, Chicago, Connecticut, and Detroit.[4]
The 2011 Mississippi River floods damaged casino resort buildings and infrastructure in this community. While the casinos float and escaped most damage, the hotels' towers and surrounding businesses are on land. Some of the hotels had major flooding on the lower floors, including the Harrah's Casino Tunica, which was under nearly six feet of water.[5]
Economy
As of 2021, the town is home to six casinos:
- 1st Jackpot Casino Tunica
- Fitz Tunica Casino & Hotel
- Gold Strike Tunica
- Hollywood Casino Tunica
- Horseshoe Casino Tunica
- Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall
At one time, eleven different casinos were operated in the community.
In the community there is little infrastructure other than that which adjoins the casinos. Businesses other than the casinos include a small number of motels, convenience stores and fast food restaurants, along with an outlet-style shopping center. The community's oldest business is the Hollywood Cafe, a blues club.
Small
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | 1,910 | — | |
2020 | 2,132 | 11.6% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[7] 2010[8] 2020[9] |
2020 census
Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010[8] | Pop 2020[9] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|
White alone (NH)
|
634 | 407 | 33.19% | 19.09% |
Black or African American alone (NH)
|
1,158 | 1,609 | 60.63% | 75.47% |
Alaska Native alone (NH)
|
4 | 2 | 0.21% | 0.09% |
Asian alone (NH) | 31 | 14 | 1.62% | 0.66% |
Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 4 | 0 | 0.21% | 0.00% |
Some Other Race alone (NH) | 0 | 29 | 0.00% | 1.36% |
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 14 | 24 | 0.73% | 1.13% |
Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 65 | 47 | 3.40% | 2.20% |
Total | 1,910 | 2,132 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Arts and culture
In May 2008, the board of directors of the
Government
Beginning in 2007, some Robinsonville residents have tried to incorporate their community into a separate town government, rather than exist under the jurisdiction of Tunica County or move toward annexation into the town of Tunica. If Robinsonville incorporates, the new town government would be a direct beneficiary of casino tax revenue, enabling construction of municipal government offices. Depending on population and revenue growth, fire and police stations, a library and other public infrastructure could be other likely additions.[citation needed]
Education
Residents are a part of the Tunica County School District.[12] Zoned schools include Robinsonville Elementary School,[13] Tunica Middle School, and Rosa Fort High School.
Infrastructure
Fire department
Robinsonville is protected by the North Tunica County Fire Protection District, a career fire department that was created in 1997.[citation needed]
Notable people
Blues musician Robert Johnson spent much of his childhood on a cotton plantation in Robinsonville's Polk Place, and was schooled in the small, one-room wooden S. Peter's Church (long disappeared) in Indian Creek in the 1920s.
In popular culture
The Hollywood Cafe, a blues club which is Tunica Resorts' oldest business, is prominently mentioned in Marc Cohn's 1991 popular song, "Walking in Memphis".[14][15]
See also
References
- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
- ^ "Tunica Resorts CDP, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
- ^ "Tunica Resorts", American Gaming Association,
- ^ Jamel Major (May 5, 2011). "Rising waters flood Tunica casinos". WMC-TV.com. Archived from the original on June 10, 2013. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
- ^ "Boyd Gaming to Purchase Tunica Property from Isle of Capri – Hotel News Resource Mobile Edition".
- US Census Bureau.
- ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Tunica Resorts CDP, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Tunica Resorts CDP, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ Callahan, Jody (May 18, 2008). "Mid-South Fair moving to Tunica". The Commercial Appeal.
- ^ Sheffield, Michael (May 20, 2008). "Tunica new home of Mid-South Fair starting in 2009". Memphis Business Journal.
- U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 31, 2022. - Text list
- ^ "header_6337099_.jpg." Robinsonville Elementary School. Retrieved on August 11, 2011. "7734 Old Hwy 61 North Robinsonville, MS 38664"
- ^ "Walking in Memphis" lyrics
- ^ Sisti, Mark. "Grammy award winning singer/songwriter Marc Cohn makes appearance in CNY". Uticaod.
External links
- Media related to Tunica Resorts, Mississippi at Wikimedia Commons