'''Cleveland''' is a city in Mississippi. It is home to [http://www.deltastate.edu Delta State University]. Cleveland is located at 33.742027, -90.726548 and is almost perfectly flat.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.9 km2 (7.3 mi2), all land. The estimated population in 2003 was 13,184.

Get in

'''By Plane'''

The closest airports with airline service are Memphis, 100 miles to the North, and Greenville MS, 30 miles to the South. While Greenville has limited airline service, Memphis is a major hub for Northwest Airlines and typically the preferred airport.

'''By Car'''

Driving from Memphis: get to Hwy 55 South and follow it to Hwy 69, right outside of Olive Branch (you'll see a sign for Tunica). Take Hwy 69 to Hwy 61 in Tunica and go south on 61. Follow Hwy 61 76 miles to Cleveland.

Driving from Arkansas (Lake Village): Take Hwy 82 21 miles east through Greenville, MS, then drive 10 more miles (through Leland, MS) to Hwy 61, which you will take north for 35 miles to Cleveland.

Get around

There is no public transportation in Cleveland, MS. There are a few taxi services, two at most, but they are by request only and charge hefty fees. They are generally intended for transportation to airports.

Cleveland is completely flat and only 7 miles square, so biking during good weather is suggested.

See

Cleveland's, and the Mississippi Delta's, primary value as a tourist locale is it's beautiful scenic views, quiet small town atmosphere, and its relation to Delta blues folklore.

  • Drive 20 miles east to Rosedale and visit the [http://www.mdwfp.com/parkView/Parks.asp?ID=3823 Great River Road State Park]. The park offers magnificent views of the Mississippi River with access to sandbars during the drier seasons. The park also boasts a 75-foot high lookout tower that provides panoramic views of the Mississippi River. Below the tower is a picnic area, swings, grills, and a large reservable pavilion for group events. The park is named for the Great River Road, a scenic parkway that follows the Mississippi from its beginning as a small Canadian creek to its end at the Gulf of Mexico.
  • Find the original Old Hwy 61, which starts just west of Rosemary Road at Hwy 61. Somewhere this road will cross with the original Old Hwy 49, where it is said that Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil in exchange for secret knowledge that helped him pioneer the blues.
  • Dockery Farms. ttp://www.dockeryfarms.org. The Birthplace of the Delta Blues is located about 5 miles east of Cleveland on State Highway 8. Dockery Farms was a 28 square mile cotton plantation and sawmill along the Sunflower River. It is widely regarded as the place where Delta blues music was born. Blues musicians resident at Dockery included Charlie Patton, Robert Johnson and Howlin' Wolf. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. Recently the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, Delta State University, and the Dockery Farms Foundation have teamed together to bring the history and culture of the blues back to the area through the local schools.

    Do

    Cleveland is a small town. Locals of all ages enjoy simple pleasures such as joyriding through the farmland, mud-riding, bonfires, jam sessions, drinking parties, dinner parties, barbecues, and other socially centered pastimes.

  • Go to [http://www.mosquitoinc.org The Farmhouse] and see a punk rock show. Local youths have been hosting punk rock shows at various venues in the town for over 10 years. The first location was Ad-venture Frames located on Cotton Row, and after that there was a period of limbo where shows were held in kitchens and backyards. The Farmhouse was established when three members of a local band called Love Zombie moved in to an abandoned house in the middle of rice fields on Smith Road.
  • thumb|right|Seaberry dancing at Po Monkey'sTravel 5 miles north to Merigold and go to [http://www.lostneighborhoods.com/delta/deltabound.htm Poor Monkey's Lounge] (popularly known as '''Po Monkey's'''). Po Monkey's has been photographed by Annie Liebovitz and written up in Japanese Vogue and National Geographic. Owned by Willie Seaberry, who farms the land surrounding the juke by day, Po Monkey's is a local hot spot and a big part of blues lore in the area. Live music happens once in a blue moons, but it is not to be missed, if only to experience scores of people dancing and drinking in a building so small "you couldn't pour a bucket of sand in there"[http://www.lostneighborhoods.com/delta/deltabound.htm].
  • Go to Delta Cream Donuts, located at Hwy 61 and North Street. Known for being open well into the night, Jimmy Ray and Mr. Lee cook up fresh donuts and pastries from 6am until, and their services are also available for catering.
  • Buy

    Cleveland has a thriving downtown full of boutiques and knick-knack shops, but it is better suited for housewives than collectors.

    Eat

    Cleveland boasts many locally owned restaurants; you won't find a TGIFridays there. Go to Airport Grocery, The Pickled Okra, the Southern Grill, Darry's Eat Place, or the Grapeland Grill for typical local fare - burgers, ribs, pulled pork, assorted barbecue, catfish, crawfish, kabobs, etc. The Country Platter offers soul food and plate lunches for surprisingly low prices, and just south of it one can find The Pig Pen and Crustaceans for more inexpensive local dining. Crustaceans is primarily known for crawfish, and the Pig Pen serves barbecue. South of Cleveland, in Boyle, is Catfish Cabin, which specializes in fish and seafood. There are two small Chinese restaurants called China Buffet and Little China Kitchen, and while their food is good, they are not regarded as "sit-down" restaurants. There are also two Mexican restaurants called Guadalajara and La Cabana.

    For something more unique, check out Little John's on South Street and Chrisman. He sells tamales that are on their way to becoming world famous, as well as ribs and fish plates. There's also The Warehouse, a gourmet deli, art gallery, and bazaar for various local vendors. A La Carte provides high-end wraps, salads, and sandwiched for Cleveland's elite, and the finest dining of all is KC's[http://www.kcsrestaurant.com], a four star restaurant on Hwy 61. KC's serves "eclectic modern American cuisine with global influences" [http://www.kcsrestaurant.com/page2.htm].

  • '''[http://www.lostdogpizza.com Lost Dog Pizza]''' Located on the legendary Hwy 61 on the northern side of town, Lost Dog Pizza is a recent establishment boasting a wide variety of pizza, sandwiches, sides and deserts, as well as a huge selection of import and domestic beers. The restaurant is themed with a hybrid mix of Southern and Islander cultures with various decorations adorning the interior, such as antiques and signs. The menu includes their signature pizzas such as The Lucille, named in honor of local celebrity and blues legend B.B. King. Very family friendly with equally reasonable prices. The original location in [http://wikitravel.org/en/Indianola_(Mississippi) Indianola, MS] is located on Hwy 82, on the western end of town.
  • Drink

    La Cabana is locally considered to serve the strongest drinks at the best prices, but those looking for a more southern ambience should go to The Pickled Okra on Sharpe Street. While the bar tends to become overrun with frat boys during the week, they have a well-stocked bar and a friendly staff.

    Locals often opt to drink at home amongst friends, and liquor stores can be found all along Hwy 61. Because of Blue Laws, liquor stores close at 10pm and bars stop serving at 1am.

    Sleep

    Cleveland has many commercial hotels located on Hwy 61. A local bed and breakfast is Molly's Bed and Breakfast[http://www.shaman.home.dixie-net.com/], located at 214 S Bolivar Ave. It is run by Molly Shaman, wife of sculptor Floyd Shaman.

    Get out