Belzoni, Mississippi

Belzoni, Mississippi
Motto: 
"Heart Of The Delta"
Location of Belzoni, Mississippi
Belzoni, Mississippi
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 33°10′50″N 90°29′11″W / 33.18056°N 90.48639°W / 33.18056; -90.48639
CountryUnited States
StateMississippi
CountyHumphreys
Area
 • Total
1.02 sq mi (2.64 km2)
 • Land1.02 sq mi (2.64 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
112 ft (34 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
1,938
 • Density1,902.5/sq mi (734.56/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
39038
Area code662
FIPS code28-05140
GNIS feature ID2403852
Websitewww.belzonims.com/profbel.htm

Belzoni (/bɛlˈznə/ bel-ZOHN) is a city in Humphreys County, Mississippi, United States, in the Mississippi Delta region, on the Yazoo River. As of the 2020 census, Belzoni had a population of 1,938. It is the county seat of Humphreys County. It was named for the 19th-century Italian archaeologist/explorer Giovanni Battista Belzoni.

The area was named Farm-Raised Catfish Capital of the World in 1976 by then Governor Cliff Finch, since it produces more farm-raised catfish than any other U.S. county. About 40,000 acres (160 km2) of the county are under water in ponds used to grow catfish. About 60% of U.S. farm-raised catfish are grown within a 65-mile (100-km) radius of Belzoni. The title "Catfish Capital" is also claimed by Savannah, Tennessee, Des Allemands, Louisiana, and Selkirk, Manitoba. Belzoni is known for the World Catfish Festival held every April.