Yazoo
Yazoo | |
|---|---|
 Flag  Seal | |
 Map of the United States with Yazoo highlighted. | |
| Country |  United States |
| Established as Southwest Native Reserve | August 17, 1783 |
| Federation as a Territory | December 12, 1819 |
| Patriation | August 17, 1970 |
| Capital | Bayonne la Vella |
| Largest city | Bayonne la Vella |
| Government | |
| • Type | Constitutional monarchy |
| • Governor | TBD |
| • Premier | Jan Jones |
| Time zone | UTC-5:00 to -6:00 (EST CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4:00 to -5:00 (EDT CDT) |
Yazoo is a U.S. state located in the southeastern United States. The state is bordered to the north by Tennessee, New Berkshire, and North Carolina, to the east by Georgia, to the south by West Florida, and to the west by Arcansas and Louisiana. The western border is defined by the Mississippi River and the eastern border by the Chattahoochee River. The capital and largest city is Bayonne la Vella, however a significant portion of the state is within the Atlanta metropolitan area which is the largest metropolitan area in the state.
Prior to European colonization, Yazoo was settled by Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Muscogee (Creek) peoples, among others. Following the American Revolutionary War, the southern colonies within the United States pressured London to give them unrestricted westward access. This was denied, but Parliament sought to give the colonies a more generous border than in the then-repealed Proclamation Line of 1763. To balance colonial and native interests, Parliament created the Southwest Native Reserve in modern-day Yazoo. After the Pioneer War, Parliament sought to organize the area and did in 1797 so as the Province of Yazoo. The original four counties, Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek, and Chickasaw continue to exist, and gave local government to the tribes. After the U.S. took military administration of French Louisiana, the tribes began contemplating a union with the United States. Negotiations persisted until 1819 when a deal was reached between the native tribes, the Continental Congress, and Parliament for the admission of Yazoo as a territory.Yazoo remained a territory until 1866, when statehood was granted to the territory. During its time as a territory, Yazoo conflicted with Georgia regarding squatters in Cherokee County. The Supreme Court case Walker v. Yazoo established that Yazoo could restrict squatters and land rights in the territory.
Yazoo state government is a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy under the Georgetown tradition, with specific Native elements. Native Americans no longer compose the majority of Yazoo, due to relaxed land use policies enacted by the state in the 1870s. However, the state maintains the largest number of Native Americans among U.S. state's, at roughly 15%, however, some territories have higher percentages. The current Premier of Yazoo is Jan Jones.