Atop the forested hills in Northeast Arkansas, Crowleys Ridge State Park is situated on a unique geological formation and has a rich history. A plaque explains that as a state representative from neighboring Phillips County, he advocated for a new county in east Arkansas, and in 1873 was successful in passing legislation to create one from portions of surrounding counties. Native log and stone structures, constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, set the tone for this park's rustic quality. You could not be signed in. Swimming Beach / Snack Bar: Geology Department, Baylor University, Waco, Texas 76798. However, Eocene or Pliocene-Pleistocene near-surface strata appear to be displaced a maximum of 7.5 m. Based on reflection and geomorphologic data, we believe that reactivation of the bounding faults of Crowley's Ridge occurred concurrently with and strongly influenced Wisconsin denudation of the Mississippi valley. This unique habitat has been protected by the establishment of several state and city parks, the St. Francis National Forest, recreational lakes, and in 1997 a national scenic byway, the Crowley's Ridge Parkway. Arkansas State University. There's a butterfly garden, native plant garden, pond, prairie, woodland and the 17,000-square foot center, where exhibits tell the ridge's long story. The geography of Crowley's Ridge isolated it like an island. Our academic offerings range across four distinct divisions: Arts and Sciences, Biblical Studies, and Teacher Education. The Civil War Battle of Chalk Bluff was fought on Crowley's Ridge on May 12, 1863. Former St. Louis reality TV star James "Tim" Norman will serve life in prison for conspiring to kill his nephew. The ridge is capped by a deep layer of wind-deposited (loessial) soils, a fine-grained soil created millions of years ago as glaciers moved across the continent. Morris, Jodi. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Common Herbaceous Species: Occurrence of forbs and herbaceous plants is somewhat restricted due to the closed forest canopy. More precisely, Crowley settled near the town of Paragould, Arkansas. One of six volumes generated by each GSA section for the Decade of North American Geology (DNAG) project, this Centennial Field Guide contains descriptions of 100 sites or site clusters representing outstanding geologic locations in Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Stroud, Hubert B., and Gerald T. Hanson. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The ridge is capped by a deep layer of wind-deposited (loessial) soils, a fine-grained soil created millions of years ago as glaciers moved across the continent. 100 Rock Street * Interpretive programs available year-round. An official website of the United States government. Ferns and flowers abound here, including the American bellflower, fire pink, butterfly weed, cardinal flower, blue lobelia, phlox, verbena, wild hydrangea, hibiscus, aster, and yellow jasmine. Abundant glacial outwash and a rising sea level contributed to the aggravation of the ancestral Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, causing a decrease in their gradients. Finally, in July 1863, Union cavalry crossed and began a drive down Crowley's Ridge that ended with the capture of Little Rock. "Vascular Flora of St. Francis National Forest in Arkansas." New and previously published seism Evidence for late Quaternary deformation along Crowley's Ridge, New Madrid seismic zone | U.S. Geological Survey I live very near the Missouri side and drive part of it almost everyday. Rate and review titles you borrow and share your opinions on them. The St. Francis River rises in Missouri and forms a small section of the state line with Arkansas. [5], The flora and fauna of the ridge seem more closely related to the Tennessee hills to the east than to the Ozark Mountains to the west. Crowley's Ridge We have a team of faculty members who represent the highest standards of intellectual and professional standards in their fields. The park, to eventually span more than 500 acres, borders the river and is also on the Audubon Great River Birding Trail. Van Arsdale, Robert A. Williams, Eugene S. Schweig, Kaye M. Shedlock, Jack K. Odum, Kenneth W. King; The origin of Crowley's Ridge, northeastern Arkansas: Erosional remnant or tectonic uplift?. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". It isn't a separately designated route, but a cobble of sections of numerous roads, made a State Scenic Byway in 1997 and National Scenic Byway the following year. Sand and silt winnowed from the outwash form dunes and sheet-like deposits of loess. Additional support provided by the Charles M. and Joan R. Taylor Foundation Inc. Loess is very easily eroded, and water has cut Crowley's Ridge into sharp ridges and deep valleys. The only uplifting in the otherwise flat Arkansas Delta, the anomaly rises 150 feet and is just 12 miles across at its widest point. For information about lodging, dining, sh61Helena opping and more along Crowley's Ridge, visit deltabyways.com. Crowley's Ridge (also Crowleys Ridge) is a geological formation that rises 250 to 550 feet (170 m) above the alluvial plain of the Mississippi embayment in a 150-mile (240 km) line from southeastern Missouri to the Mississippi River near Helena, Arkansas.It is the most prominent feature in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain between Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and the Gulf of Mexico. As settlers moved in, they formed a close-knit community maintaining their culture, religion and values while changing the landscape. Subscribe with this special offer to keep reading, (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). To assess Pleistocenetorecent tectonic activity of Crowleys Ridge, we perform landscapescale geomorphic analyses, such as relief, slope, hypsometry, and drainage basin shape, on a 10m digital elevation model (DEM). This narrow rolling hill region rising above the flat plain is the sixth, and smallest, natural division of the state of Arkansas. The agates in this area are different shades of tan, light brown, and yellow due to the penetration and oxidation of trace amounts of iron. An alluvial plain is a primarily flat landform that forms when sediment is deposited over many years. On to historic Helena, where ridge and parkway end. Adjacent to the ridge are many fossils discovered in thick deltaic soils and gravel pits. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. XML Sitemap Please call the park about our dog-friendly cabin. Originally a buffalo trace, it became an Indian trail, postal road then military route. Arkansas Natural Area Planning. The Wishing Well Flume is a must-see feature at Crowley's Ridge State Park. Crowley's Ridge (also Crowleys Ridge) is a geological formation that rises 250 to 550 feet (170m) above the alluvial plain of the Mississippi embayment in a 150-mile (240km) line from southeastern Missouri to the Mississippi River near Helena, Arkansas. Of course, as most of our Arkansas State Parks do, Crowleys Ridge offers great fishing options at Walcott Lake. [4] Recent seismic evidence, however, questions the fluvial origin by focusing on uplift along ridge bounding faults. [10] Outside there are trails through wetlands, forest and prairie, and a 1/4 mile universally accessible trail and boardwalk around a pond. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America (1995) 85 (4): 963985. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Bucknor for rejecting handshake: Zero class, Man shot and killed after fight in downtown St. Louis, Fate of St. Louis Fox Theatre still undecided, Liberty High student killed in St. Charles shooting could heal you with a smile, Brothers who did everything together, fashionista among victims in fatal St. Louis crash, St. Louis prosecutors staff down by nearly half as caseloads jump. Crowley's Ridge in north-eastern Arkansas, with a fi ne scenic drive running along its spine, is a rare geological formation so much so, there's only one other like it on the planet, in. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. It is but now at the opposite end of the square there's another monument, a bronze bust of William Hines Furbush (18391902). It was created within the 24,000acre St. Francis National Forest through a special use permit from the U.S. Forest Service. SAF Cover Types: The Forrest L. Wood Crowleys Ridge Nature Center also has hiking trails open each day from dawn to dusk. Extensive areas, including the Mississippi Alluvial Plain and Crowleys Ridge, were covered by windblown soil. 17005 Manchester Rd AAPG geologic province: Piedmont-Blue Ridge province. Additional reports and publications can also be found by clicking on the RNA Publications and Products link in the site menu or by clicking here. [2][3] Crowley's Ridge is a natural loess accumulation point. Lake Ponder Trail is a barrier-free trail that encircles the swimming lake, Connect to the park in a meaningful way with a park interpreter-led program, Fishing pier at Crowley's Ridge State Park. The low-lying areas around the ridge were once much swampier, and the ridge provided a natural and more healthful place for settlers to establish homes. A suspected gunman on Tuesday was charged in the fatal shooting of a man in downtown St. Louis one day earlier. Students who achieve a GPA of 4.0 are named to the Presidents List. Email: Marty@STLMedia.Agency Their village has been re-created, their story told at a fine museum. Founded in 1882, named for railroad rivals J.W. The 35-foot bluff, another panel reads, is "one of the most important historical landmarks in Arkansas," at a major crossing point for raids between Arkansas and Missouri during the Civil War. Please call to inquire. Crowley's Ridge was subjected to over 2,000 felt earthquakes during the 1811-1812 New Madrid earthquake sequence, including at least three events with Ms> 8.0. The ridge is named for one of those early settlers, Benjamin Crowley, who moved to the area in 1821. We use cookies to help our site work, understand how its used, and to deliver targeted information to existing and prospective customers. Examination of key outcrops in the eastern Blue Ridge in southern Virginia and northwestern North Carolina is used to evaluate existing stratigraphic and structural models. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. All the other ridges of the Appalachians are carved from folded . Since loess is very easily eroded, steep slopes and deep valleys characterize much of Crowleys Ridge. Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Little Rock, AR. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access. Crowley's Ridge is a semi-continuous elevated upland over 380 km long within the upper Mississippi Embayment. [9] Operated by the Arkansas Fish and Game Commission (AGFC) and opened in 2004, the Center includes an exhibit area, discovery room, observation tower, meeting rooms, auditorium, and gift shop. A closer look, however, reveals a . For additional information: The scarps are primarily located along the southern ridge, trend parallel to the ridge margin discontinuously for 0.11 km, and vertically offset <56 ka surfaces 0.4 m with up to 6 m of tilting. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Connect with Crowleys Ridge College from wherever you are: Facebook- facebook.com/CrowleysRidgeCollege. Last chance! This is due to the highly erosive nature of the wind-blown soils of Crowleys Ridge; these soils need a protective vegetative cover of some type (such as pasture grasses or forests) to combat severe soil erosion. New Years Resolution: Visit an Arkansas State Park Every Month, Embassy Suites by Hilton Jonesboro Red Wolf Convention Center, Paragould Community Center and Water Park, Abilities Unlimited of Paragould Thrift Store, Cabin 1 One bedroom duplex, 2 queen beds, fireplace, dog-Friendly (Additional fees required. Rivers and streams that continued to meander across the plain washed away the loessial material. Castanea 61(1): 49-61. Nine lines traversed the margins and adjacent areas of the northern segment of the ridge near Jonesboro, Arkansas, and the other six were located south of Jonesboro on the southern segment. The ridge is actually an island formed by ancient paths of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. The New Madrid seismic zone has been the source of multiple major (M ~7.07.5) earthquakes in the past 2 ka, yet the surface expression of recent deformation remains ambiguous. The scenic drive Crowley's Ridge Parkway National Scenic Byway begins at the town of St. Francis, Arkansas, (population 218) and ends with the ridge at Helena-West Helena on the Mississippi. Wednesday-Sunday 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Subcategories You have permission to edit this article. At one time, the ridge was thought to have been an island between the Mississippi River and Ohio River that was isolated as a long low hilly ridge after the rivers changed course millions of years ago. This region is the location of some of eastern Arkansass largest cities. Private Party which includes CCC pavilion. Martin Smith ( STL.News, LLC ) newest in the system, is ahead. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. This site uses cookies. Mastodon bones were found within the city limits of Helena at the southern end of the ridge. Additional support provided by the Arkansas Community Foundation. Signs explain that on May 1-2, 1863, 5,000 Confederates led by Gen. John Marmaduke (later, Missouri's 25th governor) fought a Union force of 8,000 led by Gen. John McNeil. The 17-acre site was home to Mississippian Indians from A.D. 1000-1550. Open daily 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eleven of the reflection lines were 24-channel Mini-Sosie data with 1-sec record length and four lines were 24-channel shotgun-source data with 0.25-sec record length. Learn more about you and Thrive at Crowleys Ridge College! From Paragould, the park is nine miles west on U.S. 412, then two miles south on Hwy. We returned briefly to Missouri, and at the Missouri Conservation sign for Chalk Bluff drove another spur west to the flatter Missouri side of the river. Native log and stone structures, constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, set the tone for this parks rustic quality. Also of note is that the Civil War Skirmish at Chalk Bluff was fought on Crowleys Ridge on May 12, 1863. Crowley's Ridge is an unusual geological formation that rises above the Alluvial Plain of the Mississippi Embayment ( Mississippi Alluvial Plain, or Delta). Golden, CO 80401 An overhead view shows it thick with hardwood trees in an otherwise treeless landscape, resembling a slightly crooked index finger poking its tip a few miles into Missouri. New and previously published seismic reectionandshallowresistivitydatashowdiscontinuitiesattheridgemarginsinPlioPleistocenestrata,yet More precisely, Crowleys Ridge is most notable between the Gulf of Mexico and the city of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. These pits sometimes reveal the teeth of large mastodons, mammoths and horses, which roamed the continent as recently as 10,000 years ago. One explains that the ridge was named for Benjamin Crowley, the earliest settler here, in 1825, on land he'd been given for service in the War of 1812. Youll bring unique talents and perspectives to our diverse, dynamic community. The unusual formation rises high above the alluvial plain of the Mississippi embayment, ranging from 250 to 550 feet depending on the precise location. 168. After three years, Head Coach Brad Phillips has decided to depart ways with CRC as he plans to take on a new role and position [], Crowleys Ridge College has announced its Presidents List and Deans List for the Fall 2022 semester. Additional support provided by the Arkansas General Assembly. Here, in this world of steep hills, deep ravines, occasional wide river-valley vistas and thick forest, where branches arch overhead creating a green and yellow tunnel, you could, but for the asphalt road, be back in the time of Benjamin Crowley. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. At that time the two rivers joined near Simmesport, Louisiana, 404 mi (650 km) south of where they join today. If you can, provide 1-2 sources of information backing up this correction. These and other parks, including the Forrest L. Wood Crowleys Ridge Nature Center in Jonesboro, allow visitors to experience the distinctive character of this unique natural region. Back in Arkansas, our next stop was in Piggott, at the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Education Center. Build your own course of study with our Arts and Sciences program of study. Im baffled., Suspect charged in fatal shooting in downtown St. Louis, Former Sweetie Pies TV star Tim Norman gets two life sentences in nephews death, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol slams ump C.B. Nearest weather station, with distance and direction from RNA: Annual precipitation (type, seasonal distribution): SAF type 52 white oakred oakhickory, RNA guidance, evaluation, and establishment criteria. Crowley's Ridge is a unique geological formation in which many cities of the Arkansas Delta region reside. For visitors looking for a longer hike, trails connect to the Craighead Forest Park, where hikers can venture even farther. Other rooms feature medical instruments, military uniforms and more. [8], The region adjacent to the ridge is covered with thick deltaic soils, and few fossils are found except in gravel pits. The hilly, wooded park includes a playground and paved nature trail leading steeply down to the river with interpretive panels along the way. The one-of-a-kind cabin features a modern kitchen and appliances, a full-size shower and bathtub, two queen-size beds, a full-size foldout bed, large dining room, and satellite television, and sleeps up to six. The area is great for hiking. Crowley's Ridge Parkway begins in Missouri and continues into Arkansas. Our cabins have modern amenities including satellite television, heat, and air conditioning, full kitchens with cookware and dinnerware. Average monthly temperatures range from about 40F (4C) in January to 81F (27C) in July. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The following aspects of the geology of Crowley's Ridge are discussed: Road log and detailed description of 5 sites (Crow Creek, Wittsburg, Copperas Creek, Poplar Creek, and Liberty Church quarry). A lock () or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Our last stop was at Helena's newest attraction, Delta Dirt Distillery, owned and operated by Harvey and Donna Williams and sons Donavan and Thomas. The fine 1888 brick courthouse (now home to Paragould's Chamber of Commerce) was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. On Crowley's Ridge, however, the loess continued to collectup to 50 feet deep in some locations! Designated as an Arkansas Scenic Byway in 1997, Crowley's Ridge Parkway became the state's first National Scenic Byway in 1998. In addition to the stocked 335-acre lake, the park includes picnic sites, playground, hiking trails and an impressive fishing pier. The ridge is actually an island formed by ancient paths of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Native log and stone structures, constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s, set the tone for this parks rustic quality. Piedmont-Blue Ridge province; Publication: Espenshade, G.H., 1954, Geology and mineral deposits of the James River-Roanoke River manganese district, Virginia: U.S. Geological Survey . Our strategic plan is focused on making Crowley's Ridge College THRIVE. Publication: Brown, W.R., 1958, Geology and mineral resources of the Lynchburg quadrangle, Virginia: Virginia Division of Mineral Resources Bulletin, no. Crowleys Ridge is an erosional remnant of unconsolidated Tertiary clay, silt, sand, and lignite capped by Pliocene- Pleistocene gravel, sand, and clay, and middle-to-late Pleistocene loess (Haley, 1976). The Forrest L. Wood Crowleys Ridge Nature Center in Jonesboro, Arkansas features self-guided exhibits about area's topography and natural history and wildlife of Crowleys Ridge. Crowleys Ridge is named for Benjamin Crowley, the first European-American to touch down in the area around 1820. Pre-European Exploration, Prehistory through 1540, European Exploration and Settlement, 1541 through 1802, Louisiana Purchase through Early Statehood, 1803 through 1860, Civil War through Reconstruction, 1861 through 1874, Post-Reconstruction through the Gilded Age, 1875 through 1900, Early Twentieth Century, 1901 through 1940, World War II through the Faubus Era, 1941 through 1967, Divergent Prosperity and the Arc of Reform, 19682022, Forrest L. Wood Crowleys Ridge Nature Center, Changing Climate and Changing Land (Grades 5-8), Arkansas Festivals of the Land (Grades 7-8). A marked spur just inside Arkansas leads a couple of miles west to Chalk Bluff Battlefield Park on the St. Francis, our first stop. On to 300-acre Crowley's Ridge State Park, established in 1933 at the site of Benjamin Crowley's homestead. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. An old Forrest Service road cuts deeply into the ridge from years of traffic. These soils are easily eroded. Among the many features of nature, the center is an exhibit area, discovery room, observation room, auditorium, and gift shop. Running through nearly two dozen towns, its attractions 5 include museums, Civil War battle sites, seven state parks, a national forest, nature center and dozens of spectacular vistas. A student must be enrolled full-time and achieve a GPA of 3.5 to be named to the Deans List. A comparable example of this type of deposit is the Loess Hills in northwestern Missouri and western Iowa. One of the unique features of Crowleys Ridge is its natural vegetation. The Blue Ridge is the southeasternmost of the great series of parallel ridges that form the Central part of the Appalachian mountain system. On Crowleys Ridge, however, the loess continued to collect, up to fifty feet in depth in some locations. Native log and stone structures, constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, set the tone for this park's rustic quality. Maximum and minimum temperatures: The average annual temperature is about 62 (17C). Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. In addition to the structures made by the CCC, the group also built five miles of trails for visitors, ranging from fully accessible to moderate. Sad to say, our part of it hasn't been developed like it was supposed to have been. Researchers have determined that the fossils found near the ridge date back to somewhere around 10,000 years ago. Crowley's Ridge is unique in many respects The orange sands, gravels and blue . Discover more about how CRC is going to move forward. It is the most prominent feature in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain between Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and the Gulf of Mexico. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, The scenic byway travels through Arkansas and time, BY PAMELA SELBERT Special to the PostDisaptch, 4 killed, 4 critically injured in crash at South Grand Boulevard and Forest Park Avenue, Parents push back on allegations against St. Louis transgender center. XML News Sitemap. By accepting this message, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device. USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) National Geologic Map Database. Attractions at this once major port town include an important Civil War battle site, Confederate Cemetery/Maple Hill Cemetery, Freedom Park, Delta Cultural Center and every October, the International King Biscuit Blues Festival attracting thousands from all over. But the park's centerpiece, overlooking Lake Ponder, is a massive pavilion with dance floor, dining area and adjoining bathhouse. Crowley's Ridge is a geological formation that rises 250 to 550 feet above the alluvial plain of the Mississippi embayment in a 150-mile line from southeastern Missouri to the Mississippi River near Helena, Arkansas. Linens are provided in these cabins. The nature center is named Forrest L. Wood, a former Arkansas Fish and Game Commission commissioner. United States, Director, Geologic Hazards Science Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive Reston, VA 20192, Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf (Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Region 12: Pacific Islands (American Samoa, Hawaii, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands), Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Evidence for late Quaternary deformation along Crowley's Ridge, New Madrid seismic zone, Jessica Thompson Jobe, Ryan D. Gold, Richard W. Briggs, Robert Williams, William J. Stephenson, Jaime E. Delano, Anjana K. Shah, Burke J. Minsley. Crowley's Ridge is a low, narrow, eroded ridge that rises above the uniformly flat alluvial floodplain in the northeastern quadrat of Arkansas ().The ridge is geologically unique because it consists largely of wind-blown soil (loess) deposited during the late Pleistocene (Royall et al. Located in eastern Arkansas and southeast Missouri, Crowleys Ridge is no more than 11 mi (18 km) wide, but it extends for 186 mi (300 km) from Campbell, Missouri, to Helena, Arkansas (Fig. Important ridge cities include Paragould, Wynne (Cross County), Forrest City (St. Francis County), Helena-West Helena, and Jonesboro (Craighead County). Phone: +1 314-808-1870 Crowley's Ridge extends north-south from Clay County to Phillips County in a gentle eastward-facing arc. Group Area:Available year-round Thrive at Crowley's Ridge College Compose Your Undergraduate Experience Our academic offerings range across four distinct divisions: Arts and Sciences, Biblical Studies, and Teacher Education. by Wil Teague, Sports Information Director News on the Ridge! It does not store any personal data. The reflection data show that Paleozoic through Eocene Wilcox sections have been uplifted beneath Crowley's Ridge from 60 to 30 m across ridge-bounding faults. In terms of formation, the ridge is generally thought to have once been an island between the Mississippi River and the Ohio River. The park is great place to explore Crowleys Ridge itself. The history and wildlife of Crowleys Ridge can be discovered at the Forrest L. Wood Crowleys Ridge Nature Center. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The upland forests of oaks and hickories found on Crowley's Ridge look much like forests in the Ozarks. Crowley's Ridge was originally an island between the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. Pool parties may be booked outside of normal business hours if staffing allows. The ridge is primarily composed of the windblown glacially derived sediment known as loess. Crowleys Ridge formed naturally over the years, primarily from loess, sediment constructed by wind-blown dust that accumulates over time. . Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Crowleys Ridge, a linear ridge trending northsouth for 300+ km through the Mississippi Embayment, has been interpreted as either a faultbounded uplift or a nontectonic erosional remnant. The byway loops on over the hills, past the entrance to 114acre Lake Frierson State Park. English: Crowley's Ridge one of the most prominent features in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain. The role of Chaplain is a time-honored tradition in our state as it provides spiritual support to our legislators while they are serving the people. Crowleys Ridge also has extensive areas of pasture. We are a college committed to a continual emphasis on the integration of scholarship, critical thinking, service, and the spiritual dimension of life. Agricultural engineer Harvey explains that his grandfather and great-grandfather had raised sweet potatoes on 86 acres north of Helena, sharecropping from the late 19th century until 1949, when they could afford to buy the land. Memorial Day Weekend-Labor Day The ridge is covered with a lush mixed forest including oak and hickory and uncommon hardwood trees such as American beech, sugar maple, and the tuliptree or yellow poplar. When a tribute gift is given the honoree will receive a letter acknowledging your generosity and a bookplate will be placed in a book. Bear Creek Lake, originally commissioned by the U.S. Forest Service, is now part of Mississippi River State Park with a new campground. There is some commercial agriculture in the loessal plains area of the ridge.