History
Humans inhabited the delta region at least as far back as 5,000 years ago. During the Mississippian period, people of the Pensacola culture built earthen mounds along Bottle Creek and the Tensaw River. During the late prehistoric period, other peoples moved into the area, including the Taensas(Tensaw), the Creek, and the Choctaw. In the 16th century, the area was visited by Spanish forces. French explorers arrived in the last years of the 17th century, eventually settling colonial Mobile in 1702 at Twenty-seven Mile Bluff on the Mobile River. During the Creek War, Red Stick Creeks attacked Fort Mims near the confluence of the Alabama and Tombigbee rivers in August 1813, where they killed most of the mixed-blood Tensaw and Lower Town Creeks, intermarried whites, slaves, and nearly 275 militia.
The last important battle of the American Civil War took place at the fortified town of Blakeley, located on the edge of the delta.
In the mid-1920s, the Causeway was built across the lowest part of the delta, connecting the western and eastern shores of Mobile Bay. Later, I-65, I-10 and a railway line were constructed to span different parts of the area.
The delta was designated a National Natural Landmark in May 1974.
Read more about this topic: Mobile-Tensaw River Delta
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