In his 1883 memoir, Life on the Mississippi, Mark Twain wrote: 

“One who knows the Mississippi will promptly aver—not aloud, but to himself—that ten thousand River Commissions, with the mines of the world at their back, cannot tame that lawless stream, cannot curb it or confine it, cannot say to it, Go here, or Go there, and make it obey; cannot save a shore which it has sentenced; cannot bar its path with an obstruction which it will not tear down, dance over, and laugh at.” 

Since the incorporation of its surrounding lands into American territory, the Mississippi River has helped steer the prosperity of the states through which it runs as well as the nation at large. In the month after the nation celebrates the inaugural National Mississippi River Day and hosts the Mississippi River Festival, it’s imperative to acknowledge the economic impact of the heartland’s own natural marvel that is the Mississippi River. With a mainstem and various tributaries passing through 19 of the 20 heartland states (all but Michigan), the Mississippi River has come to symbolize westward development. Analysis of the economic impact of the river and its surrounding areas demonstrates the modern explanation of that symbolism.

Analyzing Current Impact: 

Over the course of human history, rivers and bodies of water have often been the cornerstone of successful economies–from the Tigris and Euphrates for the Mesopotamians to the Nile for the Egyptians, and the Mississippi is no different. In total, the Mississippi River generates over $400 billion in direct and indirect economic impact and supports over 1.3 million jobs, with that impact best measured across three main sectors: industry and transportation, agriculture and tourism. 

Industry and transportation: Revenue earned from Mississippi River-supported manufacturing accounts for over 80% of the Upper Mississippi River basin’s (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and Missouri) total river-related revenue. In the Lower Mississippi River basin (Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana), that number, while lower, is still a massive 70%. 

The commercial transportation of goods on the Mississippi generates significant value. Among the Upper Mississippi River basin states, commercial transportation accounts for more than $673 million in added revenue from boats transporting goods like corn and heavy machinery along crucial shipping routes. Ships along the waterways of the Mississippi present cost-effective and environmentally friendly routes to distribute goods to domestic markets or towards hubs of international trade due to their fuel efficiencies and massive cargo capacities.

Further, these shipping routes add a significant number of jobs, as companies need a robust workforce to move the approximately 175 million tons of freight each year on the Upper Mississippi alone. The Lower Mississippi River basin and its associated industries employ over 585,000 heartland workers in roles in the natural resource gathering, outdoor recreation, tourism, water supply management, agriculture, mineral harvesting, energy production, commercial navigation, manufacturing and land preservation industries. 

Agriculture: The Mississippi River is a crucial route for shipping agricultural goods. Over 60% of all grain produced in the US is transported along the river before departing from the Port of New Orleans or the Port of South Louisiana. The river is responsible for more than just transportation, however, as it also provides water to nurture crops and livestock as well as delivering nutrients to enrich the soil needed to grow. In this way, the Mississippi River supports over 30 million acres of agricultural land. The entire Mississippi River basin produces 92% of the US’ agricultural exports, 78% of the world’s soybeans and feed grains and most of the US’ livestock. 

Tourism: The Mississippi River is a popular destination for tourists and outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Boaters, canoeists, hunters, cyclists and birdwatchers travel from around the country–and the world–to experience the natural beauty the river has to offer, resulting in nearly $17 billion in revenue and over 245,000 jobs in the Lower Mississippi River basin alone. While tourism and outdoor recreation only make up around 7% of the Upper Mississippi River basin’s revenue, these industries account for nearly 37% of the region’s river-related jobs. 

Measuring The Flow 

America’s Watershed Initiative releases regular report cards measuring the region’s use of the Mississippi River based on six categories: Water Quality & Ecosystems, Flood Control & Risk Management, Transportation, Water Supply, Economy and Recreation. The report card measures progress towards several goals, including:

• Support local, state and national economies: sustain a water use system to efficiently and effectively support agricultural, industrial and energy productivity.
• Serve as the nation’s most valuable river transportation corridor: provide for safe, efficient and dependable commercial navigation within the Mississippi River Watershed to ensure a competitive advantage for our goods in global markets.

The Watershed Initiative has stated that the Mississippi River and basin do need continued improvement and upkeep to sustain not only the water quality that is imperative for regional agriculture projects, but additionally for the other countless initiatives that impact the region economically. Leaders and policymakers from around the heartland should continue to maintain a laser focus on improving the river’s quality and ensuring its protection so the economic impacts gained from the Mississippi can be reaped far into the future. 

Changing the Course 

The Mississippi River is a pillar of the US economy, and with its mainstem running solely through heartland states, the heartland is uniquely positioned to enhance the economic impact of the river in the region’s communities. 

Mark Twain wrote that nobody can confine the Mississippi or bend its will to theirs, and using these strategies, the heartland can align its will to that of the Mississippi River to reach a new echelon of economic development.