Hushpuckena, a quiet unincorporated community in Bolivar County, Mississippi, sits along U.S. Route 61, roughly 3 miles south of Duncan and 4 miles north of Shelby. Its name, derived from the Choctaw language, is said to mean “sunflowers are abundant,” evoking the Delta’s rich Native American heritage. Established in the 19th century, Hushpuckena grew around the Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad, with a post office operating from 1885 to 1968, serving as a small hub for local farmers and traders. At its peak, the town hummed with modest activity, tied to the cotton-driven economy of the Mississippi Delta.

As the railroad’s influence faded and the cotton industry declined, Hushpuckena dwindled, its businesses and homes gradually reclaimed by nature. Today, it stands as a near-ghost town, its weathered structures whispering of a bygone era. Referenced in songs by Tom Waits and Hozier, Hushpuckena’s haunting charm draws explorers to its forgotten corners, a testament to the Delta’s enduring, sunlit past.