Tupelo

Tupelo is a name with two common uses in North America. It refers to a city in northeast Mississippi and to a small group of deciduous trees in the Nyssa genus, commonly called tupelo or tupelo gum. The term also appears in the name of tupelo honey, produced by bees foraging on tupelo blossoms.

Tupelo, Mississippi, is the county seat of Lee County. It lies in the northeastern part of the state, near the Natchez Trace and along regional highways. The city is best known as the birthplace of Elvis Presley, and it maintains historic sites related to his early life. The Tupelo National Battlefield preserves a Civil War engagement fought nearby in 1864. The local economy includes manufacturing, healthcare, and tourism, with tourism centered on historic and cultural attractions.

Tree species known as tupelo include water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica) and black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica). They are native to eastern North America and commonly inhabit wetlands, bottomlands, and floodplains. The trees produce small edible fruits that are important to wildlife; their wood is used for furniture, veneer, and carving in various regions.

Tupelo trees and the city share a regional identity linked to water, forests, and music heritage, contributing to Tupelo’s standing as a notable example of a place name with both botanical and urban significance.