"Way Down South in Dixie" The term Dixie we have all come to know as meaning the Deep South, was born in Louisiana prier to the Civil War. Prior to the Civil War the economy in the port City of New Orleans was literally bursting at the seams. The levee on the riverfront was lined for miles with steamboats and there was virtually no room to store the cargos brought to the port. Like the cargo, money was flowing like water and the prevalent bill was the $10 bill. New Orleans at this time in history was still a divided city with Canal Street serving as the neutral ground between the Americans and the Creoles. After selling their cargos and wishing to spend their money, the keel boatmen were inconvenienced by having to use French money on the down river side of Canal Street and American currency on the up river side. The enterprising Citizens Bank, located on Toulouse Street solved the problem. They simply printed on the face both in English and French the denomination Ten-DIX. DIX is ten in French and the keel boatmen corrupted the word by saying, "We're going to New Orleans to get some of those good old Dixies". Hence the deep south has been known as the land of Dixie ever since. This note is a reprint from the original plates.
Thanks, NewB, you have made a fine contribution to our collective knowledge. Good on you! Your posting deserves many more viewings and comment than it has received. It is worthy of greater recognition. Again, good on you and another thanks.
I love reading about trivia like this. Now if someone could only tell me the story about the super market chain, WinnDixie.
When I attended the University of Georgia in the 1970s the Georgia Redcoat Band played Dixie at every football game. It was (and still is) a great song but political correctness put an end to that about my junior year.
