The British and Spanish created settlements in the area and it continued to grow after the land became part of the United States.

[3] According to the Clarion-Ledger newspaper, "Of the three towns [in Claiborne County] mentioned as existing prior to 1829, Grand Gulf, eight miles northwest of Port Gibson, was by far the most prosperous.

In 1862, Admiral David Farragut attempted to take a fleet of Union gunboats upriver past Grand Gulf to attack Vicksburg.

He was harassed by guerillas shooting from Grand Gulf, which caused General Thomas Williams to attempt to burn the town.

[10] During Ulysses S. Grant's Vicksburg Campaign, Confederate forces repelled his invasion fleet during the Battle of Grand Gulf.

"[4] The Grand Gulf Military State Park contains a museum with artifacts from the battle and multiple interpretive exhibits, along with the earth works from Forts Wade and Cobun.