The Mississippi River flood of 2011 did as much good for the Vicksburg National Military Park’s tourism numbers as it did harm for other spots frequented by visitors.

Park superintendent Mike Madell released figures last week showing visitation at the park was 796,033 in 2011, up from 581,459 in 2010.

“The heavy use was, of course, a function of the flooding and many people wanting to get a birds-eye view,” he said. Many of the people flocked to areas overlooking the Mississippi River, such as Navy and Louisiana circles, he said.

Numbers were quite different at other locations.

At the Old Court House Museum — Eva W. Davis Memorial, 15,512 visitors were recorded in 2011, down about 2,000 from 2010, said curator Bubba Bolm.

“Ours is down for the same reason (the park’s) is up,” he said.

Bolm said he believes the national media portrayal of Vicksburg “under water” during the record flood kept many people from the city.

“We lost maybe a dozen school groups,” he said.

At the Mississippi Welcome Center on Warrenton Road at the Mississippi River bridges, 135,121 people were counted in 2011, down from about 138,000 in 2010.

The Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum on Washington Street downtown counted 15,608 visitors in 2011, down from 16,629 in 2010.

Nancy Bell, director of the Vicksburg Foundation for Historic Preservation, who manages the museum, cited the economy and hoped “for a better ‘this’ year.”

The 1,853-acre military park recorded a million visitors in 2002 but cited a decrease to 584,102 by 2009, and officials have blamed rising fuel prices.

The report released last week from the National Park Service shows visitors in 2010 spent $28.9 million and supported 449 local jobs that year, when the park debuted the current visitor center documentary and dedicated a new monument to Kentucky Confederate veterans.

Most of the spending and jobs are related to lodging, food and beverage service, 52 percent, followed by other retail, 29 percent, entertainment/amusements, 10 percent, gas and local transportation, 7 percent, and groceries, 2 percent.

“The people and the business owners in communities near national parks have always known their economic value,” Madell said in a release with the report. “Vicksburg National Military Park is clean, green fuel for the engine that drives our local economy.”

The river crested at 57.1 feet on May 19, 14.1 feet above flood stage and nearly a foot higher than the 1927 mark.

Tourist spending and visitor numbers at the park could remain on the high side throughout 2012 and 2013, with events planned for the 150th anniversary of the Siege of Vicksburg.

“As we approach the sesquicentennial, the traffic will increase,” said Bill Seratt, executive director of the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Though, it won’t have the powerful draw of a 500-year flood.”

Spending totals in the report are based on $12 billion spent by 281 million visitors to 394 national parks and nearby communities in the annual, peer-reviewed analysis by Dr. Daniel Stynes of Michigan State University for the park service.

Visitors to national parks in 2010 added $31 billion to the economy and supported more than 258,000 jobs, up $689 million and 11,500 jobs over 2009, the release said.