As the title suggests, I actually want bamboo, and I am in Southern Mississippi. I have searched extensively on ABS (http://www.americanbamboo.org/) trying to learn as much as I can on which species will suit my conditions and give me my desired results, but without doing some Q&A with those with firsthand experience, it leaves me kind of confused.

I want a good "lumber" crop. Largest diameter culm with greatest length between nodes. This will be used mainly for craft projects ranging from minor construction (furniture, sheds, pump houses, etc) to artistic (wind chimes, bird feeders/houses, etc) and practical uses (fencing, stakes, fishing poles, etc). I prefer species of fastest possible maturity to shorten harvest intervals.

I have well-drained topsoil that supports fast growth for everything from pines and oaks, to fruit-bearing trees and bushes, to basic veggie gardens and flowering plants. Grasses of all kinds seem to prosper very well. Topsoil averages 2' depth over sandy red clay. Hardiness zone is 8-9 (http://www.arborday.org/treeinfo/ZoneInfo.cfm?ZipCode=39574&submit=Look+it+up%21).

I am well aware of the different methods of containment for "running" species and am prepared to create barrier walls to prevent over-run of the bamboo into areas where I do not want it. If the initial plantings prove successful, I may utilize up two acres just for bamboo cultivation.

Does anyone have any suggestions on which specific bamboo will suit my needs and give me the desired results? Sources? If possible I would like to get started before the warmer spring weather sets in so that I can get a jump on things and maybe get a few canes by next winter.

I no nothing about bamboo, but I wanted to point out that I just moved from GA (south of Atlanta) and along the highway by my house there was a big grove of bamboo plants.
So it is possible, and I don't think it was baracaded by anything, just growing sort of wild.

jmbamboo Bamboo Nursery: Selling Cold Hardy Bamboo (http://www.jmbamboo.com/)
Clumping Cold Hardy Bamboo Plants In America (http://ezinearticles.com/?Clumping-Cold-Hardy-Bamboo-Plants-In-America&id=465683)

jmbamboo Bamboo Nursery: Selling Cold Hardy Bamboo (http://www.jmbamboo.com/)

That was an informative site, thank you! I sent Jim an email so see if I could get some help from someone who knows more about bamboo. From his site though, I think I have found two possible candidates, Moso or Japanese Timber bamboo. I think either of them will suit my situation and climate.

Bamboo is like mint ( only much bigger ) it spreads ! It can be very difficult to get rid of, if it was me, I would grow it in pots.

Bamboo is like mint ( only much bigger ) it spreads ! It can be very difficult to get rid of, if it was me, I would grow it in pots.

Shame it doesn't smell like mint too, that would be awesome, lol.
It's going to be planted in the wide open, in large tracts. I'm hoping to find several sources to transplant from, so that I don't end up with just multiple clones of a single plant. As far as it spreading, in my scenario, it won't spread fast enough for me.