Belmont, Mississippi

The settlement of Belmont was originally called Gum Springs with a post office built in 1884. After completion of the Birmingham Division of the Illinois Central Railroad in 1907 the town grew considerably. It was incorporated as Belmont (meaning "beautiful mountain") on January 22, 1908.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.7 square miles (12 km²), of which 4.7 square miles (12 km²) is land and 0.21% is water. The town is concentrated along Mississippi Highway 25 in southern Tishomingo County, a few miles west of the Mississippi-Alabama state line. Golden borders Belmont to the southeast, and Tishomingo lies a few miles to the north. Mississippi Highway 366 intersects MS 25 in Belmont, and continues southeastward through Golden to the state line, eventually becoming 4th Street in Red Bay, Alabama.

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 1,961 people, 799 households, and 555 families residing in the town. The population density was 415.7 people per square mile (160.4/km²). There were 895 housing units at an average density of 189.7 per square mile (73.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.71% White, 0.56% African American, 6.22% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.11% of the population.

There were 799 households, out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $29,702, and the median income for a family was $37,639. Males had a median income of $27,404 versus $20,192 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,122. About 10.9% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.2% of those under age 18 and 16.0% of those age 65 or over.

Belmont's current mayor is Buddy Wiltshire. The five aldermen are Mike Braden, Robert Hester, Mike Neighbors, Brandon Pharr, Steve Smith.

• Mac McAnally - singer/songwriter

• Media related to Belmont, Mississippi at Wikimedia Commons
• A Place Called Belmont by Jerry Martin