Jefferson County, Mississippi

Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi; its western border is formed by the Mississippi River. As of the 2010 census, the population was 7,726,[1] making it the third-least populous county in Mississippi. Its county seat is Fayette.[2] The county is named for U.S. President Thomas Jefferson.[3]

Jefferson County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°44′N 91°02′W
Country United States
State Mississippi
Founded1799
Named forThomas Jefferson
SeatFayette
Largest cityFayette
Area
 • Total527 sq mi (1,360 km2)
 • Land520 sq mi (1,300 km2)
 • Water7.3 sq mi (19 km2)  1.4%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total7,726
 • Estimate 
(2018)
7,106
 • Density15/sq mi (5.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.jeffersoncountyms.com

Originally developed as cotton plantations in the antebellum era, the rural county has struggled with a declining economy and reduced population since the mechanization of agriculture and urbanization of other areas. In 2018 its estimated population of 7,106 was roughly one-third of the population peak in 1900. Within the United States, in 2009 rural Jefferson County had the highest percentage of African-Americans of any county. It was the fourth-poorest county in the nation.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 527 square miles (1,360 km2), of which 520 square miles (1,300 km2) is land and 7.3 square miles (19 km2) (1.4%) is water.[5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18002,940—
18104,00136.1%
18206,82270.5%
18309,75543.0%
184011,65019.4%
185013,19313.2%
186015,34916.3%
187013,848−9.8%
188017,31425.0%
189018,9479.4%
190021,29212.4%
191018,221−14.4%
192015,946−12.5%
193014,291−10.4%
194013,969−2.3%
195011,306−19.1%
196010,142−10.3%
19709,295−8.4%
19809,181−1.2%
19908,653−5.8%
20009,74012.6%
20107,726−20.7%
2018 (est.)7,106[6]−8.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 7,726 people living in the county. 85.7% were Black or African American, 13.7% White, 0.2% Native American and 0.3% of two or more races. 0.4% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 9,740 people, 3,308 households, and 2,338 families living in the county. The population density was 19 people per square mile (7/km2). There were 3,819 housing units at an average density of 7 per square mile (3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 13.06% White, 86.49% Black or African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.02% from other races, and 0.24% from two or more races. 0.66% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Jefferson County has the highest percentage of black residents of any U.S. county.

There were 3,308 households, out of which 36.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.00% were married couples living together, 28.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were non-families. 27.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.36.

In the county, the population was much younger than the national average with 28.80% under the age of 18, 12.10% from 18 to 24, 28.50% from 25 to 44, 19.60% from 45 to 64, and 10.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 99.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $18,447, and the median income for a family was $23,188. Males had a median income of $25,726 versus $18,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $9,709. About 32.50% of families and 36.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.00% of those under age 18 and 34.40% of those age 65 or over.

In 2009, Jefferson County has the lowest per capita income in Mississippi and the 17th lowest in the United States.[4]

Education

Jefferson County School District operates public schools.

Communities

City

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns or defunct

Politics

Jefferson County is overwhelmingly Democratic, and has supported Democratic candidates in presidential elections with at least 80% of the vote since Bill Clinton in 1992, who won 79%. Republicans have not garnered even 25% of the vote in presidential elections since 1972 (when Jefferson was one of only three counties in Mississippi to vote for George McGovern). The last Republican to win the county was Barry Goldwater. Although Goldwater lost nationally in a landslide, he carried the state of Mississippi (and also Jefferson County) in a landslide, winning over 90% of the vote and carrying every county. Jefferson County supported him with 95% of the vote.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 12.7% 490 86.5% 3,337 0.9% 33
2012 10.6% 468 89.1% 3,951 0.3% 14
2008 12.3% 551 86.7% 3,883 1.0% 44
2004 18.2% 630 81.3% 2,821 0.5% 18
2000 17.6% 600 81.8% 2,786 0.7% 22
1996 15.7% 489 81.2% 2,531 3.2% 99
1992 16.0% 562 79.4% 2,796 4.7% 164
1988 20.6% 702 79.2% 2,693 0.2% 6
1984 21.9% 856 77.9% 3,049 0.2% 7
1980 20.2% 751 77.1% 2,871 2.7% 102
1976 22.8% 782 74.8% 2,562 2.4% 82
1972 43.4% 1,131 55.9% 1,457 0.8% 20
1968 4.4% 147 62.8% 2,121 32.9% 1,112
1964 94.8% 1,258 5.2% 69
1960 12.5% 137 20.9% 229 66.5% 728
1956 19.7% 189 45.7% 440 34.6% 333
1952 53.1% 610 46.9% 539 0.0% 0
1948 1.4% 14 1.5% 15 97.1% 967
1944 3.2% 25 96.8% 766
1940 0.9% 7 99.1% 801
1936 1.0% 9 98.9% 884 0.1% 1
1932 3.1% 24 96.3% 753 0.6% 5
1928 7.1% 63 93.0% 830
1924 9.1% 50 90.9% 497
1920 3.2% 14 96.6% 430 0.2% 1
1916 0.7% 3 99.1% 456 0.2% 1
1912 0.5% 2 94.7% 408 4.9% 21

Notable people
  • Abijah Hunt, merchant who lived in Old Greenville during the Territorial Period, and owned a chain of stores and public cotton gins along the Natchez Trace[13]
  • David Hunt, Antebellum planter who lived on Woodlawn Plantation in Jefferson County, and became one of 12 planter millionaires in the Natchez District before the American Civil War.
  • Zachary Taylor, U.S. president, planter, and soldier who often stayed on his plantation, Cypress Grove in Jefferson County, between 1840 and 1848.

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 168.
  4. "King: They'll take small victories in struggling Mississippi county." CNN. 25 September 2009, Retrieved September 26, 2009.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  12. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-04.
  13. A Guide to the Abijah Hunt Papers, 1800-1821, 1880, The University of Texas at Austin: Briscoe Center for American History

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