Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi

Jefferson Davis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2010 census, the population was 12,487.[1] Its county seat is Prentiss.[2] The county is named after Mississippi Senator and Confederate President Jefferson Davis. The county was carved out of Covington and Lawrence counties in March 1906. Governor James K. Vardaman signed the bill creating the county on May 9, 1906.

For the parish in Louisiana, see Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana. For other counties named after Jefferson Davis, see Jeff Davis County (disambiguation).
Jefferson Davis County
County
County of Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis County courthouse in Prentiss
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°34′N 89°49′W
Country United States
State Mississippi
Founded1906
Named forJefferson Davis
SeatPrentiss
Largest townPrentiss
Area
 • Total409 sq mi (1,060 km2)
 • Land408 sq mi (1,060 km2)
 • Water0.7 sq mi (2 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total12,487
 • Estimate 
(2018)
11,234
 • Density31/sq mi (12/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.jeffersondaviscountyms.com

History

The genesis of the county occurred on March 31, 1906, when a Mississippi state legislative act authorized the new country's boundaries. The residents of western Covington County and eastern Lawrence County had frequently complained of the rivers and streams impeding the route to their respective county seats. Jefferson Davis County was the state's 77th county.

A 1906 special referendum determined that the county seat would be Prentiss, named for either famed Mississippi lawmaker and orator Seargent Smith Prentiss, or wealthy landowner Prentiss Webb Berry. The settlement was originally named Blountville after early settler William Blount.

In 1933, the county was the first in Mississippi to issue a prohibition on alcohol after the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Round dancing in the community hall was banned in 1938.

In 1935, notorious bank robber Raymond Hamilton, known to hide out in the county's wilderness, was involved in a hostage situation after robbing Prentiss' Bank of Blountville, but escaped in Memphis.[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 409 square miles (1,060 km2), of which 408 square miles (1,060 km2) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) (0.2%) is water.[4]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
191012,860—
192012,755−0.8%
193014,28112.0%
194015,86911.1%
195015,500−2.3%
196013,540−12.6%
197012,936−4.5%
198013,8467.0%
199014,0511.5%
200013,962−0.6%
201012,487−10.6%
2018 (est.)11,234[5]−10.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 12,487 people living in the county. 59.9% were Black or African American, 38.7% White, 0.3% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.3% of some other race and 0.7% of two or more races. 0.8% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 13,962 people, 5,177 households, and 3,768 families living in the county. The population density was 34 people per square mile (13/km2). There were 5,891 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 57.38% Black or African American, 41.66% White, 0.14% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. 0.77% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,177 households, out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 21.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.2% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.4% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $21,834, and the median income for a family was $27,594. Males had a median income of $23,942 versus $16,510 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,974. About 23.2% of families and 28.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.7% of those under age 18 and 24.5% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Politics

Jefferson Davis County is heavily Democratic. It has only voted for the Republican candidate for president three times since 1912 (although it also voted for third-party segregationist candidates three times). Prior to the 1960s, its Democratic lean was due to its location in the "Solid South", but since then the county's majority-black population has kept it in Democratic hands despite most white Mississippians shifting allegiance to the Republican Party.

At the statewide level, Jefferson Davis County has only voted for the Republican candidate for governor once since Reconstruction: for Kirk Fordice in 1991.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[11]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 39.5% 2,466 59.6% 3,720 0.8% 51
2012 36.5% 2,507 62.2% 4,267 1.3% 90
2008 39.0% 2,871 60.4% 4,454 0.6% 45
2004 46.3% 2,668 51.3% 2,959 2.4% 138
2000 45.8% 2,437 53.3% 2,835 0.9% 45
1996 38.8% 1,890 54.7% 2,663 6.4% 313
1992 39.6% 2,228 53.1% 2,991 7.4% 414
1988 47.9% 2,745 51.5% 2,948 0.6% 35
1984 51.8% 2,884 47.5% 2,644 0.7% 38
1980 36.9% 2,280 61.9% 3,831 1.2% 76
1976 39.8% 1,868 58.5% 2,747 1.8% 83
1972 72.8% 2,830 25.9% 1,005 1.3% 51
1968 6.8% 297 33.5% 1,465 59.7% 2,614
1964 90.9% 2,351 9.1% 235
1960 13.1% 225 29.6% 510 57.3% 988
1956 10.9% 156 73.4% 1,049 15.7% 224
1952 22.5% 473 77.5% 1,626
1948 3.3% 51 2.7% 41 94.0% 1,452
1944 6.0% 88 94.0% 1,372
1940 2.9% 38 96.9% 1,289 0.2% 3
1936 4.8% 67 95.1% 1,325 0.1% 2
1932 3.1% 30 96.7% 940 0.2% 2
1928 16.0% 163 84.0% 856
1924 10.7% 88 89.3% 732
1920 26.8% 179 72.5% 485 0.8% 5
1916 6.6% 45 92.8% 634 0.6% 4
1912 6.6% 43 83.5% 542 9.9% 64

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. "Jefferson Davis County Mississippi Genealogy & History Network". jeffdavis.msghn.org. Retrieved 2018-03-03.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  5. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  11. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-03.

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