Pearl River County, Mississippi

Pearl River County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. The population was 55,834 at the 2010 census.[1] Its county seat is Poplarville.[2]

Pearl River County
U.S. county
Pearl River County Courthouse in Poplarville
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°46′N 89°35′W
Country United States
State Mississippi
Founded1890
Named forPearl River
SeatPoplarville
Largest cityPicayune
Area
 • Total819 sq mi (2,120 km2)
 • Land811 sq mi (2,100 km2)
 • Water8.0 sq mi (21 km2)  1.0%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total55,834
 • Estimate 
(2018)
55,387
 • Density68/sq mi (26/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitewww.pearlrivercounty.net

Pearl River County comprises the Picayune, MS Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the New Orleans-Metairie-Hammond, LA-MS Combined Statistical Area.

Pearl River County is a dry county,[3] and as such, the sale, transportation, and even private possession of beverage alcohol is prohibited by law,[4] except within The City of Picayune (which has exempted itself). The City of Poplarville passed a similar exemption referendum on March 25, 2014.[5]

On September 2, 2005, the 1st Battalion, 134th Field Artillery (Ohio Army National Guard) arrived at the National Guard armory in Poplarville to assist the community and Pearl River County in recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Initial efforts were the security of banks, pharmacies and gas stations as well as initial responses to rural emergencies. The unit stayed for three weeks ultimately checking on many families and structures in the county.[6]

History

Pearl River County was originally formed as Pearl County in 1872 from portions of Hancock and Marion Counties.[7] Because of low population density and a small tax base, Pearl County dissolved in 1878. Present-day Pearl River County was organized in 1890 by an act of the Mississippi Legislature utilizing the same land area as its predecessor Pearl County.[7]

On the night of April 24, 1959, Mack Charles Parker, an African-American accused of rape, was abducted from the Pearl River County jail in Poplarville by a mob[8] and shot to death. His body was found in the Pearl River 10 days later. The FBI investigated and even obtained confessions from some of the eight suspects.[9] However, the county prosecutor refused to present evidence to a state grand jury and a federal grand jury refused to indict. The case focused national attention on the persistence of lynching in the South[10] and helped accelerate the American Civil Rights Movement.

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina inflicted heavy damage on the small town of Poplarville. The storm's most powerful, unofficially recorded gust of wind was reported at Pearl River Community College, at 135 mph (217 km/h). On September 2, 2005, the 1st Battalion, 134th Field Artillery (Ohio Army National Guard) arrived at the National Guard armory in Poplarville to assist the community and Pearl River County in recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Initial efforts were the security of banks, pharmacies and gas stations as well as initial responses to rural emergencies. The unit stayed for three weeks ultimately checking on every family and structure in the county. On September 5, 2005, Poplarville played host to a visit by George W. Bush, Laura Bush, and Governor Haley Barbour to Pearl River Community College in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.[11]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 819 square miles (2,120 km2), of which 811 square miles (2,100 km2) is land and 8.0 square miles (21 km2) (1.0%) is water.[12] It is the fourth-largest county in Mississippi by land area.

Major highways

Adjacent counties and parishes

National protected areas

Media

Newspaper

Picayune's local newspaper is the Picayune Item.

Radio

The local radio station is WRJW 1320-AM.

Television and Radio stations of New Orleans and Biloxi/Gulfport listening areas are part of Picayune area.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18902,957—
19006,697126.5%
191010,59358.2%
192015,64847.7%
193019,40524.0%
194019,125−1.4%
195020,6417.9%
196022,4118.6%
197027,80224.1%
198033,79521.6%
199038,71414.6%
200048,62125.6%
201055,83414.8%
2018 (est.)55,387[13]−0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
1790-1960[15] 1900-1990[16]
1990-2000[17] 2010-2013[1] 2018[18]

As of the 2010 census Pearl River County had a population of 55,834. The ethnic and racial make-up of the population was 82.2% non-Hispanic white, 12.3% African-American, 0.6% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.1% non-Hispanic from some other race, 1.7% from two or more races (0.5% reporting being white and black) and 2.9% Hispanic or Latino.[19]

As of the census[20] of 2000, there were 48,621 people, 18,078 households, and 13,576 families residing in the county. The population density was 60 people per square mile (23/km2). There were 20,610 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (10/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 85.55% White, 12.18% Black or African American, 0.50% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. 1.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 18,078 households, out of which 34.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.30% were married couples living together, 12.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.90% were non-families. 21.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.00% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 27.10% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,912, and the median income for a family was $35,924. Males had a median income of $30,370 versus $21,519 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,160. About 15.50% of families and 18.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.60% of those under age 18 and 12.50% of those age 65 or over.

Government
Supervisors[21]
  • District 1: Donald Hart
  • District 2: Malcolm Perry
  • District 3: Hudson Holliday
  • District 4: Jason Spence
  • District 5: Sandy Kane Smith
Countywide Elected Officials
  • Sheriff - David Allison
  • Circuit Clerk - Nance Fitzpatrick Stokes
  • Chancery Clerk - Melinda Smith Bowman
  • Tax Assessor/Collector - Gary Beech
  • County Prosecutor - Michael E. Patten[22]
  • Coroner - Derek Turnage
  • County Court Judge - Richelle Lumpkin
State Legislature
  • Senator Angela Burks-Hill - District 40
  • Senator Joseph "Mike" Seymour - District 47
  • Rep. Jansen Owen - District 106
  • Rep. Stacey Wilkes - District 108
  • Rep. Timmy Ladner - District 93
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[23]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 81.5% 19,595 17.3% 4,148 1.2% 290
2016 81.3% 17,782 16.5% 3,604 2.3% 497
2012 79.0% 17,549 19.7% 4,366 1.4% 309
2008 79.7% 17,881 19.3% 4,320 1.1% 242
2004 76.4% 14,896 23.0% 4,472 0.6% 119
2000 70.3% 11,575 28.0% 4,611 1.8% 291
1996 57.1% 8,212 34.0% 4,892 8.9% 1,273
1992 52.2% 7,726 31.7% 4,683 16.1% 2,388
1988 71.3% 10,220 27.5% 3,939 1.2% 174
1984 76.1% 9,978 23.5% 3,085 0.4% 49
1980 56.2% 6,822 41.4% 5,028 2.4% 291
1976 44.8% 4,332 52.0% 5,024 3.2% 309
1972 88.0% 7,487 10.6% 901 1.4% 116
1968 15.7% 1,298 11.2% 926 73.1% 6,050
1964 84.5% 4,009 15.5% 735
1960 18.7% 651 36.6% 1,276 44.7% 1,556
1956 39.6% 1,129 44.7% 1,274 15.6% 445
1952 45.8% 1,741 54.2% 2,060
1948 2.2% 46 6.9% 146 91.0% 1,929
1944 3.8% 84 96.2% 2,131
1940 4.2% 88 95.5% 2,022 0.4% 8
1936 6.5% 81 93.2% 1,156 0.2% 3
1932 6.1% 99 93.0% 1,500 0.9% 14
1928 51.1% 918 48.9% 879
1924 14.7% 164 76.5% 855 8.9% 99
1920 10.2% 53 89.4% 464 0.4% 2
1916 6.3% 35 93.5% 521 0.2% 1
1912 2.2% 7 93.0% 290 4.8% 15

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. "Alcoholic Beverage Wet-Dry Map". Mississippi Department of Revenue. Archived from the original on 2014-06-25.
  4. Mississippi Code §67-1-9, §67-3-13.
  5. Poplarville voters decide to turn the dry city wet. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
  6. The Buckeye Response: Ohio National Guard Soldiers and Airmen Answer the Call Retrieved 2012-06-08.
  7. "Welcome to Pearl River County on the Web". www.pearlrivercounty.net. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  8. Thompson, Julius E. (2006). Lynchings in Mississippi: A History, 1865-1965. McFarland. p. 169. ISBN 9781476604251.
  9. "Mack Charles Parker" (index of investigation reports). Federal Bureau of Investigation. Archived from the original on August 10, 2004.
  10. Rushdy, Ashraf H. A. (2012-06-18). The End of American Lynching. Rutgers UP. p. 135. ISBN 9780813552934.
  11. "President Visits with Residents of Poplarville, Mississippi" (press release). White House. September 5, 2005.
  12. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  13. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  14. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  15. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  16. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  17. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  18. "QuickFacts. Pearl River County, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  19. 2010 census report for Pearl River County
  20. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  21. "Pearl River County Board Of Supervisors". pearlrivercounty.net. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  22. Pittari, Jeremy (October 16, 2018). "Interim county prosecutor picked via draw of straws". Picayune Item. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  23. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-02.

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