Yazoo County, Mississippi

Yazoo County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2010 census, the population was 28,065.[1] The county seat is Yazoo City.[2] It is named for the Yazoo River, which forms its western border. Its name is said to come from a Choctaw language word meaning "River of Death."[3][4]

Yazoo County
County
County of Yazoo
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°47′N 90°24′W
Country United States
State Mississippi
FoundedJanuary 21, 1823
Named forYazoo River
SeatYazoo City
Largest cityYazoo City
Area
 • Total934 sq mi (2,420 km2)
 • Land923 sq mi (2,390 km2)
 • Water11 sq mi (30 km2)  1.2%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total28,065
 • Estimate 
(2018)
28,248
 • Density30/sq mi (12/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes
39039, 39040, 39088, 39095, 39146, 39162, 39179, 39194
Area code662
Congressional district2nd
Websiteyazoocounty.net

History

The area which is now Yazoo County was acquired by the State of Mississippi from the Choctaw Indians in 1820. Yazoo County was established on January 21, 1823. It was the 19th county established in the State of Mississippi, and remains the largest in area. It was developed for cotton plantations, and the first had access to the major river. The first county seat was at Beatties Bluff. In 1829, the county seat was moved to Benton. In 1849 the county seat was moved again, to Yazoo City, where it remains.

Yazoo County was a battlefield in 1863 and 1864 during the American Civil War. After the war, there was violence of whites against freedmen. Such violence continued after Reconstruction. In the period from 1877 to 1950, Yazoo County had 18 documented lynchings of African Americans.[5] Most occurred around the turn of the 20th century, as part of white imposition of Jim Crow conditions and suppression of black voting.

In 1900 there was a railroad disaster that killed engineer Casey Jones; it took place in Yazoo County just north of Vaughan. The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 did much damage in Yazoo County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 934 square miles (2,420 km2), of which 923 square miles (2,390 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (1.2%) is water.[6] It is the largest county in Mississippi by land area and third-largest by total area.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18306,550—
184010,48060.0%
185014,41837.6%
186022,37355.2%
187017,279−22.8%
188033,84595.9%
189036,3947.5%
190043,94820.8%
191046,6726.2%
192037,149−20.4%
193037,2620.3%
194040,0917.6%
195035,712−10.9%
196031,653−11.4%
197027,304−13.7%
198027,3490.2%
199025,506−6.7%
200028,14910.4%
201028,065−0.3%
2018 (est.)28,248[7]0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010-2013[1]
Age pyramid Yazoo County[12]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 28,065 people living in the county. 57.1% were Black or African American, 40.0% White, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 0.7% of some other race and 1.5% of two or more races. 4.6% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 28,149 people, 9,178 households, and 6,644 families living in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile (12/km2). There were 10,015 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 53.96% Black or African American, 44.74% White, 0.20% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.22% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races. 4.38% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

35.60% of the 9,178 households had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.20% were married couples living together, 23.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.35.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.50% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 20.10% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 103.60 males (boys). For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,795, and the median income for a family was $29,395. Males had a median income of $28,553 versus $19,797 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,062. About 25.40% of families and 31.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.90% of those under age 18 and 22.50% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Major highways

Airport

Yazoo County Airport is located in an unincorporated area in Yazoo County,[14] 2 miles (3.2 km) west of central Yazoo City.[15]

Education

Politics
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 45.7% 4,598 53.3% 5,369 1.0% 103
2012 42.5% 4,941 56.8% 6,603 0.7% 76
2008 46.1% 5,290 53.3% 6,116 0.6% 71
2004 51.6% 5,672 45.6% 5,013 2.8% 302
2000 50.0% 5,254 47.5% 4,997 2.5% 265
1996 44.5% 4,152 50.9% 4,754 4.6% 427
1992 47.6% 5,113 45.4% 4,880 7.0% 752
1988 48.0% 5,538 43.3% 4,989 8.7% 1,003
1984 55.0% 6,275 44.1% 5,037 0.9% 100
1980 45.9% 4,819 52.1% 5,468 2.0% 211
1976 50.2% 4,255 47.9% 4,053 1.9% 163
1972 72.6% 5,555 26.2% 2,008 1.2% 91
1968 11.9% 958 26.8% 2,163 61.3% 4,939
1964 95.9% 4,801 4.1% 204
1960 23.3% 778 21.4% 715 55.3% 1,847
1956 12.0% 370 29.5% 911 58.5% 1,807
1952 49.7% 1,683 50.3% 1,702
1948 1.1% 26 2.9% 70 96.0% 2,297
1944 3.3% 78 96.7% 2,301
1940 1.9% 45 98.2% 2,390
1936 0.8% 17 99.1% 2,141 0.1% 3
1932 1.2% 24 98.6% 1,995 0.3% 5
1928 5.2% 112 94.8% 2,029
1924 4.1% 57 95.9% 1,348
1920 4.6% 46 94.1% 948 1.3% 13
1916 2.1% 25 97.3% 1,146 0.6% 7
1912 0.8% 7 95.0% 887 4.3% 40

Communities

Cities

Towns

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Yazoo County, Mississippi has been featured in an Independent Lens series documenting bullying.[18]

Notable people

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Seale, Lea Leslie (1939). Indian Place-Names in Mississippi (Thesis). Louisiana State University. p. 211. Retrieved Nov 28, 2018.
  4. Johnson's (revised) Universal Cyclopaedia. 1886.
  5. Lynching in America, 3rd edition, Supplement by County, p. 6
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  7. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  12. Based on 2000 census data
  13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  14. FAA Airport Form 5010 for 87I PDF - Retrieved on September 23, 2010.
  15. Jeter, Lynne W. "Airports an advantage when it comes to site selection." Mississippi Business Journal. March 26, 2001. Retrieved on September 21, 2010.
  16. "SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Yazoo County, MS." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on July 7, 2017.
  17. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  18. "INDEPENDENT LENS: Bully". Public Broadcasting System. Retrieved 2015-09-12.

Further reading

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