Friars Point, Mississippi
| Friars Point, Mississippi | |
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| — Town — | |
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| Coordinates: 34°21′58″N 90°38′13″W / 34.36611°N 90.63694°WCoordinates: 34°21′58″N 90°38′13″W / 34.36611°N 90.63694°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Coahoma |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.1 sq mi (2.9 km2) |
| • Land | 1.1 sq mi (2.9 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 174 ft (53 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 1,480 |
| • Density | 1,324.0/sq mi (511.2/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 38631 |
| Area code(s) | 662 |
| FIPS code | 28-26060 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0670205 |
Friars Point is a town in Coahoma County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 1,480 at the 2000 census.
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[edit] Geography
Friars Point is located at 34°21′58″N 90°38′13″W / 34.36611°N 90.63694°W (34.366151, -90.637023)[1].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2), of which 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) (1.75%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 1,480 people, 476 households, and 348 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,324.0 people per square mile (510.2/km²). There were 508 housing units at an average density of 454.4 per square mile (175.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.85% African American, 5.95% White, 0.07% Pacific Islander, and 0.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.28% of the population.
There were 476 households out of which 42.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 27.3% were married couples living together, 39.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.11 and the average family size was 3.68.
In the town the population was spread out with 38.7% under the age of 18, 11.9% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 15.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 79.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 68.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $17,750, and the median income for a family was $19,500. Males had a median income of $22,386 versus $16,898 for females. The per capita income for the town was $10,769. About 38.1% of families and 44.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 53.4% of those under age 18 and 27.1% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] History
On April 26, 2011, a tornado - part of the April 25–28, 2011 tornado outbreak - hit Friars Point.[3] The tornado was classified as an EF-0, with estimated wind speeds of 75 mph (121 km/h; 65 kn).[3] The tornado's path of destruction was 200 yards (180 m) wide and the tornado travelled a path of 21.5 miles (34.6 km) from Elaine, Arkansas along Highway 61, across the Mississippi state line, ending near Lula.[3] Most of the tornado's damage, including a home knocked off its foundation, roof damage to a commercial storage building, and numerous uprooted trees, power poles down, and damaged advertising and road signs, was concentrated in Friars Point and Coahoma.[3]
[edit] Education
The Town of Friars Point is served by the Coahoma County School District. The school is home to its team the brave of Friars Point Elementary.
[edit] Mississippi Blues Trail marker
Friars Point was honored by the Mississippi Blues Commission when it placed a historic marker for Robert Lee ‘Nighthawk’ McCollum, otherwise known as Robert Nighthawk, marking his position on the Mississippi Blues Trail. Governor Haley Barbour stated the following:
This talented Mississippian made a huge contribution to development of that unique genre of music, the Mississippi blues. I am pleased Nighthawk’s imprint on the blues scene, which is still heard through the tunes of modern-day blues artists, will be recognized with his inclusion on the Mississippi Blues Trail.[4]
Nighthawk recorded a song called "Friars Point Blues" in 1940.[4]
[edit] Popular culture
- Friars Point was the birthplace of Conway Twitty.
- Robert Johnson's blues standard "Traveling Riverside Blues" mentions Friars Point. Muddy Waters claims he saw Johnson playing in front of Hirsberg's Drugstore in Friars Point. Waters was so intimidated by Johnson's skill that he couldn't bear to remain around.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ a b c d NWS Memphis Office Report
- ^ a b "ROBERT LEE ‘NIGHTHAWK’ McCOLLUM TO BE HONORED WITH BLUES TRAIL MARKER". Mississippi Development Authority. http://www.visitmississippi.org/press_news/RobertLeeMcCollum.pdf. Retrieved 2008-05-29.[dead link]
- ^ Trail of the Hellhound: Delta Sites
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