Lamar County, Mississippi

Lamar County, Mississippi
Lamar County Courthouse in Purvis, Mississippi
Location in the state of Mississippi
Mississippi's location in the U.S.
Founded	1904
Seat	Purvis
Largest city	Hattiesburg
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	500.49 sq mi (1,296 km²) 497.07 sq mi (1,287 km²) 3.42 sq mi (9 km²), 0.68%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	55,658 78/sq mi (30/km²)

Lamar County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. It is part of the Hattiesburg, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 55,658. Its county seat is Purvis.

Named for the post-Civil War Mississippi statesman Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar, the county was carved out of Marion County to the west in 1904. It is largely a rural county, except for its northeast quarter, which is within the Hattiesburg metropolitan area.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 500.49 square miles (1,296.3 km²), of which 497.07 square miles (1,287.4 km²) (or 99.32%) is land and 3.42 square miles (8.9 km²) (or 0.68%) is water.

Major highways

• Interstate 59
• U.S. Highway 11
• U.S. Highway 98
• Mississippi Highway 13
• Mississippi Highway 42
• Mississippi Highway 44

Adjacent counties

• Covington County (north)
• Forrest County (east)
• Pearl River County (south)
• Marion County (west)
• Jefferson Davis County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1910	11,741		—
1920	12,869		9.6%
1930	12,848		−0.2%
1940	12,096		−5.9%
1950	13,225		9.3%
1960	13,675		3.4%
1970	15,209		11.2%
1980	23,821		56.6%
1990	30,424		27.7%
2000	39,070		28.4%
2010	55,658		42.5%
MS Counties 1900-1990 GeoHive - 2000 & 2010 statistics

As of the census of 2000, there were 39,070 people, 14,396 households, and 10,725 families residing in the county. The population density was 79 people per square mile (30/km²). There were 15,433 housing units at an average density of 31 per square mile (12/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 85.34% White, 12.90% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. 1.09% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 14,396 households out of which 38.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.60% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.50% were non-families. 20.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.10% 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 3.11.

In the county the population was spread out with 28.00% under the age of 18, 10.90% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 21.00% from 45 to 64, and 9.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 93.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,628, and the median income for a family was $44,611. Males had a median income of $32,791 versus $22,260 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,849. About 9.70% of families and 13.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.30% of those under age 18 and 17.00% of those age 65 or over.

Lamar County has the fifth highest per capita income in the State of Mississippi.

Government and infrastructure

The Mississippi Department of Mental Health operates the South Mississippi State Hospital in unincorporated Lamar County, near Purvis.

Communities

• Cities
  • Hattiesburg (mostly in Forrest County)
  • Lumberton (partly in Pearl River County)
  • Purvis

• Towns
  • Sumrall

• Census-designated places
  • West Hattiesburg

• Unincorporated places
  • Baxterville
  • Oloh

• Subdivisions
  • Hickory Hills Lake

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Lamar County, Mississippi

References

• Official City of Lumberton Business Website
• Lamar County Courthouse Pictures