Terry, Mississippi
| Terry, Mississippi | |
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| — Town — | |
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| Coordinates: 32°6′5″N 90°17′40″W / 32.10139°N 90.29444°WCoordinates: 32°6′5″N 90°17′40″W / 32.10139°N 90.29444°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Hinds |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.3 sq mi (6.0 km2) |
| • Land | 2.3 sq mi (6.0 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 292 ft (89 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 664 |
| • Density | 287.4/sq mi (111.0/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 39170 |
| Area code(s) | 601 |
| FIPS code | 28-72680 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0678644 |
Terry is a town in Hinds County, Mississippi. The population was 664 at the 2000 census. It is located near Interstate 55, about 15 miles southwest of Jackson and located in Supervisors District Five of Hinds County. The town is part of the Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area.
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[edit] History
The area to become known as "Terry" was first settled in 1811 by settlers from Virginia. In 1867, the town of Terry was established when the railroad was built through the area. For a number of years, Terry was the home of Mississippi governor Albert G. Brown. The town of Terry, originally known as Dry Grove, changed its name in honor of W. D. Terry, whose land the town was built on. This information comes from the bronze plaque in the town's center at Utica and Cunningham Streets.[1]
[edit] Geography
Terry is located at 32°6′5″N 90°17′40″W / 32.10139°N 90.29444°W (32.101443, -90.294572).[2]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 km2), all land.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 664 people, 263 households, and 181 families residing in the town. The population density was 287.4 people per square mile (111.0/km²). There were 288 housing units at an average density of 124.7 per square mile (48.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 48.80% White, 50.45% African American, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.30% of the population.
There were 263 households out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,192, and the median income for a family was $35,875. Males had a median income of $25,781 versus $24,167 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,011. About 17.0% of families and 16.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.6% of those under age 18 and 18.5% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Education
The Town of Terry is served by the Hinds County School District and is home to Terry High School. Pharmistist J. W. Combs was the president of the board of trustees for many years.
The football field at the high school is named after B. C. Lee.
[edit] Newspapers
The Terry Mississippi Magazine is an online magazine and newspaper about bringing local news, events, opinions, and reviews in Terry and the surrounding area. This includes the 39170 zip code and all mailing addresses for Terry, MS, Hinds County and the city of Terry, MS. It is at http://www.theterrymsmagazine.co.cc
[edit] Notable natives
Terry is the birthplace of influential blues musician Tommy Johnson, who had claimed to have sold his soul to the devil at a secluded Mississippi crossroads in exchange for fame and fortune, a legend that was later popularized by its attribution to bluesman Robert Johnson.
Other persons of note who have lived in Terry include author Rick Bass, former chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party Rickey Cole, and Bobby DeLaughter, prosecutor in the Byron De La Beckwith murder trial.
R.B. Walden, an attorney who served as director of the Louisiana Department of Hospitals and the mayor of Winnsboro, Louisiana, from 1926–1934, was born in Terry in 1901.[4]
[edit] Churches
There are several church buildings of note in Terry. The First Baptist Church (formerly Terry Baptist Church) is the largest of the houses of worship. The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepard is located near where the town's water tower once stood. This building was a hospital during the Civil War. A grave lies behind the church. It supposedly belongs to a Gypsy girl who fell out of her wagon when the Gypsies were not allowed to drive through the middle of town.
One former church which has closed but served the town for many years is the Terry United Methodist Church.
A smaller church, located in the middle of a neighborhood, is known as Little Bethel C.M.E. Church. The pastor is Pastor Eugene McLamore and the superintendent is Nathan Slater.
[edit] Elected Officials
Roderick "Rod" Nicholson is the current mayor. The Board of Aldermen includes Virginia Smith Bailey, Joseph Kendrick, Elzena Kitchens Johnson, Greg Moore, and Doris Young. These town officers are elected every four years in non-partisan elections, that is they are independent of any party labels.
Three Hinds County officials are from the Terry area: George S. Smith (supervisor for District Five), Clyde Chapman (Justice Court Judge for District Five), and Bennie Buckner (Constable for District Five).
The state senator representing the district that includes Terry is David Blount. Terry is represented by both Jim Ellington and Greggory Holloway in the state House of Representatives.
[edit] References
- ^ Brieger, James (1997). Hometown, Mississippi. Town Square Books, Inc.. ISBN 1886017271.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Walden, R.B.". Louisiana Historical Association, A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography (lahistory.org). http://www.lahistory.org/site40.php. Retrieved December 28, 2010.
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