McComb, Mississippi

McComb is a city located in Pike County, Mississippi, about 80 miles south of Jackson, just off of I-55. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 13,337, an increase of about a thousand people since the 1980 census of 12,331. It is the principal city of the McComb, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

McComb was founded in 1872 after Colonel Henry Simpson McComb, president of New Orleans, Jackson and Great Northern Railroad, decided to move the railroad's maintenance shops away from New Orleans, Louisiana, outside of the attractions of that city's saloons. The railroad purchased land in Pike County, and three nearby communities, Elizabeth town, Burglund, and Harveytown, agreed to consolidate.

On October 20, 1977, a chartered plane carrying members and crew of rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd crashed in a swamp near McComb, killing lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, Steve's sister Cassie (a backup singer), and a road manager.

Geography

McComb is located at 31°14'41" North, 90°27'34" West (31.244629, -90.459500)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 30.0 km² (11.6 mi²). 29.8 km² (11.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.52% water.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 13,337 people in the city, organized into 5,265 households, and 3,411 families. The population density is 447/km² (1,157.4/mi²). There are 5,931 housing units at an average density of 198.8/km² (514.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 40.14% White, 58.40% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races. 0.85% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 5,265 households out of which 33.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.5% are married couples living together, 25.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% are non-families. 32.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 15.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.47 and the average family size is 3.13.

In the city the population is spread out with 29.0% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 78.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 71.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $22,644, and the median income for a family is $27,758. Males have a median income of $27,899 versus $17,402 for females. The per capita income for the city is $13,790. 31.0% of the population and 27.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 43.7% of those under the age of 18 and 21.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Education

The City of McComb is served by the McComb School District. McComb is also the location of Parklane Academy, a K4 through 12th grade private Christian school.

Rail Transportation

See also: McComb (Amtrak station)

Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to McComb. Amtrak Train 59, the southbound City of New Orleans, is scheduled to depart McComb at 12:41pm daily with service to Hammond and New Orleans. Amtrak Train 58, the northbound City of New Orleans, is scheduled to depart McComb at 3:38pm daily with service to Brookhaven, Hazlehurst, Jackson, Yazoo City, Greenwood, Memphis, Newbern-Dyersburg, Fulton, Carbondale, Centralia, Effingham, Mattoon, Champaign-Urbana, Kankakee, Homewood, and Chicago.

Famous persons from McComb

• Britney Spears (1981-) pop singer, dance singer. Born in McComb.
• Bo Diddley (1928 -), blues singer, born in McComb.
• Robert "Squirrel" Lester, singer in the soul music group The Chi-Lites.
• Bobby Lounge (1950- ), blues pianist and songwriter, born in McComb and still maintains a home there.
• Kent "Omar" Dykes, blues singer, born in McComb.
• Brandy Norwood, aka 'Brandy' (1979- ), singer and actress, born in McComb.
• William Raymond Norwood, Jr., aka 'Ray J' (1981- ), singer and actor, brother of Brandy Norwood, born in McComb.

External links

• Website about McComb
• McComb Enterprise Journal Newspaper
• Map of McComb with links to local businesses
• McComb Police Department
• McComb City Railroad Depot Museum
• Percy Quin State Park, six miles south of McComb

Famous people born (1939) in McComb Mississippi include Jimmy Boyd American singer/musician/actor Daniel Mckenna-Singer