Macon, Mississippi

Macon, Mississippi
City
Noxubee County Courthouse in Macon
Location of Macon, Mississippi
Macon, Mississippi Location in the United States
Coordinates: 33°6′45″N 88°33′40″W
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
County	Noxubee
Area
• Total	1.5 sq mi (3.9 km2)
• Land	1.5 sq mi (3.9 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	197 ft (60 m)
Population  (2000)
• Total	2,461
• Density	1,624.8/sq mi (627.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	39341
Area code	662
FIPS code	28-44240
GNIS feature ID	0673046
Website	www.cityofmacon.org

Macon is a city in Noxubee County, Mississippi along the Noxubee River. The population was 2,461 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Noxubee County.

History

Founded on February 9, 1833 as Taladega, the name was changed to Macon on August 10, 1835. The Jackson Military Road crossed the Noxubee River just west of Macon, located at the old Choctaw village of Taladega, now the site of the local golf club. The city served as the capital city for the state of Mississippi during the Civil War.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²), all land.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	989		—
1870	975		−1.4%
1880	2,074		112.7%
1890	1,565		−24.5%
1900	2,067		32.1%
1910	2,024		−2.1%
1920	2,051		1.3%
1930	2,198		7.2%
1940	2,261		2.9%
1950	2,241		−0.9%
1960	2,432		8.5%
1970	2,612		7.4%
1980	2,396		−8.3%
1990	2,256		−5.8%
2000	2,461		9.1%
2010	2,768		12.5%
2015 (est.)	2,616		−5.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,461 people, 906 households, and 587 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,624.8 people per square mile (629.3/km²). There were 1,015 housing units at an average density of 670.1 per square mile (259.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 31.49% White, 67.33% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.08% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.41% of the population.

There were 906 households out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.0% were married couples living together, 27.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.25.

In the city, the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 16.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 82.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $20,800, and the median income for a family was $26,696. Males had a median income of $22,969 versus $16,898 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,568. About 29.2% of families and 36.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 50.3% of those under age 18 and 21.8% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

• Ben Ames Williams, novelist (raised in Ohio)
• Buster Barnett, former NFL player for the Buffalo Bills
• Carey Bell, blues harmonicist
• Darion Conner, former professional football player with the Atlanta Falcons
• Jesse Fortune, blues singer
• Victoria Clay Haley, suffragist and clubwoman in St. Louis
• Nate Hughes, former professional football player with Jacksonville Jaguars, and Detroit Lions
• America W. Robinson, African American educator and contralto with the Fisk Jubilee Singers
• Deontae Skinner, NFL player
• Purvis Short, former professional basketball player
• Nate Wayne, former NFL football player with Green Bay Packers, Denver Broncos, and Philadelphia Eagles

Education

The City of Macon is served by the Noxubee County School District. East Mississippi Community College offers some courses at Noxubee County High School in Macon. Macon Central Academy is a local private school.

Sports

The Noxubee County High School football and basketball teams compete in District 4A. The football team won the 2009 and 2012 State Championship. The Noxubee High School Tigers girls basketball team won back to back state titles in 1993-94.