Pike County, Mississippi

Pike County
County
Southtown Historic District in Magnolia, Mississippi
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°11′N 90°24′W
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
Founded	1815
Named for	Zebulon Pike
Seat	Magnolia
Largest city	McComb
Area
• Total	411 sq mi (1,060 km2)
• Land	409 sq mi (1,060 km2)
• Water	1.7 sq mi (4 km2)  0.4%
Population  (2010)
• Total	40,404
• Estimate  (2018)	39,563
• Density	98/sq mi (38/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.co.pike.ms.us

Pike County is a county located on the southwestern border of the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2010 census, the population was 40,404. The county seat is Magnolia. Pike County is named for explorer Zebulon Pike.

Pike County is part of the McComb, MS Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Pike County was formed from Marion County by an act of the Territorial General Assembly on December 9, 1815. Holmesville was selected as the county seat on December 11, 1816; it was named in honor of Major Andrew Hunter Holmes, an army officer killed in the War of 1812. In 1873 Magnolia was voted in as the new county seat. The county was devoted to agriculture and is still mostly rural.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 411 square miles (1,060 km²), of which 409 square miles (1,060 km²) is land and 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²) (0.4%) is water.

Major highways

• Interstate 55
• U.S. Highway 51
• U.S. Highway 98
• Mississippi Highway 24
• Mississippi Highway 44
• Mississippi Highway 48
• Mississippi Highway 570
• Mississippi Highway 584

Adjacent counties

• Lincoln County (north)
• Walthall County (east)
• Washington Parish, Louisiana (southeast)
• Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana (south)
• Amite County (west)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1820	4,438		—
1830	5,402		21.7%
1840	6,151		13.9%
1850	7,360		19.7%
1860	11,135		51.3%
1870	11,303		1.5%
1880	16,688		47.6%
1890	21,203		27.1%
1900	27,545		29.9%
1910	37,272		35.3%
1920	28,725		−22.9%
1930	32,201		12.1%
1940	35,002		8.7%
1950	35,137		0.4%
1960	35,789		1.9%
1970	36,345		1.6%
1980	37,578		3.4%
1990	38,987		3.7%
2000	39,903		2.3%
2010	40,404		1.3%
2018 (est.)	39,563		−2.1%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 40,404 people living in the county. 51.5% were Black or African American, 46.4% White, 0.6% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 0.5% of some other race and 0.8% of two or more races. 1.2% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

As of the census of 2000, there were 38,940 people, 14,792 households, and 10,502 families living in the county. The population density was 95 people per square mile (37/km²). There were 16,720 housing units at an average density of 41 per square mile (16/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 51.25% White, 47.53% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 0.50% from two or more races. 0.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 14,792 households out of which 34.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.80% were married couples living together, 19.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 26.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the county, the population was spread out with 27.70% under the age of 18, 10.10% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 22.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,562, and the median income for a family was $29,415. Males had a median income of $27,450 versus $17,405 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,040. About 21.50% of families and 25.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.50% of those under age 18 and 19.70% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Magnolia (county seat)
• McComb

Towns

• Osyka
• Summit

Unincorporated communities

• Chatawa
• Fernwood
• Holmesville
• Kirkville
• Pricedale
• Progress

Politics

Pike County is a swing county in presidential elections; since 2000 it has voted Democratic thrice and Republican twice.

Presidential elections results

Presidential elections results

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third parties
2016	49.0% 8,009	49.2% 8,043	1.9% 308
2012	45.5% 8,181	53.7% 9,650	0.8% 143
2008	47.9% 8,651	51.4% 9,276	0.7% 128
2004	52.1% 8,660	47.4% 7,881	0.6% 91
2000	52.7% 7,464	46.2% 6,544	1.1% 158
1996	43.5% 5,403	50.7% 6,302	5.9% 730
1992	43.9% 6,005	45.9% 6,279	10.2% 1,395
1988	53.6% 7,637	45.9% 6,531	0.5% 71
1984	57.3% 8,254	42.6% 6,137	0.1% 20
1980	48.6% 6,661	48.8% 6,694	2.6% 361
1976	48.2% 5,659	48.9% 5,749	2.9% 343
1972	72.1% 6,542	25.7% 2,332	2.2% 202
1968	14.4% 1,460	28.1% 2,848	57.6% 5,846
1964	92.2% 6,418	7.8% 543
1960	27.4% 1,467	23.5% 1,258	49.1% 2,632
1956	29.5% 1,210	41.7% 1,714	28.8% 1,182
1952	53.8% 2,908	46.2% 2,495
1948	1.8% 69	5.6% 221	92.6% 3,650
1944	7.7% 248	92.3% 2,972
1940	5.9% 185	93.9% 2,956	0.2% 6
1936	2.6% 86	97.2% 3,170	0.2% 5
1932	4.7% 118	94.9% 2,400	0.4% 10
1928	27.5% 920	72.6% 2,431
1924	8.6% 197	71.7% 1,640	19.8% 452
1920	11.7% 153	84.9% 1,114	3.4% 45
1916	3.5% 53	95.7% 1,451	0.8% 12
1912	2.0% 24	86.9% 1,068	11.2% 137

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Pike County, Mississippi
• Fernwood Lumber Company
• History of Pike County Mississippi 1798-1876 by Luke W. Conerly 1909
• J. J. Carter, Pike County native who served in the late 19th century in the Louisiana House of Representatives and as mayor of Minden, Louisiana