Jump to content

Yazoo County, Mississippi

Coordinates: 32°47′N 90°24′W / 32.78°N 90.40°W / 32.78; -90.40
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Kennethaw88 (talk | contribs) at 17:39, 8 November 2014 (updating population table, adding references, and organizing sections). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Yazoo County
County
Map of Mississippi highlighting Yazoo County
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Map of the United States highlighting Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°47′N 90°24′W / 32.78°N 90.4°W / 32.78; -90.4
Country United States
State Mississippi
FoundedJanuary 21, 1823
Named forYazoo River
SeatYazoo City
Largest cityYazoo City
Area
 • Total934 sq mi (2,420 km2)
 • Land923 sq mi (2,390 km2)
 • Water11 sq mi (30 km2)  1.2%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total28,065
 • Density30/sq mi (10/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd

Yazoo County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2010 census, the population was 28,065.[1] The county seat is Yazoo City.[2] It is named for the Yazoo River, whose name, legend has it, comes from an Indian word meaning "River of Death."

Yazoo County is included in the Jackson-Vicksburg-Brookhaven, MS Combined Statistical Area. It is located in the Mississippi Delta region.

Farming and lumber are the predominant industries of Yazoo County.[citation needed]

History

The area which is now Yazoo County was acquired by the State of Mississippi from the Choctaw Indians in 1820. Yazoo County was established on January 21, 1823. It was the 19th county established in the State of Mississippi, and remains the largest in area. The first county seat was at the area known as Beatties Bluff. In 1829 the county seat was moved to Benton. In 1849 the county seat was moved once again, to Yazoo City where it remains. Yazoo County was a battlefield in 1863 and 1864 during the American Civil War.

The famous railroad disaster which killed engineer Casey Jones took place in Yazoo County, just north of Vaughan, Mississippi, in 1900. The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 did much damage in Yazoo County.

Comedian Jerry Clower was a native of Liberty, Mississippi, who immortalized the fictitious Ledbetter Amite County family (based on his memories of real people) with his comedy sketches. His humor was always gentle, upbeat, and deeply based on his Christian faith. Jerry attended Mississippi State University, and was employed by the Mississippi Chemical Company of Yazoo City; he died shortly after building a new home in Amite County.[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 934 square miles (2,420 km2), of which 923 square miles (2,390 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (1.2%) is water.[4] It is the largest county in Mississippi by land area and third-largest by total area.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18306,550—
184010,48060.0%
185014,41837.6%
186022,37355.2%
187017,279−22.8%
188033,84595.9%
189036,3947.5%
190043,94820.8%
191046,6726.2%
192037,149−20.4%
193037,2620.3%
194040,0917.6%
195035,712−10.9%
196031,653−11.4%
197027,304−13.7%
198027,3490.2%
199025,506−6.7%
200028,14910.4%
201028,065−0.3%
2013 (est.)27,883−0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2013[1]
Age pyramid Yazoo County[9]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 28,065 people residing in the county. 57.1% were Black or African American, 40.0% White, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 0.7% of some other race and 1.5% of two or more races. 4.6% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 28,149 people, 9,178 households, and 6,644 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile (12/km²). There were 10,015 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 44.74% White, 53.96% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.22% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races. 4.38% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

35.60% of the 9,178 households have children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.20% were married couples living together, 23.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.35.

In the county the population was spread out with 28.50% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 20.10% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 103.60 males (boys). For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,795, and the median income for a family was $29,395. Males had a median income of $28,553 versus $19,797 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,062. About 25.40% of families and 31.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.90% of those under age 18 and 22.50% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Major highways

Airport

Yazoo County Airport is located in an unincorporated area in Yazoo County,[11] 2 miles (3.2 km) west of central Yazoo City.[12]

Education

  • Private Schools
    • Benton Academy (Benton)
    • Manchester Academy (Yazoo City)
    • Covenant Christian School (Yazoo City)
    • Thomas Christian Academy (Yazoo City)

Communities

City

Town

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Notable residents

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ^ Jerry Clower on Mississippi Writer's Page
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  8. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  9. ^ Based on 2000 census data
  10. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  11. ^ FAA Airport Form 5010 for 87I PDF - Retrieved on September 23, 2010.
  12. ^ Jeter, Lynne W. "Airports an advantage when it comes to site selection." Mississippi Business Journal. March 26, 2001. Retrieved on September 21, 2010.

Further reading

32°47′N 90°24′W / 32.78°N 90.40°W / 32.78; -90.40

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yazoo_County,_Mississippi&oldid=632979831"