Yazoo County, Mississippi: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 19:46, 17 June 2007
Yazoo County | |
|---|---|
 Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi | |
 Mississippi's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 32°47′N 90°24′W / 32.78°N 90.4°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Mississippi |
| Founded | January 21, 1823 |
| Seat | Yazoo City |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 28,149 |
| Website | www |
Yazoo County is a county located in the Mississippi Delta region of the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of 2000, the population was 28,149. It is named for the Yazoo River, whose name, legend has it, comes from an Indian word meaning "River of Death". Farming and lumber are the predominant industries of Yazoo county.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,419 km² (934 mi²). 2,381 km² (919 mi²) of it is land and 38 km² (15 mi²) of it (1.57%) is water.
The total land area of 934 square miles makes Yazoo County the largest county in Mississippi. In fact, the State of Rhode Island is only 298 square miles larger.
Major Highways
Adjacent Counties
- Humphreys County (north)
- Holmes County (northeast)
- Madison County (east)
- Hinds County (south)
- Warren County (southwest)
- Issaquena County (west)
- Sharkey County (northwest)
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 Beattie's Bluff, Mississippi. 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 his native Amite County. See: http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/english/ms-writers/dir/clower_jerry/
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 43,948 | — | |
| 1910 | 46,672 | 6.2% | |
| 1920 | 37,149 | −20.4% | |
| 1930 | 37,262 | 0.3% | |
| 1940 | 40,091 | 7.6% | |
| 1950 | 35,712 | −10.9% | |
| 1960 | 31,653 | −11.4% | |
| 1970 | 27,304 | −13.7% | |
| 1980 | 27,349 | 0.2% | |
| 1990 | 25,506 | −6.7% | |
| 2000 | 28,149 | 10.4% | |
| 2005 (est.) | 28,195 |
As of the census² of 2000, there were 28,149 people, 9,178 households, and 6,644 families residing in the county. The population density was 12/km² (31/mi²). There were 10,015 housing units at an average density of 4/km² (11/mi²). 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. 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.
Cities and towns
Famous Residents of Yazoo County
- Haley Barbour, Governor of Mississippi
- Willie Brown, athlete
- Jerry Clower, comedian
- Mike Espy, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
- Lawrence Gordon, motion picture producer
- Lynn Hamilton, actress
- T. J. Huddleston, entrepreneur
- Skip James, blues musician
- Tommy McClennan, blues musician
- Willie Morris, writer
- Stella Stevens, actress
- Sarah Mary Taylor, nationally acclaimed folk artist
- Zig Ziglar, writer and motivational speaker
External links
- Yazoo County Mississippi on RootsWeb.com
- Yazoo County Convention and Visitors Bureau
References
- Cox, James L. The Mississippi Almanac. (2001). ISBN 0-9643545-2-7
