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Schlater, Mississippi

Schlater is a town in Leflore County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 310 at the 2010 census, down from 388 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Greenwood, Mississippi micropolitan area.

Geography
Schlater is located in northwestern Leflore County at 33.64028°N, -90.34722°W (33.640156, -90.347246). Mississippi Highway 442 passes through the town, leading east 3 mi to U.S. Route 49E and west 10 mi to Doddsville and U.S. Route 49W. Via US-49E Schlater is 17 mi northwest of Greenwood, the Leflore county seat.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.0 km2, all of it recorded as land. McNutt Lake is a narrow waterway that passes through the town, connecting Ashland Brake to the east with the Quiver River to the west, part of the Yazoo River watershed.

2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 310 people living in the town. The racial makeup of the town was 68.7% Black, 29.0% White and 1.0% from two or more races. 1.3% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of the census of 2000, there were 388 people, 141 households, and 105 families living in the town. The population density was 332.8 PD/sqmi. There were 150 housing units at an average density of 128.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 60.57% African American, 38.92% White and 0.52% Asian.

There were 141 households, out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% were married couples living together, 22.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.29.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 32.2% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $23,816, and the median income for a family was $25,000. Males had a median income of $21,667 versus $13,571 for females. The per capita income for the town was $10,022. About 34.9% of families and 44.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 65.0% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education
It is in the Greenwood-Leflore School District. Its high school is Amanda Elzy High School.

The town was served by the Leflore County School District. Effective July 1, 2019, this district consolidated into the Greenwood-Leflore School District.

Notable people

 * Means Johnston, Jr., admiral in the United States Navy
 * Ben Jones, race car driver
 * Woodrow Stanley, Michigan state politician

title: Schlater, Mississippi


text:
Sidon, Mississippi

Sidon is a town in Leflore County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 509 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Greenwood, Mississippi micropolitan area.

Geography
Sidon is located at 33.40806°N, -90.20889°W (33.408096, -90.208813).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.1 sqmi, all land.

2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 509 people living in the town. The racial makeup of the town was 93.7% Black, 5.1% White, 0.2% Asian and 0.2% from two or more races. 0.8% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of the census of 2000, there were 672 people, 215 households, and 158 families living in the town. The population density was 5,394.7 PD/sqmi. There were 220 housing units at an average density of 1,766.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 14.88% White, 83.33% African American, 0.89% Asian, and 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.60% of the population.

There were 215 households, out of which 45.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.6% were married couples living together, 35.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.13 and the average family size was 3.75.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 41.4% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 11.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 68.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $15,435, and the median income for a family was $14,286. Males had a median income of $28,625 versus $17,083 for females. The per capita income for the town was $6,629. About 48.1% of families and 56.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 75.3% of those under age 18 and 22.2% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation
Amtrak’s City of New Orleans, which operates between New Orleans and Chicago, passes through the town on CN tracks, but makes no stop. The nearest station is located in Greenwood, 8 mi to the north.

Education
It is in the Greenwood-Leflore School District. Claudine Brown Elementary School is about 5 mi north of Sidon. Residents are zoned to Amanda Elzy High School.

The town was formerly served by the Leflore County School District. Effective July 1, 2019, this district consolidated into the Greenwood-Leflore School District.

Notable people

 * Edwards Barham, Louisiana state senator
 * Edwin R. Holmes, federal judge
 * Denise LaSalle, singer
 * Viola B. Sanders, Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel for Women
 * Frank E. Smith, U.S. congressman

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Sidon, Mississippi


text:
Artesia, Mississippi

Artesia is a town in Lowndes County, Mississippi. The population was 304 at the 2020 census, down from 440 at the 2010 census.

History
Artesia was originally Artesia Junction, a junction point on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. During the railroad's construction in the 1850s, an offer was made to the towns of Columbus and Aberdeen to route the railroad through the towns, but both towns refused. Columbus reconsidered a few months later; but by that time, the railway had already chosen a route well to the west of the town. However, the railroad did extend a spur line in order to serve Columbus, and that spur line joins the main line at the site of present-day Artesia.

Artesia was the site of a voter suppression incident in 1876 in which a group of heavily armed white men from Starkville came to intimidate black voters in the Republican Club. Federal troops were called to intervene, which enraged many whites, who depicted the event as a negro riot.

The name originates from a cluster of artesian wells that were found in the area.

Geography
Artesia is located at 33.41611°N, -88.64528°W (33.416077, -88.645249).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.8 sqmi, of which 0.7 sqmi is land and 1.33% is water.

2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 304 people, 159 households, and 185 families.

2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 440 people living in the town. 84.5% were African American, 13.0% White, 1.1% Asian, 0.2% from some other race and 1.1% of two or more races. 0.5% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of the census of 2000, there were 498 people, 176 households, and 124 families living in the town. The population density was 671.8 PD/sqmi. There were 196 housing units at an average density of 264.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 79.32% African American, 19.88% White, 0.20% Asian, 0.40% Pacific Islander, and 0.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.

There were 176 households, out of which 39.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.7% were married couples living together, 30.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.50.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 33.7% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $18,438, and the median income for a family was $21,429. Males had a median income of $20,000 versus $13,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $8,716. About 42.2% of families and 43.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 60.0% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education
The Town of Artesia is served by the Lowndes County School District.

Notable person

 * Jim Roberts, former pitcher for the Brooklyn Robins

title: Artesia, Mississippi


text:
Caledonia, Mississippi

Caledonia is a town in Lowndes County, Mississippi, United States, northeast of Columbus. The population was 1,041 at the 2010 census.

History
Caledonia was first settled in the 1820s by settlers from Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, and South Carolina. It was likely named after Caledonia, as many of the settlers were Scots-Irish. A post office first opened in Caledonia in December 1836 and operated under the name Ridgeway. By 1840, the community was home to a bank and hat factory. In 1900, the population of Caledonia was 201.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.8 sqmi, of which 2.8 sqmi is land and 0.35% is water.

Demographics
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 1,041 people living in the town. 92.7% were White, 4.0% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from some other race and 1.6% of two or more races. 2.4% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,015 people, 365 households, and 287 families living in the town. The population density was 360.4 PD/sqmi. There were 395 housing units at an average density of 140.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 94.19% White. 3.94% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.30% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.18% of the population. In 2012, there were 1,030 people. In 2014, there were 1,041 people.

There were 365 households, out of which 41.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.7% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.1% were non-families. 19.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 30.3% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $41,071, and the median income for a family was $50,625. Males had a median income of $32,159 versus $22,051 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,798. About 3.3% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.6% of those under age 18 and 23.8% of those age 65 or over.

Schools
The Town of Caledonia is served by the Lowndes County School District. It is home to Caledonia Elementary School, consisting of grades K-5, Caledonia Middle School, grades 6-8, and Caledonia High school, grades 9-12, together are called Caledonia School. The current high school building opened August 1986 after the passage of a county bond issue in November 1984. The new building replaced the historic auditorium that burned down in 1982. The elementary is the first level 5 school in the district. The school's nickname is the Cavaliers and the school colors are cardinal red and white. The school along with Amory school district are the best school districts in North Mississippi. Caledonia offers more Advanced Placement classes than Columbus, West Lowndes, or New Hope schools.

The high school was heavily damaged by a tornado on January 10, 2009. The part of the school that was hit has now been rebuilt. The school has rebuilt the vo-tech center and has gotten a new middle school gym.

Notable person

 * Derek Sherrod, former National Football League offensive tackle

title: Caledonia, Mississippi


text:
Columbus, Mississippi

Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Lowndes County, on the eastern border of Mississippi, United States, located primarily east, but also north and northeast of the Tombigbee River, which is also part of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. It is approximately 146 mi northeast of Jackson, 92 mi north of Meridian, 63 mi south of Tupelo, 60 mi northwest of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and 120 mi west of Birmingham, Alabama.

The population was 25,944 at the 2000 census and 23,640 in 2010. The population in 2019 was estimated to be 23,573. Columbus is the principal city of the Columbus Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of the larger Columbus-West Point Combined Statistical Area. Columbus is also part of the area of Mississippi called The Golden Triangle, consisting of Columbus, West Point and Starkville, in the counties of Lowndes, Clay and Oktibbeha. Schools include Mississippi University for Women and Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science.

History
The first record of the site of Columbus in Western history is found in the annals of the explorer Hernando de Soto, who is reputed to have crossed the nearby Tombigbee River on his search for El Dorado. However, the site does not enter the main continuity of United States history until December 1810, when John Pitchlynn, the U.S. Indian agent and interpreter for the Choctaw Nation, moved to Plymouth Bluff, where he built a home, established a farm, and transacted Choctaw Agency business.

After the Battle of New Orleans, Andrew Jackson recognized the urgent need for roads to connect New Orleans to the rest of the country. In 1817 Jackson ordered a road be built to provide a direct route from Nashville to New Orleans. His surveyor, Captain Hugh Young, chose a place on the Tombigbee River where high ground approached the river on both sides as the location for a ferry to be used for crossing the river when high water prevented fording the river. A military bridge was constructed where the present-day Tombigbee Bridge was later developed in Columbus, Mississippi. Jackson's Military Road opened the way for development in the area.

Founding
Columbus was founded in 1819, and, as it was believed to be in Alabama, it was first officially recognized by an Alabama Legislative act as the Town of Columbus on December 6, 1819. Before its incorporation, the town site was referred to informally as Possum Town, a name which was given by the local Native Americans, who were primarily Choctaw and Chickasaw. The name Possum Town remains the town's nickname among locals. The town was settled where Jackson's Military Road crossed the Tombigbee River 4 miles south of John Pitchlynn's residence at Plymouth Bluff. In 1820 the post office that had been at Pitchlynn's relocated in Columbus. Pitchlynn's which had been settled in 1810 became the town of Plymouth in 1836 and is now the location of an environmental center for Mississippi University for Women. Silas McBee suggested the name Columbus; in return, a small local creek was named after him.

The city's founders soon established a school known as Franklin Academy. It continues to operate and is known as Mississippi's first public school. The territorial boundary of Mississippi and Alabama had to be corrected as, a year earlier, Franklin Academy was indicated as being in Alabama. In fact, during its early post-Mississippi-founding history, the city of Columbus was still referred to as Columbus, Alabama.

Civil War and aftermath
During the American Civil War, Columbus was a hospital town. Its arsenal manufactured gunpowder, handguns and a few cannons. Because of this, the Union ordered the invasion of Columbus, but was stopped by Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest. This is substantiated in the book The Battle of West Point: Confederate Triumph at Ellis Bridge by John McBride. Many of the casualties from the Battle of Shiloh were brought to Columbus. Thousands were eventually buried in the town's Friendship Cemetery.

One of the hospitals was located at Annunciation Catholic Church, built in 1863 and still operating in the 21st century. The decision of a group of ladies to decorate the Union and Confederate graves with flowers together on April 25, 1866, is an early example of what became known as Memorial Day. A poet, Francis Miles Finch, read about it in the New York newspapers and commemorated the occasion with the poem "The Blue and the Grey". Bellware and Gardiner noted this observance of the holiday in The Genesis of the Memorial Day Holiday in America (2014). They recognized the events in Columbus as the earliest manifestation of an annual spring holiday to decorate the grave of Southern soldiers. While the call was to celebrate on April 26, several newspapers reported that the day was the 25th, in error.

As a result of Forrest preventing the Union Army from reaching Columbus, its antebellum homes were spared from being burned or destroyed, making its collection second only to Natchez as the most extensive in Mississippi. These antebellum homes may be toured during the annual Pilgrimage, in which the Columbus residences open their homes to tourists from around the country.

When Union troops approached Jackson, the state capital was briefly moved to Columbus before moving to a more permanent home in Macon.

During the war, Columbus attorney Jacob H. Sharp served as a brigadier general in the Confederate Army. After the war, he owned the Columbus Independent newspaper. He was elected to two terms in the State House, serving four years representing the district in the Mississippi House of Representatives.

WPA mural
The mural Out of the Soil was completed in 1939 for the Columbus post office by WPA Section of Painting and Sculpture artist Bealah Betterworth. Murals were produced from 1934 to 1943 in the United States through "the Section" of the U.S. Treasury Department.

20th century
Columbus has hosted Columbus Air Force Base (CAFB) since World War II. CAFB was founded as a flight training school. After a stint in the 1950s and 1960s as a Strategic Air Command (SAC) base (earning Columbus a spot in Soviet Union target lists), CAFB returned to its original role. Today, it is one of only four basic Air Force flight training bases in the United States, and prized as the only one where regular flight conditions may be experienced. Despite this, CAFB has repeatedly hung in the balance during Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) hearings.

Columbus boasted a number of industries during the mid-20th century, including the world's largest toilet seat manufacturer, Sanderson Plumbing Products, and major mattress, furniture and textile plants. Most of these had closed by 2000. A series of new plants at the Golden Triangle Regional Airport, including the Severstal mill, the American Eurocopter factory, the Paccar engine plant and the Aurora Flight Sciences facility, are revitalizing the local economy.

Recent history
On June 12, 1990, a fireworks factory in Columbus exploded, detonating a blast felt as far as 30 miles away from Columbus. Two workers were killed in the blast.

On February 16, 2001, straightline winds measured at 74 miles per hour destroyed many homes and trees but resulted in no fatalities. The city was declared a federal disaster area the next day by President George W. Bush. On November 10, 2002, a tornado hit Columbus and caused more damage to the city, including the Mississippi University for Women.

In 2010, Columbus won a Great American Main Street Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

In February 2019, Columbus took a direct hit from an EF-3 tornado that caused devastating damage to homes and businesses and killed one woman after a structure fell on her.

Geography
The city is located approximately 10 mi west of the Mississippi-Alabama state line along U.S. Route 82, U.S. Route 45, and numerous state highways. US 82 leads southeast 29 mi to Reform, Alabama and west 25 mi to Starkville. US 45 leads south 32 mi to Macon and north 28 mi to Aberdeen. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.3 mi2, of which 21.4 mi2 is land and 0.9 mi2 is water. Large lakes and rivers are nearby, such as the Buttahatchee River in northern Lowndes County that defines the border between Lowndes and Monroe counties; in the middle of the City of Columbus and Lowndes County lies the Luxapallila Creek, and the Tombigbee River with the John C. Stennis Lock and Dam impounding Columbus Lake. Columbus is a relatively flat place in the northern part of Lowndes County, as the land rises for a short period of time into hills and bluffs, in the southern/eastern part of the county, the land has rolling hills that quickly turn into flatland floodplains that dominate this county. This county lies in the Black Prairie Geographic Region, and the Northeastern Hills Region of the state/area. Prairies, forests and floodplain forests lie here. The soil quality is poor in the eastern part of the county, otherwise the soil is relatively fertile. Columbus and the surrounding areas are listed as an Arbor Day Hardiness Zone 8a (10 to 15 °F); note that temperatures in 2010 reached 11 °F, but the USDA Hardiness Zones list the area as zone 7b (5 to 10 °F).

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 24,084 people, 9,572 households, and 5,348 families residing in the city.

2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 23,640 people living in the city. 60.0% were African American, 37.4% White, 0.2% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from some other race, and 1.1% of two or more races. 1.4% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census
Columbus' population has grown steadily since the beginning of the twentieth century. In 1900, 6,484 people lived in Columbus; in 1910, 8,988; in 1920, 10,501; and in 1940, 13,645. As of the census of 2000, there were 25,944 people, 10,062 households, and 6,419 families living in the city. The population density was 1,211.5 /mi2. There were 11,112 housing units at an average density of 518.9 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city is 43.62% White, 54.41% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.13% of the population.

There were 10,062 households, out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.0% were married couples living together, 21.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,393, and the median income for a family was $37,068. Males had a median income of $30,773 versus $20,182 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,848.

Economy
Major Employers:
 * Columbus Air Force Base.
 * Baptist Memorial Hospital - Golden Triangle.
 * Mississippi University for Women.
 * Columbus Municipal School District.
 * Lowndes County School District.
 * International Paper Columbus Mill and Columbus Modified Fiber.
 * Steel Dynamics, Inc. (steel manufacturer).
 * Paccar (diesel engines).
 * American Eurocopter (military aircraft).
 * Baldor (electric motors).
 * Nouryon (sodium chlorate production).
 * Aurora Flight Sciences (unmanned defense systems).
 * Stark Aerospace (unmanned defense systems).
 * Columbus / Nammo-Talley (defense systems).
 * Valmet (paper machine rolls and roll covers).

Arts and culture
Columbus is the birthplace of playwright Tennessee Williams, whose grandfather was the priest of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Williams was born in the rectory on Main Street, which is now the Tennessee Williams Home Museum and Welcome Center.

Education
Columbus is home to a state university, the Mississippi University for Women. The MUW campus is also home to the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, a state-funded public boarding school for academically gifted high school juniors and seniors.

The city's public high school (under the Columbus Municipal School District) is Columbus High School, located in the eastern part of town. It is the largest high school in the city and fifth largest in the state, enrolling approximately 1370 students. Columbus High School was formed by the merger of the city's two previous high schools, Stephen D. Lee High School and Caldwell High School; the schools were merged in 1992 and the campuses in 1997. Columbus is also home to the oldest public elementary school in Mississippi, Franklin Academy Elementary, founded in 1821.

Desegregated in 1970, Lee High School received a state award for the high school with the best race relations. Prior to desegregation, the school formed a race relations committee consisting of black and white students who could discuss issues and determine how to handle certain situations. For instance, the students decided to have both white and black homecoming courts so as to prevent sides being taken along racial lines. However, black students were allowed to vote for the white homecoming court and vice versa. The school went undefeated in football in 1970, which helped unite the student body. Students were ranked based on achievement score tests and divided into three groups, in order to allow each group to learn at their own pace. This practice was in place prior to integration. It was continued after integration for a period, but such tracking was later ruled to be unconstitutional by a Federal court, because it was based on biased testing. It did not take into account differences in preparation in earlier grades.

The Lowndes County School District operates three high schools—Caledonia, New Hope, and West Lowndes—fed by similarly named elementary and middle schools.

Columbus has several private schools, including:
 * Columbus Christian Academy, formerly Immanuel Christian School (K-3 through 12)
 * Heritage Academy (Christian, K-12)
 * Annunciation Catholic School (Catholic, K-8)
 * Victory Christian Academy (Christian, K-12)
 * Palmer Home for Children (orphanage)

Media
Columbus' city newspapers are the daily (except Saturdays) Commercial Dispatch, the weekly (Thursdays) Columbus Packet and the internet-only paper, Real Media (formerly The Real Story). One television station, WCBI-TV 4, the CBS affiliate, is located in the city's historic downtown area; it broadcasts FOX and MyNetworkTV programming on digital subchannels.

Columbus is also served by television stations from the Columbus / Tupelo / West Point DMA. These include NBC affiliate WTVA 9, its DT2 subchannel which is the market's ABC affiliate, and CW affiliate WLOV-TV 27.

Radio Stations include:

 * 103.1 Sports Talk/ESPN Radio
 * 94.1 Top 40
 * 99.9 Rock
 * 92.1 Hip-Hop & R&B
 * 100.9 Talk Radio (Supertalk Mississippi)
 * 93.3 Easy Listening/Top 40
 * 104.5 Christian radio/KLOVE

Transportation
Columbus lies on U.S. Highways 82 and 45. It is also served by state highways 12, 50, 69, and 182. Columbus is the eastern terminus of the Columbus and Greenville Railway; it is also served by the BNSF Railway (on the original right-of-way of the St. Louis - San Francisco Railway), the Norfolk Southern, and the Alabama Southern Railroad (using the original right-of-way of the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad). The local airport is Golden Triangle Regional Airport. The airport currently has three flights a day to Atlanta.

The city is located on the east bank of the Tombigbee River and the associated Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. Columbus Lake, formed by the John C. Stennis Lock and Dam, is approximately two miles north of downtown. The Luxapalila Creek runs through the town, separating East Columbus from Columbus proper (both are within city limits). The Lux, as it is locally known, joins the Tombigbee about three miles south of downtown.

Notable people

 * Mike Adams (columnist)
 * Henry Armstrong, world boxing champion
 * Roy Ayres, pedal steel guitar player
 * Red Barber, sports commentator
 * William T. S. Barry, congressman from Mississippi
 * Homer "Billy" Brewer, professional football player
 * Terry W. Brown, president pro tempore of the Mississippi Senate
 * Tyson Brummett, professional baseball player
 * Corey Cott, actor and singer
 * James E. Darnell, biologist
 * Jacob M. Dickinson, U.S. Secretary of War from 1909 to 1911
 * Doughboy, record producer
 * Elbert Drungo, professional football player
 * Ean Evans, bass player for Lynyrd Skynyrd; moved to Columbus
 * Leslie Frazier, professional football player and coach
 * Charles Fredericks, actor
 * Luther Hackman, professional baseball player
 * Arthur Cyprian Harper, 26th mayor of Los Angeles
 * Robert Ivy, chief executive officer of the American Institute of Architects
 * Sam Jethroe, first black baseball player on the Boston Braves roster
 * Edward J. C. Kewen, member of California State Legislature and first attorney general of California
 * Stephen D. Lee, Confederate general, first president of Mississippi State University
 * Jasmine Murray, singer, Miss Mississippi 2014
 * Bobby Richards, professional football player
 * Andre Rush, celebrity chef and veteran
 * Jacob H. Sharp, lawyer, newspaperman, politician, and Confederate general; moved to Columbus
 * Jeff Smith, member of Mississippi House of Representatives
 * Ruby Jane Smith, bluegrass fiddler
 * Cordella Stevenson, African-American woman who was raped and lynched by a mob of white men in Columbus in 1915
 * William N. Still Jr., maritime historian
 * Jim Thomas, professional football player
 * Sedric Toney, professional basketball player
 * Guy M. Townsend, U.S. Air Force brigadier general, test pilot, and combat veteran
 * Robert L. Turner, member of Wisconsin State Assembly
 * James R. Williams, lawyer, politician and jurist
 * Tennessee Williams, playwright
 * Andrew Wood, musician

title: Columbus, Mississippi


text:
Crawford, Mississippi

Crawford is a small town in Lowndes County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 641 at the 2010 census.

History
During the 1840s, a Baptist minister named Peter Crawford lived in the area. When the town was platted in 1852, it was named Crawfordsville. This name was used until 1870, when it was shortened to Crawfordville. Finally in 1879 it was changed to Crawford.

The Mobile and Ohio Railroad came though Crawfordsville in 1857.

Geography
Crawford is located at 33.30611°N, -88.62194°W (33.306205, -88.621933).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.4 sqmi, all land.

2020 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 641 people in the town. 89.9% were African American, 8.0% White, 0.6% Native American and 1.6% of two or more races. 0.6% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 655 people, 209 households, and 163 families in the town. The population density was 466.7 PD/sqmi. There were 251 housing units at an average density of 178.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 93.13% African American, 5.95% White, 0.31% Native American, 0.15% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.61% of the population.

There were 309 households, out of which 45.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.6% were married couples living together, 42.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.0% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.13 and the average family size was 3.67.

The town population contained 41.5% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 6.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females, there were 75.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 67.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $16,786, and the median income for a family was $16,058. Males had a median income of $24,107 versus $14,359 for females. The per capita income for the town was $7,123. About 45.5% of families and 45.7% of the population are below the poverty line, including 60.5% of those under age 18 and 35.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education
The Town of Crawford is served by the Lowndes County School District.

Notable people

 * Thomas Watt Gregory, US Attorney General from 1914 to 1919
 * Sam Hairston, former Negro league baseball and MLB player
 * Jerry Rice, NFL first ballot Hall of Fame wide receiver
 * Don "Cadillac Don" Sharp, rap/hip-hop artist
 * Clarence Weatherspoon, NBA player
 * Big Joe Williams, Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame blues singer and guitarist; born in Crawford in 1903

title: Crawford, Mississippi


text:
New Hope, Mississippi

New Hope is a census-designated place (CDP) in Lowndes County, Mississippi, United States. As of the 2010 census, the CDP population was 3,193.

Geography
New Hope is located in eastern Lowndes County at 33.44667°N, -88.325°W (33.446624, -88.324967). It is 8 mi southeast of Columbus, the county seat, and 3 mi west of the Alabama state line.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 13.1 km2, of which 0.02 km2, or 0.18%, are water. Creeks draining the community flow west to the Tombigbee River.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 3,161 people, 1,247 households, and 1,110 families residing in the CDP.

2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 3,193 people living in the CDP. 87.8% were White, 11.2% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% from some other race and 0.6% of two or more races. 1.0% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,964 people, 669 households, and 576 families living in the CDP. The population density was 814.8 PD/sqmi. There were 695 housing units at an average density of 288.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 93.28% White, 5.96% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.10% Asian, and 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.15% of the population.

There were 669 households, out of which 49.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.4% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.9% were non-families. 11.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 31.3% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $54,375, and the median income for a family was $60,909. Males had a median income of $40,089 versus $26,875 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $25,153. About 4.4% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education
New Hope is served by the Lowndes County School District.

New Hope Schools are consolidated on one campus. New Hope elementary is split into two buildings, one housing grades K-2 and the other housing grades 3–5. New Hope Middle contains grades 6–8; while New Hope High School houses 9-12.

Sports championships began with the Lady Trojan basketball team with two state championships. The New Hope Lady Trojan Slowpitch softball team has won ten state championships, including six consecutive from 2000 to 2006. The Trojan baseball team has won five state championships with one being a perfect 43–0 record. New Hope High School has also won a Class 4A Golf Championship and in 2008 won the Boy's Class 4A Basketball Championship.

title: New Hope, Mississippi


text:
Canton, Mississippi

The city of Canton is the county seat of Madison County, Mississippi, United States, and is situated in the northern part of the metropolitan area surrounding the state capital, Jackson. The population of Canton was 10,948 at the 2020 census, down from 13,189 in 2010.

The city is adjacent to a large auto manufacturing facility owned by Nissan.

History
Although not a major battle site during the Civil War, Canton was important as a rail and logistics center. Many wounded soldiers were treated in or transported through the city, and as a consequence it has a large Confederate cemetery.

Much of Canton is on the National Register of Historic Places. The courthouse square is a historic shopping district and host to the Canton Flea Market. The picturesque Georgian courthouse is particularly notable and often appears in photographic exhibits of the South. The east side of town is a large part of the historic district with many homes.

Geography
Canton is in central Madison County at 32.61194°N, -90.03167°W (32.612015, -90.031638). It is 24 mi northeast of Jackson. Canton is bordered to the south by the city of Gluckstadt.

U.S. Route 51 passes through the center of the city as Liberty Street and Union Street, leading southwest to Jackson and north-northeast 19 mi to Pickens. Mississippi Highway 16 passes through the city center on East Peace Street and North Liberty Street, leading east 31 mi to Carthage and northwest 30 mi to Yazoo City. MS 22 has its eastern terminus in the center of Canton and leads west 18 mi to Flora. MS 43 passes through the east side of Canton, leading northeast 47 mi to Kosciusko and southeast 30 mi to Pelahatchie. Interstate 55 passes through the west side of the city, with access from Exits 118 (Nissan Parkway) and Exit 119 (MS 22). I-55 leads southwest to Jackson and north 85 mi to Grenada.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city of Canton has a total area of 21.6 sqmi, of which 21.3 sqmi are land and 0.3 sqmi, or 1.38%, are water. Batchelor Creek flows westward through the city just north of downtown, and Bear Creek flows to the northwest through the southern part of the city. The city is in the watershed of the Big Black River.

Climate
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Canton has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Canton was 108 F on September 7, 1925, while the coldest temperature recorded was -11 F on January 27, 1940.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 10,948 people, 4,774 households, and 2,953 families residing in the city.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 13,189 people and 4,494 households in the city with an average household size of 2.99. The population density was 621.1 PD/sqmi. There were 4,933 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 19.5% White, 74.7% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.5% of the population.

The age distribution was 27.5% under the age of 18 and 10.8% 65 or older. 50.8% of the population were female.

The median household income was $33,350. The per capita income for the city was $15,192. About 31.4% of the population were below the poverty line.

2000 census
At the 2000 census, there were 12,911 people in 4,093 households, including 2,991 families, in the city. The population density was 694.1 PD/sqmi. There were 4,333 housing units at an average density of 232.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 18.64% White, 80.30% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.14% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.43% of the population.

Of the 4,093 households 37.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.4% were married couples living together, 34.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 23.8% of households were one person and 10.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.55.

The age distribution was 32.3% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% 65 or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.7 males.

The median household income was $24,237 and the median family income was $27,782. Males had a median income of $25,179 versus $20,815 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,643. About 27.7% of families and 34.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 49.8% of those under age 18 and 25.5% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
A Nissan plant is sited just outside the southwest city limits. In 2011 Canton officials considered annexing it.

Notable people

 * Sister Thea Bowman (1937–1990), Roman Catholic nun (Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration)
 * Flonzie Brown Wright (born 1942), African-American civil rights activist
 * The Canton Spirituals, gospel recording group
 * Homer Casteel (1879-1958), lieutenant governor from 1920 to 1924
 * Annie Bell Robinson Devine (1912–2000), civil rights activist
 * Earl B. Dickerson (1891–1986), World War I veteran, first black graduate from University of Chicago Law School, civil rights attorney, argued Hansberry v. Lee before the United States Supreme Court, founding member of the American Legion
 * George Doherty (1920–1987), football player, Buffalo Bills
 * Scott Field (1847–1931), U.S. congressman from Texas
 * Rowland Garrett (1950-), professional basketball player
 * L. C. Greenwood (1946-2013), NFL player with the Pittsburgh Steelers, playing in Super Bowl IX, Super Bowl X, Super Bowl XIII and Super Bowl XIV
 * Caroline Herring, folk singer
 * Elmore James (1918–1963), blues singer, slide guitarist
 * Sonny Landreth (1951-), blues guitarist
 * Ronnie Lester (1959-), University of Iowa basketball All-American, NBA player for Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers
 * Damien Lewis (1997-), NFL player for the Seattle Seahawks
 * Samuel Mockbee (1944–2001), architect
 * Rev. Cleophus Robinson (1932-1998), gospel singer
 * John Henry Rogers (1845–1911), congressman from Arkansas and a federal judge; grew up near Madison; practiced law in Canton
 * Arthur Tate (born 1939), Mississippi state senator
 * William M. Walton (1832–1915), Texas Attorney General
 * Quinndary Weatherspoon (1996-), NBA player

Mississippi Blues Trail
Canton is officially on the Mississippi Blues Trail. Elmore James, a blues singer and a familiar figure in Canton, learned electronics by working in a radio repair shop on Hickory Street. Canton is rich in blues history centered on the juke joints of Hickory Street, known to locals as "The Hollow", as well as other places in Canton. A Mississippi Blues Trail historic marker was placed in Canton on Hickory Street to honor the contribution of James to the development of the blues in Mississippi. Other noted blues performers associated with Canton include Grady Champion, Little Brother Montgomery, William "Do-Boy" Diamond, Boyd Rivers and Johnny Temple. Musicians include studio guitarist Bucky Barrett and the slide guitarist Sonny Landreth. Gospel singers include the Canton Spirituals and Reverend Cleophus Robinson.

In his dedication of Hickory Street, Governor Haley Barbour said, "With his innovative contributions to the electric slide guitar style, legendary Elmore James is among the many reasons Mississippi is truly the birthplace of America's music. Like so many others, Elmore's work was greatly influenced by his childhood home in Canton, where he joined the ranks of musicians like B.B. King and Little Milton to play the blues on Hickory Street. Today's blues trail marker not only recognizes the achievements of the talented Elmore James but also pays tribute to Canton's colorful blues heritage."

Education
The city of Canton is served by the Canton Public School District and Canton High School. Canton Academy is a segregation academy in the area.

In popular culture

 * 1974 Thieves Like Us
 * 1988 Mississippi Burning
 * 1996 A Time to Kill
 * 1998 Walking in Mississippi
 * 2000 My Dog Skip
 * 2000 O Brother, Where Art Thou?
 * 2001 The Ponder Heart
 * 2001 Biker Zombies from Detroit
 * 2008 Ballast
 * 2013 As I Lay Dying
 * 2016 Saved By Grace
 * 2020 "A Time For Mercy", book by John Grisham

Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Canton has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

title: Canton, Mississippi


text:
Flora, Mississippi

Flora is a town in Madison County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 1,647 at the 2020 census, down from 1,886 in 2010. It is part of the Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The town is named after Flora Mann Jones, an early resident.

History
Graves in Flora's cemetery date to 1821. A post office was established in 1883. That same year, Flora became a stop on the newly constructed Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad. The railroad depot is now a museum and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Flora was incorporated in 1886.

Mississippi Ordnance Plant
In 1941, the Mississippi Ordnance Plant was constructed north of Flora to produce propellant and igniter charges for large-caliber guns during World War II. The site also had firing ranges for sub-machine guns, rifles, anti-aircraft guns, live grenades, and demolition explosives. A notable employee was science fiction writer Cyril M. Kornbluth.

The plant was operated by General Tire. It generally hired African-American men only for jobs as janitors, yard workers, freight loaders, truck drivers and maintenance workers. They were allowed to work in the higher paying production jobs only if white men were not available. African-American women were employed only as maids and cafeteria helpers. In 1942, a local group of African-American citizens met to protest the company's policy.

After the war, the Defense Department declared the site as surplus in 1945. The army certified it as "completely decontaminated". But standards since then are more refined, and the site was dangerously contaminated due to the production and heavy armaments.

In 1947, the Mississippi Department of Education planned to adapt part of the plant into a vocational school for African Americans, until white residents protested to the governor, stating that property values would be ruined.

One of the reinforced bunkers eventually became used for the "Southern Vital Records" storage facility. In 1977, a local high school student found an abandoned M-2A2 tank in a wooded area.

National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility
In 2008, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that the Flora Industrial Park was one of six locations in the United States being considered for the construction of a new National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility. Some people were concerned about dangers from biological research.

Flora's mayor, Scott Greaves, had responded to opposition to the facility in 2007, saying, "Education is the whole key to it. You have to find the people who are concerned and educate them. In the end, you're still going to have a few idiots." Manhattan, Kansas, was finally selected as the site for the new facility.

Geography
Flora is in western Madison County. U.S. Route 49 passes through the west side of the town, leading north 23 mi to Yazoo City and southeast 20 mi to Jackson. Mississippi Highway 22 passes through the center of Flora, leading east 18 mi to Canton, the Madison county seat, and southwest 25 mi to Edwards.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Flora has a total area of 3.3 sqmi, of which 0.04 sqmi, or 1.17%, are water. The east side of Flora is drained by Town Creek, while the west side is drained by unnamed tributaries of Bogue Chitto Creek. All of the streams eventually flow northwest to the Big Black River, a tributary of the Mississippi.

Just outside the Flora city limits lies a forest collection of petrified wood, the Mississippi Petrified Forest. It is said to be the only such forest east of the Mississippi River.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 1,647 people, 652 households, and 503 families residing in the town.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,546 people, 575 households, and 416 families residing in the town. The population density was 454.2 PD/sqmi. There were 606 housing units at an average density of 178.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 57.05% White, 42.04% African American, 0.65% Native American, 0.06% from other races, and 0.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.32% of the population.

There were 575 households, out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% were married couples living together, 25.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.3% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $38,077, and the median income for a family was $41,324. Males had a median income of $31,786 versus $22,176 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,075. About 18.7% of families and 25.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 44.4% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation
Amtrak’s City of New Orleans, which operates between New Orleans and Chicago, passes through the town on CN tracks, but makes no stop. The nearest station is located in Jackson, 20 mi to the south.

Education
Flora is served by the Madison County School District. It is zoned to East Flora Elementary. Residents are in turn zoned to Madison Middle School, Rosa Scott 9th Grade, and Madison Central High School.

The Tri-County Academy, a private school, is located in Flora.

Media
Flora is served both by radio station WYAB 103.9 FM and The Flora News, a monthly free community newspaper.

Notable people

 * Maurice Black, member of the Mississippi House of Representatives
 * E. C. Coleman, professional basketball player
 * Parys Haralson, professional football player
 * Paul "Wine" Jones, blues singer and guitarist
 * Belle Kearney, temperance reformer, suffragist, teacher, white supremacist, and first female Mississippi state senator in 1923
 * Cecil Price, deputy sheriff, white supremacist, Ku Klux Klan member, murderer and convict

title: Flora, Mississippi


text:
Madison, Mississippi

Madison is the 11th most populous city in Mississippi, United States, located in Madison County, 13 mi north of the state capital, Jackson. The population was 27,747 at the 2020 census, up from 24,149 in 2010. It is part of the Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
The city of Madison, named for James Madison, the fourth president of the United States, developed along a bustling railroad track in antebellum Mississippi. It began in 1856 when the Illinois Central Railroad opened Madison Station, the forerunner of the city of Madison.

The nearby town of Madisonville was a settlement along the stagecoach route on the Natchez Trace. It was the first county seat of Madison County in 1828, and had a race track, two banks, a wagon factory, and at least one hotel. Its residents gradually moved to the new railroad community, and old Madisonville became defunct.

Like many railroad towns in the South, Madison Station was heavily damaged by the Union Army during the Civil War. Ten miles from the state capital of Jackson, Madison Station was largely destroyed in 1863 after the July 18–22 siege of Jackson. No battles were fought in Madison County, but Major General Stephen D. Lee concentrated his command in Madison Station during the month of February 1864. Stephen Lee was later appointed as the first president of Mississippi State College (now Mississippi State University).

The railroad continued to attract growth after the Civil War. In 1897, the Madison Land Company encouraged northerners to "Go South, and grow up with the country." Located in Chicago, the land company's interest in development prompted Madison to incorporate as a village, though the charter was lost when regular elections were not held because of the failure of the "land boom".

The Madison Land Company offered prime land for as little as $3.00 an acre. It claimed that Mississippi had the lowest debt ratio in the United States at $19.00 per capita and that Mississippians were one-third healthier by "official figures" than people in New York and Massachusetts. The figures were quoted in the Madison Land Company's brochure by Bishop Hugh Miller Thompson, the second Episcopal bishop of the Diocese of Mississippi and a Madison resident, who originally came from Wisconsin.

After many years of court battles, the city annexed other territory to expand its limits in size in the late 2000s.

On November 24, 2001, a violent F4 tornado impacted western portions of the city. Many homes were severely damaged or destroyed, including some that were leveled and swept from their foundations in the Fairfield subdivision. The tornado traveled 11.5 mi across Madison County, damaging or destroying 164 homes along the path. Two people were killed by the tornado, and 21 others were injured.

Geography
Madison is in southern Madison County and is bordered to the south by the city of Ridgeland. The city of Gluckstadt is 5 mi to the north. Interstate 55 passes through the city, with access from Exit 107 (Madison Avenue) and Exit 108 (Hwy 463). U.S. Route 51 passes through the city center, now within the eastern part of the city limits as expansion has occurred to the west. The Natchez Trace Parkway runs along the eastern border of the city.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Madison has a total area of 26.4 sqmi, of which 25.2 sqmi are land and 1.2 sqmi, or 4.47%, are water. The east side of the city drains to the Ross Barnett Reservoir on the Pearl River, while the northern part drains to Bear Creek, a tributary of the Big Black River, and the western part drains to Limekiln Creek, a tributary of Bogue Chitto Creek, which also flows to the Big Black.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 27,747 people, 8,972 households, and 7,121 families residing in the city.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,692 people, 5,189 households, and 4,249 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,090.0 PD/sqmi. There were 5,316 housing units at an average density of 394.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 93.23% White, 4.89% African American, 0.07% Native American, 1.20% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.69% of the population.

There were 5,189 households, out of which 48.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.0% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.1% were non-families. 16.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.0% 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 3.17.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 31.2% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 35.1% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $71,266 (estimated at $105,485 in 2008), and the median income for a family was $77,202. Males had a median income of $54,358 versus $34,081 for females. The per capita income for the city was $29,082. About 2.1% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 1.4% of those age 65 or over.

Recreation

 * Strawberry Patch Park, one mile running trail, playground, and children's fishing pond
 * Liberty Park, sports fields and playgrounds
 * Simmons Arboretum, wooded trail

Education
Madison is served by the Madison County School District. The student/teacher ratio is 19:1.

Madison-Ridgeland Academy is a 6A private high school and member of the MSAIS located in Madison.

St. Joseph Catholic School is a parochial school located in Madison that serves the Jackson Area; it is of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jackson.

In 2010, Tulane University opened a satellite campus of its School of Continuing Studies. The campus was housed in a renovated wing of the former Madison Station Elementary School (Madison Ridgeland High School) campus until it closed in 2017. Jackson State University has also opened a satellite campus in the city.

Transportation
There is one small airport in the city, Bruce Campbell Field.

Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport, 13 mi to the southeast, is the commercial airport of the Jackson metropolitan area.

Points of interest

 * Simmons Arboretum
 * Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce South Central U.S. (est. 1997)
 * The Chapel of the Cross, just outside the northwestern city limits in Mannsdale, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Notable people

 * Joel Bomgar, member of the Mississippi House of Representatives
 * Eddie Briggs, lawyer and former lieutenant governor of Mississippi
 * Buddy Brown, country music singer
 * Shaq Buchanan (born 1997), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
 * John F. Burrow, former member of the Mississippi State Senate and Mississippi House of Representatives
 * Corey Dickerson, professional baseball player for the Miami Marlins; resides in Madison during the offseason
 * Tate Ellington, actor
 * Stephen Gostkowski, professional football player for the Tennessee Titans
 * Parys Haralson, former National Football League (NFL) linebacker
 * Larry Hart, former NFL defensive end
 * Sarah Beth James, Miss Mississippi 2010
 * Timothy L. Johnson, former member of the Mississippi State Senate
 * Will Longwitz, member of the Mississippi State Senate
 * D. J. Montgomery, wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts
 * Roy K. Moore, FBI agent
 * Ronnie Musgrove, 62nd governor of Mississippi
 * John Henry Rogers, congressman from Arkansas and a federal judge
 * Chris Spencer, former NFL center
 * Spencer Turnbull, former Major League Baseball pitcher
 * Dallas Walker, former NFL tight end
 * Ruston Webster, NFL scout for the Atlanta Falcons
 * Sammy Winder, former running back for the Denver Broncos

title: Madison, Mississippi


text:
Ridgeland, Mississippi

Ridgeland is a city in Madison County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 24,340 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Jackson metropolitan area.

History
In 1805, the Choctaw Indian Agency, headed by Silas Dinsmoor, was located in what is now Ridgeland. The structure was then called "Turner Brashear's Stand" until about 1850. It was adapted for use as a hotel named the King's Inn. During the American Civil War, General Stephen Lee used the inn as a headquarters. The hotel continued to operate until 1896, when it was destroyed by fire.

In 1853, James B. Yellowley founded the community of Yellowley's Crossing (later named "Jessamine" after his wife). In 1896, Edward Treakle and Gordon Nichols, two real estate developers from Chicago, purchased the land from Yellowley and established the Highland Colony Company. They created plans for a town to be named "Ridgeland" and launched an advertising campaign to entice people from the northern United States to move south. Agriculture was the community's dominant revenue source, with pears and strawberries as the leading crops grown for sale.

In the early 20th century, Ridgeland was home to a hotel, sawmill, and a canning company. The main business section of Ridgeland was along Jackson Street, due to the Illinois Central Railroad located on the street. In 1910 a two-room school was created, and the schools combined with those of Madison by 1925. Rapid growth in the city's population began in the 1960s.

Northpark Mall opened in 1984 and brought more growth to the area. Highland Colony Parkway was built in the 1990s.

Geography
Ridgeland is a suburban city in southern Madison County, between Madison to the north and Jackson, the state capital, to the south. The Ross Barnett Reservoir borders the city to the east.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Ridgeland has a total area of 28.1 sqmi, of which 26.3 sqmi are land and 1.8 sqmi, or 6.41%, are water, mostly from Ross Barnett Reservoir, an impoundment on the Pearl River. Most of the city drains southward to the Pearl River in Jackson, while the northwest corner of the city is part of the Big Black River watershed flowing west to the Mississippi.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 24,340 people, 10,632 households, and 6,046 families residing in the city.

2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 24,047 people living in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 57.5% White, 32.5% Black, 0.2% Native American, 4.0% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from some other race and 1.0% from two or more races. 4.7% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,173 people, 9,267 households, and 9,022 families living in the city. The population density was 1,267.4 PD/sqmi. There were 9,930 housing units at an average density of 623.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 77.05% White, 18.44% African American, 0.15% Native American, 2.95% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.55% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.55% of the population.

There were 9,267 households, out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.8% were non-families. 38.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.4% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 40.3% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.

The median incomes for a household in the city was $43,066, and the median income for a family was $59,249. Males had a median income of $40,632 versus $29,634 for females. The per capita income for the city was $28,704. About 5.5% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
Bomgar, a tech company, C Spire Wireless, the sixth largest wireless provider in the United States, and Cal-Maine Foods, the largest shell egg producer in the United States, are all headquartered in Ridgeland.

The largest mall in the Jackson metro area, Northpark Mall, is located on County Line Road in southern Ridgeland. Another shopping center, Renaissance at Colony Park, is in central Ridgeland.

Education
Ridgeland is served by the Madison County School District, as well as by two private schools: Saint Andrew's Episcopal School and Christ Covenant School. The Veritas School was a private school which closed in 2015.

Ridgeland has a campus of Holmes Community College.

Ridgeland is home of the Baptist Children's Village, which provides short-term and long-term care for abandoned, neglected, or abused children and counseling to broken families.

Ridgeland made national headlines in 2022 when mayor Gene F. McGee refused to send $110,000 in approved city funding to the Madison County Library System because the library system contained books that "went against his Christian beliefs".

Notable people

 * The Band Perry
 * Faith Hill, country music singer; born and raised in Ridgeland until moving to nearby Star when she was in the 8th grade
 * George Jackson, songwriter and singer; died at his home in Ridgeland
 * Bianca Knight, track and field athlete
 * David McRae, Mississippi State Treasurer
 * J. Walter Michel, member of the Mississippi State Senate
 * David H. Nutt, lawyer and philanthropist, the richest person in Mississippi as of 2014
 * Jim Pace, racing driver
 * Rubel Phillips, Republican gubernatorial nominee in 1963 and 1967; spent his last years in retirement in Ridgeland

title: Ridgeland, Mississippi


text:
Columbia, Mississippi

Columbia is a U.S. city in and the county seat of Marion County, Mississippi, United States. Formed six years before Mississippi was admitted to statehood, Columbia was named for Columbia, South Carolina, from which many of the early settlers had migrated. The population was 5,864 as of the 2020 census, down from 6,582 in 2010.

History
Columbia is the county seat of Marion County, which was created out of Amite County in 1811, encompassing the southwest quarter of the current state of Mississippi. Before statehood in 1816, there were three territorial census/poll tax records taken of what was deemed Marion County at the time. These records reveal that during 1813, several Lott men arrived and settled on the Pearl River in what is now Columbia. In 1813, William Lott was the largest slave holder near present-day Columbia, owning 28 people. There were five men, who settled south of present-day Columbia on 2789 acre of land with 65 enslaved people. North of present-day Columbia, on what was the earliest attempt at a town, was Timothy Terrell on 3151 acre with 32 slaves.

The land on which the current city of Columbia resides was first purchased for cash on April 18, 1820, by William Lott and John Lott. This land is Township 3 East, Range 18 West, Section 5 (640 acres), which is now the center of Columbia. Other early patent holders of Columbia include James Phillips, Jr., and John Cooper (1825), in Section 4 next to John and William Lott.

Columbia was officially incorporated on June 25, 1819, becoming the fourth municipality in the state of Mississippi. It served as the temporary capital of Mississippi from November 1821, when the 5th session of the Mississippi Legislature first met there, until 1822. In that year, a special session of the legislature met in Columbia, inaugurating Governor Walter Leake, and selecting LeFleur's Bluff (now Jackson) as the permanent capital.

Columbia, "The City of Charm on the River Pearl", has always been in danger of flooding, due to its bordering the Pearl River. The county courthouse, with its records dating back to pre-statehood, has managed to survive war, floods, tornadoes and hurricanes. In its first 100 years, Columbia relied on the Pearl River for transportation of goods. The river was much deeper and wider than it is now. Steamboat captains, such as John Black, lived in Columbia.

During the Civil War, Union troops under the command of General John Wynn Davidson camped outside Columbia, taking provisions from the local population. The courthouse was spared. The Southern Claims Commission Files detail these events.

In 1935, Mississippi's first rodeo was held in Columbia. In 2016, the Mississippi Rodeo Hall of Fame was founded and headquartered in Columbia.

During the civil rights movement, Columbia and Marion County were the site of peaceful demonstrations, due to the diligent insistence of non-violence by Sheriff John Homer Willoughby. The town is known for its citizens ability to work together.

In 2005, Columbia suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Katrina. Once again, the courthouse survived. There was very limited looting, and citizens worked together with local churches, civic officials, and law enforcement to provide for citizens during the extensive power loss. Individuals immediately began helping their neighbors clear roads and escape being trapped in debris.

The day after Hurricane Katrina struck, several inmates took advantage of the storm damage and escaped from the Marion County Jail (some of whom had been charged with murder). Marion County deputies along with the help of the Mississippi National Guard and Kentucky State Police, captured all but one escapee, who was later apprehended in Texas just before he could get to the Mexican border.

Former Mississippi governor and Columbia native Hugh L. White introduced white squirrels to the area, and they are still common in Columbia City Park. White's home still stands today, a stately reminder of architecture of the past.

In 2014, a tornado measuring EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita scale struck Columbia, causing widespread damage. Mutual aid took place between Columbia, Mississippi, and Columbia, South Carolina, following this natural disaster and the 1,000 year flood in South Carolina,

Geography
Columbia is in southern Mississippi, on the east bank of the Pearl River. It is in north-central Marion County, 84 mi by highway south of Jackson, the state capital, and 118 mi north of New Orleans. U.S. Route 98 passes through the south side of the city, leading east 33 mi to Hattiesburg and west 41 mi to McComb. Mississippi Highway 13 passes through the center of Columbia, leading north 25 mi to Prentiss and southeast 31 mi to Lumberton. State Highway 44 leads northeast from Columbia 21 mi to Sumrall.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city of Columbia has a total area of 6.8 sqmi, of which 0.004 sqmi, or 0.06%, are water.

Climate
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Columbia has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Columbia was 113 F on June 7, 1915, while the coldest temperature recorded was 4 F on January 11, 1982 and January 21, 1985.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,864 people, 2,080 households, and 1,155 families residing in the city.

Government and infrastructure
The Mississippi Department of Human Services's Division of Youth Services operated the Columbia Training School in unincorporated Marion County, near Columbia.

The mayor of Columbia is Justin McKenzie.

Education
The city of Columbia is served by the Columbia School District, with Columbia High School as the public high school. Prior to January 1970, black students were educated in a separate system with sub-par facilities, including John J. Jefferson High school, which became the middle school in January 1970 when the schools were integrated. White politicians called for a public boycott of the school system. At that time, around 100 white students left the public school system to attend the newly founded whites-only Columbia Academy, which was created in September 1969 as a segregation academy to avoid racial integration. A few students also left to attend Improve Academy, another segregation academy founded by the Improve Baptist Church. There are also two other public schools that are in Columbia, East Marion High School and West Marion High School. Both of these schools are under the same district called Marion County Schools. East Marion High school is located just outside of town on the East side of the Pearl River, while West Marion is located on the West side of the Pearl River in Foxworth. East Marion is one largely connected building that houses grades K-12, but West Marion has a primary school as well as a high school.

Notable people

 * Johnathan Abram, National Football League (NFL) safety for the Las Vegas Raiders
 * Anthony Alford, former Major League Baseball player
 * Ted Alford, former Canadian Football League (CFL) player
 * James W. Ball, 24th Chief of Ordnance for the United States Army Ordnance Corps
 * Earl W. Bascom, rodeo champion, Hollywood actor, artist/sculptor, inventor, Mississippi Rodeo Hall of Fame inductee
 * Texas Rose Bascom, rodeo performer, trick roper, Hollywood actress, Mississippi Rodeo Hall of Fame inductee
 * Weldon Bascom, rodeo champion, Mississippi Rodeo Hall of Fame inductee
 * Buddy Blair, former Major League Baseball player
 * Terrell Buckley, American football coach and former player
 * L. Russ Bush, theologian and author
 * Gil Carmichael, businessman and political candidate
 * Logan Cooke, NFL punter for the Jacksonville Jaguars
 * Maurice Dantin, attorney and political candidate
 * Eagle Day, former NFL and CFL quarterback
 * Peggy Dow, film actress and philanthropist
 * Jim Dunaway, former NFL defensive tackle
 * Joey Gathright, former Major League Baseball player
 * Bobby Hamilton, former NFL defensive end, two-time Super Bowl winner with New England Patriots
 * S. J. Hathorn, member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1904 to 1908 and the Mississippi Senate from 1917 to 1918
 * Terry Irvin, former CFL cornerback
 * Claudis James, former NFL player
 * Kenny Johnson, former NFL player
 * General Benjamin Lee, military leader and early political figure
 * Carey B. Maddox-Preston, social worker
 * Sylvester Magee, reputedly the last living American slave, died in Columbia in 1971
 * Ken Morgan, member of the Mississippi House of Representatives
 * Jaheim Oatis, American football defensive tackle
 * Joseph T. "Joe" Owens, former NFL defensive end
 * Eddie Payton, former NFL running back
 * Walter Payton, former NFL player in Pro Football Hall of Fame, born in Columbia
 * Johnny Sims, former Arena Football League player
 * Ethelbert I. Singley, member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1916 to 1920
 * Jackie Smith, former NFL tight end and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
 * Ruby Terry, gospel musician
 * Hugh L. White, former Columbia mayor and two-term Governor of Mississippi

title: Columbia, Mississippi


text:
Byhalia, Mississippi

Byhalia (, is a town in Marshall County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 1,339 as of the 2020 census.

History
Byhalia was founded in the 1830s and named after Byhalia Creek, which flows past the community. The town was incorporated in 1873 and is located on the BNSF Railway.

Byhalia had a newspaper, The Byhalia Journal, that was published from 1883 to 1899. Sam Mims Jr., who was a member of the Mississippi Senate from 1916 to 1920, served as the editor.

Geography
Byhalia is in northwestern Marshall County. Interstate 22 passes through the town south of its center, with access from Exit 14 (MS 309). Interstate 269, the beltway around Memphis, Tennessee, passes through the northwest extent of the town, with access from Exit 18 (also MS 309). I-22 leads southeast 16 mi to Holly Springs, the Marshall county seat. Downtown Memphis is 30 mi to the northwest via U.S. Route 78.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town of Byhalia has a total area of 7.1 sqmi, of which 0.02 sqmi, or 0.27%, are water. Byhalia Creek passes through the east side of the town, flowing south and then west to the Coldwater River, part of the Tallahatchie River watershed.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 1,440 people, 680 households, and 470 families residing in the town.

2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 1,302 people living in the town. 51.4% were White, 44.9% Black or African American, 1.7% of some other race and 2.1% of two or more races. 4.0% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census
The following demographic information is based on 2000 Census information; however, the population of Byhalia has significantly increased in recent years due to immigration and a 2005 annexation of adjacent area. The population in 2007 was estimated at over 2,000.

As of the census of 2000, there were 706 people, 275 households, and 188 families living in the town. The population density was 246.8 PD/sqmi. There were 306 housing units at an average density of 107.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 60.76% White, 35.69% African American, 0.14% Native American, 3.12% from other races, and 0.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.12% of the population.

There were 275 households, out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 22.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.2% 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 3.13.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.5% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $26,618, and the median income for a family was $35,313. Males had a median income of $34,375 versus $19,219 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,156. About 25.0% of families and 26.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.2% of those under age 18 and 39.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education
The town of Byhalia is served by the Marshall County School District, one of the districts being supported by the Mississippi Teacher Corps.

Notable people

 * The Aces, Chicago blues band
 * Erica Bougard, track and field Olympian
 * Jan Bradley, soul singer
 * Mike Bryan, jazz guitarist
 * William Faulkner, author; died in Byhalia in 1962
 * Bill Kinkade, member of the Mississippi House of Representatives
 * Willie Taylor, former NBA player
 * Tommy Woods, member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1988 to 2012
 * H. Casey Young, member of the United States House of Representatives from 1875 to 1881 and 1883 to 1885

In popular culture

 * The original field recording of "Sea Lion Woman", sung by Katherine and Christine Shipp, was recorded in Byhalia by Herbert Halpert on May 13, 1939.
 * The play Byhalia, Mississippi by Evan Linder premiered in January 2016.

title: Byhalia, Mississippi


text:
Holly Springs, Mississippi

Holly Springs is a city in, and the county seat of, Marshall County, Mississippi, United States, near the border with Tennessee to the north. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,968, down from 7,699 in 2010. Along with the Mississippi Delta, in the 19th century, the area was developed by European Americans for cotton plantations. After the Civil War, many freedmen continued to work in agriculture as sharecroppers and tenant farmers.

As the county seat, Holly Springs is a center of trade and court sessions. The city has several National Register of Historic Places-listed properties and historic districts, including the Southwest Holly Springs Historic District, Holly Springs Courthouse Square Historic District, Depot-Compress Historic District, and East Holly Springs Historic District. Hillcrest Cemetery contains the graves of five Confederate generals and has been called "Little Arlington of the South".

History
European Americans founded Holly Springs in 1836 on territory occupied by the Chickasaw people for centuries before Indian Removal. Most of their land was ceded under the Treaty of Pontotoc Creek of 1832. Many early U.S. migrants were from Virginia, supplemented by migrants from Georgia and the Carolinas.

In 1836, the city had 4,000 European-American residents. A year later, records show that 40 residents were lawyers, and there were six physicians by 1838. By 1837, the town already had "twenty dry goods stores, two drugstores, three banks, several hotels, and over ten saloons." Hillcrest Cemetery was built on land settler William S. Randolph gave the city in 1837.

Newcomers established the Chalmers Institute, later known as the University of Holly Springs, Mississippi's oldest university.

The area was developed with extensive cotton plantations dependent on the labor of enslaved African Americans. Many had been transported from the Upper South in the domestic slave trade, breaking up families. Holly Springs served as a trading center for the neighboring cotton plantations. In 1837, it was made seat of the newly created Marshall County, named for John Marshall, the Supreme Court justice. The town developed a variety of merchants and businesses to support the plantations. Its population into the early twentieth century included a community of Jewish merchants, whose ancestors were immigrants from eastern Europe in the 19th century. The cotton industry suffered in the crisis of 1840, but soon recovered.

By 1855 Holly Springs was connected to Grand Junction, Tennessee, by the Mississippi Central Railway. In ensuing years, the line was completed to the south of Hill Springs. Toward the end of the 19th century, the Kansas City, Memphis and Birmingham Railroad was constructed to intersect this line in Holly Springs.

During the Civil War, Union general Ulysses S. Grant temporarily used Holly Springs as a supply depot and headquarters while mounting an effort to take the city of Vicksburg. Confederate general Earl Van Dorn led the successful Holly Springs Raid on the town in December 1862, destroying most of the Union supplies at the Confederate Armory Site. The campus of the Holly Springs Female Institute, which had been open since 1836, was also burned, forcing it to permanently close. Grant eventually succeeded in ending the siege of Vicksburg with a Union victory.

In 1878, Holly Springs suffered a yellow fever epidemic, part of a regional epidemic; 1,400 residents became ill and 300 died. The Marshall County courthouse, at the center of Holly Springs's square, was used as a hospital during the epidemic.

After the war and emancipation, many freedmen stayed in the area, working as sharecroppers on former plantations. There were tensions after the war.

As agriculture was mechanized in the early 20th century, there were fewer farm labor jobs. From 1900 to 1910, a quarter of the population left the city. Many blacks moved to the North in the Great Migration to escape southern oppression and seek employment in northern factories. The invasion of boll weevils in the 1920s and 1930s, which occurred across the South, destroyed the cotton crops and caused economic problems on top of the Great Depression. Some light industry developed in the area. After World War II, most industries moved to the major cities of Memphis, Tennessee, and Birmingham, Alabama.

Geography
Holly Springs is located slightly east of the geographic center of Marshall County. Interstate 22 runs along the southwest border of the city, with access from exits 26 and 30. I-22 leads northwest toward Memphis, Tennessee, 46 mi distant, and southeast 60 mi to Tupelo. State highways 4 and 7 pass through the center of Holly Springs on South Craft Street and North Memphis Street. Highway 4 leads east 18 mi to Ashland and southwest 34 mi to Senatobia, while Highway 7 leads south 30 mi to Oxford and northeast toward Bolivar, Tennessee, 45 mi distant.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Holly Springs has an area of 12.8 sqmi, of which 0.02 sqmi, or 0.15%, are water. The city sits on high ground that drains to the north and the west toward tributaries of the Coldwater River, and to the southeast toward Big Spring Creek, a tributary of the Little Tallahatchie River.

Climate
Holly Spring's climate is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Holly Springs has a humid subtropical climate. On December 23, 2015, a massive EF4 tornado struck the town around 6:00 pm, causing significant damage. James Richard Anderson, the Marshall County coroner, confirmed the boy's death. Nearly 200 Marshall County structures were damaged during the tornado, some totally.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 6,968 people, 2,369 households, and 1,259 families residing in the city.

2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 7,699 people living in the city, making it a minority-majority city: 79.2% of the residents were African American, 19.3% White, 0.2% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.6% from some other race, and 0.5% from two or more races. 1.2% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,957 people, 2,407 households, and 1,699 families living in the city. The population density was 626.3 PD/sqmi. There were 2,582 housing units at an average density of 203.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 22.81% White, 76.18% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.06% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.59% of the population.

There were 2,407 households, out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.3% were married couples living together, 31.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.1% under the age of 18, 19.1% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 17.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,408, and the median income for a family was $25,808. Males had a median income of $29,159 versus $20,777 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,924. About 27.5% of families and 32.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 44.6% of those under age 18 and 21.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education
The city is served by the Holly Springs School District. Marshall Academy is a private institution for the MPSA, offering k-4 through 12th grade.

Rust College was established in 1866 by the Freedman's Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church to serve freedmen and is a historically black college.

The now defunct Mississippi Industrial College, intended as a vocational training school, was in Holly Springs, as was the Holly Springs Female Institute.

Notable people

 * Seth Adams (born 1985), University of Mississippi football quarterback
 * Robert Belfour (1940-2015), blues musician
 * Spires Boling (1812–1880), architect and builder
 * R. L. Burnside (1926–2005), blues musician
 * Kate Freeman Clark (1875–1957), painter
 * Edward Hull "Boss" Crump (1874–1954), head of the dominant Democratic Party political machine in Memphis during the first half of the 20th century; born in Holly Springs
 * Cassi Davis (born 1964), actress
 * Clifton DeBerry (1924–2006), first African American nominated for President of the United States by a political party (Socialist Workers Party, 1964, 1980); born in Holly Springs
 * Wall Doxey (1892–1962), Mississippi politician, served as congressman and U.S. senator; Wall Doxey State Park was named after him
 * Charlie Feathers, (1932-1998), rockabilly musician
 * Winfield S. Featherston (1820–1891), two-term member of United States House of Representatives, Confederate brigadier general during the Civil War, later a state politician and circuit court judge
 * William Baskerville Hamilton (1908-1972), historian who taught public school in Holly Springs in the 1930s
 * Syl Johnson (1936-2022), blues and soul singer
 * Verina Morton Jones (1865–1943), African-American physician and the first woman to practice medicine in the state; served as resident physician at Rust College
 * Junior Kimbrough (1930–1998), blues musician
 * Clinton LeSueur (born 1969), Republican politician; lost races in 2002 and 2004 for Mississippi's 2nd congressional district to incumbent Democrat Bennie Thompson
 * Jeremy LeSueur (born 1980), University of Michigan football defensive back
 * Paul Maholm (born 1982), pitcher for four major league teams over his career
 * Gary Montez Martin (1973–2019), perpetrator of the 2019 Aurora, Illinois shooting
 * Mel and Tim (Mel Hardin and Tim McPherson), soul musicians from Holly Springs who recorded at Stax Records in Memphis
 * Hiram Rhodes Revels (1822–1901), first African American to serve in the United States Senate; first president of Alcorn State University; taught theology at Shaw University (present-day Rust College)
 * Lation Scott (1893-1917), African American lynching victim
 * Shepard Smith (born 1964), American broadcast journalist for NBC News and CNBC; born in Holly Springs and attended high school at Marshall Academy, one of the private schools in town
 * James F. Trotter (1802–1866), judge and U.S. senator who resided in Holly Springs until his death
 * Irving Vendig (1902–1995), television writer
 * Edward Cary Walthall (1831–1898), Confederate general, lawyer, and U.S. senator from Mississippi
 * Ida B. Wells (1862–1931), African-American journalist, anti-lynching activist, and advocate for civil rights and women's rights; born in Holly Springs
 * Absolom M. West (1818–1894), planter, politician, Civil War general and labor organizer, resided in Holly Springs after the Civil War until his death

In popular culture

 * The 1999 movie Cookie's Fortune was set and filmed in Holly Springs.
 * The Jackson, Mississippi, band The Weeks sing about Holly Springs in their 2014 song "Brother in the Night."
 * Graceland Too, a museum dedicated to Elvis Presley has been referenced in songs by Parquet Courts and Phoebe Bridgers.

title: Holly Springs, Mississippi