Choctaw County
County
French Camp. Historic Mississippi cabin.
French Camp. Historic Mississippi cabin.
Map of Mississippi highlighting Choctaw County
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Map of the United States highlighting Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°21′N 89°15′W / 33.35°N 89.25°W / 33.35; -89.25
Country United States
State Mississippi
Founded1833
Named forChoctaw people
SeatAckerman
Largest townAckerman
Area
 • Total420 sq mi (1,100 km2)
 • Land418 sq mi (1,080 km2)
 • Water1.7 sq mi (4 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total8,246
 • Density20/sq mi (7.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitechoctawcountyms.com

Choctaw County is a county located in the central part of the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,246.[1] Its northern border is the Big Black River, which flows southwest into the Mississippi River south of Vicksburg. The county seat is Ackerman.[2]

The county is named after the Choctaw tribe of Native Americans. They had long occupied this territory as their homeland before European exploration. Under the Indian Removal Act of 1830, they were forced by the United States to cede their lands and to move west of the Mississippi River to what became Indian Territory (today's state of Oklahoma).

History

This was one of the first counties organized in central Mississippi after Indian Removal, and it was originally much larger in geography. As the population increased in the Territory, additional counties were organized. For instance, in 1874 Webster County was formed from some of this county, as were Montgomery and Grenada counties.

The first county seat was Greensboro, which was later assigned to the territory of Webster County and designated as its county seat. Eventually Walthall, Mississippi was designated as the county seat of that county, resulting in the decline and abandonment of Greensboro.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 420 square miles (1,100 km2), of which 418 square miles (1,080 km2) is land and 1.7 square miles (4.4 km2) (0.4%) is water. The Big Black River forms the county's northern border.[3]

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

The adjacent table reflects major decreases in population from 1910 to 1920, and from 1940 to 1960. These were periods of the Great Migration from the South by African Americans, who first moved to jobs in industrial cities in the North and Midwest. In the 1940s and after, they moved to the West Coast for jobs in the rapidly growing defense industry. Farm work declined with mechanization of agriculture. But Black people also migrated to escape the violence and social repression of Mississippi, where they had been essentially disenfranchised since 1890 and lived under Jim Crow laws and the threat of violence; the state had a high rate of lynchings.

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18406,010—
185011,40289.7%
186015,72237.9%
187016,9888.1%
18809,036−46.8%
189010,84720.0%
190013,03620.2%
191014,35710.1%
192012,491−13.0%
193012,339−1.2%
194013,5489.8%
195011,009−18.7%
19608,423−23.5%
19708,4400.2%
19808,9966.6%
19909,0710.8%
20009,7587.6%
20108,543−12.5%
20208,246−3.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]
1790-1960[5] 1900-1990[6]
1990-2000[7] 2010-2013[8]

2020 census

Choctaw County racial composition[9]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 5,559 67.41%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 2,332 28.28%
Native American 15 0.18%
Asian 6 0.07%
Other/Mixed 217 2.63%
Hispanic or Latino 117 1.42%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 8,246 people, 3,228 households, and 2,010 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 8,543 people living in the county. 68.1% were White, 30.2% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from some other race and 1.1% of two or more races. 1.4% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 9,758 people, 3,686 households, and 2,668 families living in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile (8.9 people/km2). There were 4,249 housing units at an average density of 10 units per square mile (3.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 68.03% White, 30.68% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.42% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. 0.81% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,686 households, out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.30% were married couples living together, 14.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.80% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 24.90% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,020, and the median income for a family was $31,095. Males had a median income of $26,966 versus $17,798 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,474. About 17.70% of families and 24.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.80% of those under age 18 and 21.30% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Choctaw County School District operates public schools, including Choctaw County High School, Ackerman Elementary, French Camp Elementary, and Weir Elementary.[11]

French Camp Academy, which provides in-house private education in grades 7 through 12, is located in French Camp.[12][13]

Colleges and universities

Colleges and universities within a 60-mile (97 km) radius of the center of the county include:[12]

Communities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Notable people

The song "Choctaw County Affair" from Carrie Underwood's 2015 album Storyteller is set in Choctaw County, Mississippi.

Politics

United States presidential election results for Choctaw County, Mississippi[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 3,001 71.06% 1,185 28.06% 37 0.88%
2016 2,788 68.59% 1,218 29.96% 59 1.45%
2012 2,812 65.81% 1,428 33.42% 33 0.77%
2008 2,624 63.57% 1,459 35.34% 45 1.09%
2004 2,694 66.00% 1,366 33.46% 22 0.54%
2000 2,398 64.48% 1,278 34.36% 43 1.16%
1996 1,715 53.15% 1,247 38.64% 265 8.21%
1992 2,026 53.77% 1,435 38.08% 307 8.15%
1988 2,297 62.98% 1,335 36.61% 15 0.41%
1984 2,491 68.00% 1,166 31.83% 6 0.16%
1980 1,927 52.15% 1,729 46.79% 39 1.06%
1976 1,561 49.23% 1,520 47.93% 90 2.84%
1972 2,301 86.57% 326 12.26% 31 1.17%
1968 211 6.65% 417 13.15% 2,543 80.20%
1964 2,096 93.32% 150 6.68% 0 0.00%
1960 245 14.88% 817 49.64% 584 35.48%
1956 221 15.74% 1,117 79.56% 66 4.70%
1952 524 27.42% 1,387 72.58% 0 0.00%
1948 43 3.34% 131 10.19% 1,112 86.47%
1944 76 6.36% 1,119 93.64% 0 0.00%
1940 66 5.16% 1,212 94.84% 0 0.00%
1936 41 2.96% 1,342 96.83% 3 0.22%
1932 23 2.03% 1,110 97.88% 1 0.09%
1928 118 10.48% 1,008 89.52% 0 0.00%
1924 98 7.44% 1,219 92.56% 0 0.00%
1920 191 19.41% 779 79.17% 14 1.42%
1916 53 5.56% 873 91.51% 28 2.94%
1912 24 3.53% 609 89.69% 46 6.77%

John F. Kennedy is the last Democrat to win Choctaw County despite the fact that there is not one Catholic parish located in the county.[18]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Census - Geography Profile: Choctaw County, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  4. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  8. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  10. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  11. ↑ Choctaw County Public School District. http://www.choctaw.k12.ms.us/ Retrieved on January 3, 2019.
  12. 1 2 "Education Archived 2011-04-30 at the Wayback Machine." Choctaw County Economic Development Foundation. Retrieved on March 1, 2011.
  13. ↑ Choctaw Plain Dealer; French Camp Today
  14. ↑ "Dennis Johnson". NFL.com. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Kenny Johnson Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards - databaseFootball.com". Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Tony Kimbrough Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards - databaseFootball.com". Archived from the original on January 3, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  17. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Diocese of Jackson, USA". GCatholic. Retrieved August 15, 2023.

33°21′N 89°15′W / 33.35°N 89.25°W / 33.35; -89.25

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