Coahoma County
County
Original WROX (AM) building in Clarksdale.
Original WROX (AM) building in Clarksdale.
Map of Mississippi highlighting Coahoma County
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Map of the United States highlighting Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°14′N 90°36′W / 34.23°N 90.6°W / 34.23; -90.6
Country United States
State Mississippi
FoundedFebruary 9, 1836
SeatClarksdale
Largest cityClarksdale
Area
 • Total583 sq mi (1,510 km2)
 • Land552 sq mi (1,430 km2)
 • Water31 sq mi (80 km2)  5.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total21,390
 • Density37/sq mi (14/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.coahomacounty.net

Coahoma County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,390.[1] Its county seat is Clarksdale.[2]

The Clarksdale, MS Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Coahoma County. It is located in the Mississippi Delta region of Mississippi. In 2023, the Clarksdale, Mississippi Micropolitan area was added to form the new Memphis-Clarksdale-Forrest City Combined Statistical Area.[3] The Memphis-Clarksdale-Forrest City Combined Statistical Area has a population of roughly 1.4 million.

History

Coahoma County was established February 9, 1836, and is located in the northwestern part of the state in the fertile Yazoo Delta region. The name "Coahoma" is a Choctaw word meaning "red panther."[4] The act creating the county defined its limits as follows:

Beginning at the point where the line between townships 24 and 25 of the surveys of the late Choctaw cession intersects the Mississippi River, and running thence up the said river to the point where the dividing line between the Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes of Indians intersects the same; thence with the dividing line to the point where the line between ranges two and three of the survey of the said Choctaw cession intersects the same; thence with said range line, to the line between townships 24 and 25 aforesaid, and thence with the said township line to the beginning.[5]

In the early days of the county, before the construction of railways or extensive roadways inland, the Mississippi River was the primary transportation route, and the first three county seats were each located on the river. In 1836, Port Royal was designated as the first county seat.[6] In 1841, high waters on the Mississippi River flooded Port Royal, and in 1842 the county seat was moved to the town of Delta.[7] High waters on the Mississippi also flooded Delta, and in 1850 the county seat was moved to Friars Point,[7] which had a population of about 1,000 in 1920, and received its name in honor of Robert Friar, an early settler. As nearby Clarksdale grew in population and influence, it challenged Friars Point's hold on the county government, and in 1892, Coahoma County was divided into two jurisdictions, one going to Friars Point and the other to Clarksdale. In 1930, the county seat was given exclusively to Clarksdale,[8] which had a population of 7,500 in 1920. Clarksdale is now the largest and most important city in the county, and was named for John Clark, a brother-in-law of Governor James L. Alcorn, whose home, Eagle's Nest, was in this county.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 583 square miles (1,510 km2), of which 552 square miles (1,430 km2) is land and 31 square miles (80 km2) (5.3%) is water.[9]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18401,290—
18502,780115.5%
18606,606137.6%
18707,1448.1%
188013,56889.9%
189018,34235.2%
190026,29343.3%
191034,21730.1%
192041,51121.3%
193046,32711.6%
194048,3334.3%
195049,3612.1%
196046,212−6.4%
197040,447−12.5%
198036,918−8.7%
199031,665−14.2%
200030,622−3.3%
201026,151−14.6%
202021,390−18.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12]
1990–2000[13] 2010–2013[14]

2020 census

Coahoma County Racial Composition[15]
Race Num. Perc.
White 4,285 20.03%
Black or African American 16,209 75.78%
Native American 26 0.12%
Asian 112 0.52%
Other/Mixed 408 1.91%
Hispanic or Latino 350 1.64%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 21,390 people, 8,782 households, and 5,637 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 26,151 people living in the county. 75.5% were Black or African American, 22.9% White, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Native American, 0.5% of some other race and 0.5% of two or more races. 1.1% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census

As of the census[16] of 2000, there were 30,622 people, 10,553 households, and 7,482 families living in the county. The population density was 55 people per square mile (21 people/km2). There were 11,490 housing units at an average density of 21 units per square mile (8.1 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 65.21% Black or African American, 27.28% White, 6.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino, 0.47% Asian, 0.09% Native American, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. of any race.

There were 10,553 households, out of which 36.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.20% were married couples living together, 28.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.10% were non-families. 26.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% 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 3.42.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 33.00% under the age of 18, 10.30% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 19.10% from 45 to 64, and 12.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 84.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $22,338, and the median income for a family was $26,640. Males had a median income of $26,841 versus $19,611 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,558. About 29.80% of families and 35.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.90% of those under age 18 and 31.50% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Coahoma County was previously in the service area of the Mississippi Delta Community College (MDCC). As a result of the 1995 Mississippi Legislature session, Coahoma County is no longer in the MDCC service area.[17]

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Notable people

Politics

United States presidential election results for Coahoma County, Mississippi[20]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 2,375 27.94% 6,020 70.82% 106 1.25%
2016 2,426 27.22% 6,378 71.57% 108 1.21%
2012 2,712 25.71% 7,792 73.86% 45 0.43%
2008 2,917 27.60% 7,597 71.89% 54 0.51%
2004 3,676 34.65% 6,805 64.15% 127 1.20%
2000 3,695 38.68% 5,662 59.27% 196 2.05%
1996 3,441 35.80% 5,776 60.10% 394 4.10%
1992 4,120 36.85% 6,409 57.33% 651 5.82%
1988 4,939 43.79% 6,139 54.43% 200 1.77%
1984 5,759 44.96% 6,839 53.39% 212 1.65%
1980 4,592 38.22% 7,030 58.51% 393 3.27%
1976 4,269 38.41% 6,412 57.70% 432 3.89%
1972 6,602 61.56% 3,708 34.57% 415 3.87%
1968 1,875 17.20% 5,352 49.11% 3,671 33.69%
1964 4,172 81.23% 964 18.77% 0 0.00%
1960 1,096 28.34% 1,386 35.84% 1,385 35.82%
1956 1,082 32.80% 1,677 50.83% 540 16.37%
1952 1,619 43.36% 2,115 56.64% 0 0.00%
1948 113 4.87% 246 10.61% 1,960 84.52%
1944 191 7.39% 2,392 92.61% 0 0.00%
1940 137 5.32% 2,440 94.68% 0 0.00%
1936 49 2.32% 2,059 97.68% 0 0.00%
1932 62 3.57% 1,672 96.26% 3 0.17%
1928 223 11.14% 1,778 88.86% 0 0.00%
1924 121 8.16% 1,362 91.84% 0 0.00%
1920 61 6.40% 882 92.55% 10 1.05%
1916 21 2.91% 697 96.67% 3 0.42%
1912 16 3.64% 396 90.00% 28 6.36%

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Census - Geography Profile: Coahoma County, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/OMB-Bulletin-23-01.pdf
  4. ↑ Baca, Keith A. (2007). Native American Place Names in Mississippi. University Press of Mississippi. p. 29. ISBN 978-1-60473-483-6.
  5. ↑ Rowland, Dunbar (1907). Mississippi: Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form. Vol. 1. Southern Historical Publishing Association. p. 450.
  6. ↑ Sansing, David G.; Jones, Walker W.; Bush, Jason R. (April 2004). "Unequal Justice: An Unintended Consequence in Mississippi Counties with Two Judicial Districts" (PDF). Mississippi Law Journal. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2014.
  7. 1 2 Kerstine, Margery (January 7, 2011). "Cotton-Family-Religion: Jewish Life in Coahoma County Mississippi, Delta History from 1836 to 1941, Prologue: 1721 to 1867". Margery Kerstine.
  8. ↑ Nelson, Lawrence J. (1999). King Cotton's Advocate: Oscar G. Johnston and the New Deal. University of Tennessee Press. ISBN 9781572330252.
  9. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  10. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  13. ↑ "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.
  14. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  16. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  17. ↑ "The History of MDCC Archived 2010-06-27 at the Wayback Machine." Mississippi Delta Community College. Retrieved on October 18, 2010.
  18. ↑ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896. Marquis Who's Who. 1967.
  19. ↑ "View Marker Local Map Conway Twitty Conway Twitty - Friars Point". Mississippi Country Music Trail. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  20. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 5, 2018.

34°14′N 90°36′W / 34.23°N 90.60°W / 34.23; -90.60

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