Adams County, Mississippi

Adams County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 29,538.[1] The county seat is Natchez.[2]

Adams County
County
The Adams County Courthouse at 201 South Wall Street in Natchez was built in 1821 and enlarged in 1925.
The Adams County Courthouse at 201 South Wall Street in Natchez was built in 1821 and enlarged in 1925.
Map of Mississippi highlighting Adams County
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Map of the United States highlighting Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°29′N 91°21′W
Country United States
State Mississippi
Founded1799
Named forJohn Adams
SeatNatchez
Largest cityNatchez
Area
 • Total488 sq mi (1,260 km2)
 • Land462 sq mi (1,200 km2)
 • Water25 sq mi (60 km2)  5.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total29,538
 • Density61/sq mi (23/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.adamscountyms.net
Stone wall provides protection to Natchez, Mississippi from the Mississippi River.
A portion of the historic Natchez City Cemetery in Adams County

The county is the first to have been organized in the former Mississippi Territory. It is named for the second President of the United States, John Adams, who held that office when the county was organized in 1799. Adams County is part of the Natchez micropolitan area which consists of Adams County, Mississippi and Concordia Parish, Louisiana.

History

Adams County was created on April 2, 1799, from part of Pickering Territorial County. The county was organized eighteen years before Mississippi became a state. Four Mississippi governors have come from Adams County: David Holmes, George Poindexter, John A. Quitman, and Gerard Brandon.

In 1860, before the US Civil War, Adams County was the richest county in the United States.[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 488 square miles (1,260 km2), of which 462 square miles (1,200 km2) is land and 25 square miles (65 km2) (5.2%) is water.[4]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18004,660—
181010,002114.6%
182012,07620.7%
183014,93723.7%
184019,43430.1%
185018,601−4.3%
186020,1658.4%
187019,084−5.4%
188022,64918.7%
189026,03114.9%
190030,11115.7%
191025,265−16.1%
192022,183−12.2%
193023,5646.2%
194027,23815.6%
195032,25618.4%
196037,73017.0%
197037,293−1.2%
198038,0352.0%
199035,356−7.0%
200034,340−2.9%
201032,297−5.9%
202029,538−8.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2013[9]

Population
Age pyramid Adams County[10]

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 29,538 people, 11,237 households, and 6,650 families residing in the county.

Race
County racial composition as of 2020[11]
Race Num. Perc.
White 10,926 36.99%
Black or African American 16,709 56.57%
Native American 56 0.19%
Asian 165 0.56%
Pacific Islander 7 0.02%
Other/Mixed 663 2.24%
Hispanic or Latino 1,012 3.43%

In 2020, its racial makeup was 56.57% Black/African American, 36.99% non-Hispanic white, 0.19% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.24% other or mixed, and 3.43% Hispanic or Latino of any race. In 2010, 53.5% were Black or African American, 42.7% White, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 1.7% of some other race and 1.4% of two or more races. 6.7% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

Education

Alcorn State University, a historically black college that was designated as a land-grant institution, has its School of Business and School of Nursing at Natchez. The School of Business offers Masters of Business Administration degree and some undergraduate classes at the School of Business, Natchez campus. Adjacent to the Natchez campus of Alcorn State University is Copiah-Lincoln Community College.

Economy

Adams County Correctional Center, a private prison operated by the Corrections Corporation of America on behalf of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, is in an unincorporated area in the county.[12]

Top employers

The top employers of Adams County are as follows:
1. Natchez-Adams School District (620)
2. Merit Health Natchez (425)
3. Adams County Correctional Center (380)
4. Walmart (365)
5. City of Natchez (275)
6. Magnolia Bluffs Casino (250)
7. Jordan Carriers (250)
8. Supermarket Operations (250)
9. Adams County Government (220)
10. Energy Drilling (220)

Communities

City
  • Natchez (county seat and only municipality)

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost/extinct towns

Politics
United States presidential election results for Adams County, Mississippi[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 5,696 41.40% 7,917 57.54% 146 1.06%
2016 5,874 42.45% 7,757 56.06% 205 1.48%
2012 6,293 40.74% 9,061 58.66% 93 0.60%
2008 6,566 41.83% 9,021 57.47% 109 0.69%
2004 6,996 45.20% 8,423 54.42% 60 0.39%
2000 6,691 44.97% 8,065 54.20% 123 0.83%
1996 5,378 37.29% 8,218 56.99% 825 5.72%
1992 5,831 36.73% 8,255 51.99% 1,791 11.28%
1988 8,116 50.74% 7,732 48.34% 146 0.91%
1984 9,440 54.32% 7,849 45.17% 89 0.51%
1980 7,523 48.97% 7,228 47.05% 612 3.98%
1976 6,431 46.40% 6,619 47.75% 811 5.85%
1972 8,500 67.16% 3,697 29.21% 460 3.63%
1968 1,475 10.93% 5,214 38.62% 6,812 50.46%
1964 5,900 84.37% 1,093 15.63% 0 0.00%
1960 1,227 23.57% 1,452 27.90% 2,526 48.53%
1956 1,664 40.64% 1,279 31.24% 1,151 28.11%
1952 2,372 58.29% 1,697 41.71% 0 0.00%
1948 95 4.32% 71 3.23% 2,034 92.45%
1944 282 14.69% 1,638 85.31% 0 0.00%
1940 166 8.15% 1,869 91.80% 1 0.05%
1936 124 6.67% 1,732 93.12% 4 0.22%
1932 384 21.11% 1,420 78.06% 15 0.82%
1928 840 38.59% 1,337 61.41% 0 0.00%
1924 304 26.30% 836 72.32% 16 1.38%
1920 114 15.02% 642 84.58% 3 0.40%
1916 42 5.88% 671 93.98% 1 0.14%
1912 31 4.06% 491 64.35% 241 31.59%

Adams County, typical of other counties in the Solid South, was heavily Democratic during the first half of the 20th century. After supporting Dixiecrat Strom Thurmond in 1948, it began to lean more Republican, and remained that way until the 1980s. Since 1992, Adams County has returned to the Democratic fold.

See also

References
  1. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Southern economics". inside.sfuhs.org. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  5. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  7. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  8. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  9. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  10. Based on 2000 census data
  11. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  12. "Adams County Correctional Center." Corrections Corporation of America. Retrieved on June 28, 2016. "20 Hobo Fork Road, Natchez, MS 39120"
  13. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 15, 2016.

Sources
  • Brieger, James. Hometown, Mississippi. ISBN 1-886017-27-1

31.48°N 91.35°W / 31.48; -91.35

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