Greene County, Mississippi

Greene County is a county located on the southeast border of the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,530.[1] Its county seat is Leakesville.[2] Established in 1811, the county was named for General Nathanael Greene of the American Revolutionary War.[3]

Greene County
County
Leaksville Junior High School
Leaksville Junior High School
Map of Mississippi highlighting Greene 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°13′N 88°38′W
Country United States
State Mississippi
Founded1811
Named forNathanael Greene
SeatLeakesville
Largest townLeakesville
Area
 • Total719 sq mi (1,860 km2)
 • Land713 sq mi (1,850 km2)
 • Water5.9 sq mi (15 km2)  0.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total13,530
 • Density19/sq mi (7.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitewww.greenecountyms.gov

History

Historically this area of the state was occupied by the Choctaw people, who constituted the largest tribe. French, Spanish and English colonists traded with them in the early colonial years. in 1830, President Andrew Jackson gained passage of the Indian Removal Act by Congress, and proceeded to force the Choctaw and other of the Five Civilized Tribes out of the Southeast to lands west of the Mississippi River. The land was sold to European-American settlers.

County boundaries went through numerous changes as population increased and new counties were created. Along with neighboring Jones and Perry counties, Greene is characterized by its sandy soil and Piney Woods. These characteristics limited the productivity of farming.[4]

The county economy originally depended on subsistence farmers who ran herds of cattle and hogs, which were allowed to roam freely in the pine forests and bush. Together with the game they hunted, residents sold the meat animals to markets in Mobile, Alabama, the nearest commercial center.[5] While some farmers tried to cultivate cotton because of the high prices when the market was strong, most in this area had small farms and the owners held few enslaved African Americans. The soil did not support very successful cotton crops; in 1860 only 16 of the 213 farmers in this county raised cotton.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 719 square miles (1,860 km2), of which 713 square miles (1,850 km2) is land and 5.9 square miles (15 km2) (0.8%) is water.[6]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

The rural county had strong declines in population from 1940 to 1960, a period when many African Americans left for the West Coast in the second wave of the Great Migration. The buildup of defense industries in California and other states before and during World War II attracted many migrants for work opportunities.

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18201,345—
18301,85437.8%
18401,636−11.8%
18502,01823.3%
18602,23210.6%
18702,038−8.7%
18803,19456.7%
18903,90622.3%
19006,79574.0%
19106,050−11.0%
192010,43072.4%
193010,6442.1%
19409,512−10.6%
19508,215−13.6%
19608,3661.8%
19708,5452.1%
19809,82715.0%
199010,2204.0%
200013,29930.1%
201014,4008.3%
202013,530−6.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[11]

2000 census

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 13,299 people, 4,148 households, and 3,152 families residing in the county. The population density was 19 people per square mile (7.3 people/km2). There were 4,947 housing units at an average density of 7 units per square mile (2.7 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 72.79% White, 26.18% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 0.38% from two or more races. 0.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,148 households, out of which 37.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.20% were married couples living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.00% were non-families. 22.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.10% under the age of 18, 13.10% from 18 to 24, 32.10% from 25 to 44, 20.60% from 45 to 64, and 10.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 130.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 141.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,336, and the median income for a family was $33,037. Males had a median income of $30,189 versus $17,935 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,868. About 16.50% of families and 19.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.30% of those under age 18 and 21.10% of those age 65 or over.

2015

As of 2015 the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Greene County, Mississippi are:

  • African - 26.18%
  • English - 18.9%
  • American - 17.6%
  • Irish - 7.9%
  • German - 4.9%
  • Scots-Irish - 4.0%
  • Scottish - 3.4%
  • French (except Basque) - 1.5%
  • Dutch - 1.1%
  • Italian - 0.7%
  • Welsh - 0.4%
  • French-Canadian - 0.1%
  • Russian - 0.1%
  • Norwegian - 0.1%[13]

2020 census
Greene County racial composition[14]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 9,809 72.5%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 3,143 23.23%
Native American 60 0.44%
Asian 21 0.16%
Pacific Islander 3 0.02%
Other/Mixed 323 2.39%
Hispanic or Latino 171 1.26%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 13,530 people, 3,925 households, and 2,624 families residing in the county.

Government and infrastructure

The Mississippi Department of Corrections South Mississippi Correctional Institution is located in an unincorporated area of Greene County.[15][16] It opened in 1990. In the early 21st century, it has an inmate population of more than 3,000 men, which has added markedly to the total population of the county. Its inmates constitute approximately 21 percent of the state's total prisoners. Numerous residents of the rural county are employed at the prison.

The Greene County School District includes: Greene County High School, Greene County Vocational-Technical School, Leakesville Elementary School, Leakesville Junior High School, McLain Attendance Center, and Sand Hill Attendance Center.[17]

Communities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities
United States presidential election results for Greene County, Mississippi[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 4,794 82.48% 966 16.62% 52 0.89%
2016 4,335 80.74% 974 18.14% 60 1.12%
2012 4,531 76.51% 1,325 22.37% 66 1.11%
2008 4,361 75.33% 1,366 23.60% 62 1.07%
2004 3,850 72.66% 1,421 26.82% 28 0.53%
2000 3,082 69.48% 1,317 29.69% 37 0.83%
1996 1,947 53.71% 1,347 37.16% 331 9.13%
1992 2,406 51.90% 1,664 35.89% 566 12.21%
1988 2,837 57.08% 1,637 32.94% 496 9.98%
1984 2,744 67.55% 1,297 31.93% 21 0.52%
1980 1,772 50.04% 1,740 49.14% 29 0.82%
1976 1,538 40.80% 2,127 56.42% 105 2.79%
1972 2,884 83.52% 513 14.86% 56 1.62%
1968 132 3.97% 449 13.50% 2,744 82.53%
1964 1,845 89.52% 216 10.48% 0 0.00%
1960 247 15.65% 550 34.85% 781 49.49%
1956 351 28.56% 734 59.72% 144 11.72%
1952 506 28.86% 1,247 71.14% 0 0.00%
1948 14 1.38% 118 11.59% 886 87.03%
1944 109 10.73% 907 89.27% 0 0.00%
1940 66 6.65% 926 93.35% 0 0.00%
1936 46 5.23% 830 94.43% 3 0.34%
1932 29 3.42% 818 96.46% 1 0.12%
1928 342 36.58% 593 63.42% 0 0.00%
1924 31 6.37% 456 93.63% 0 0.00%
1920 24 6.59% 337 92.58% 3 0.82%
1916 32 7.36% 399 91.72% 4 0.92%
1912 13 4.18% 268 86.17% 30 9.65%

Education

Greene County School District is the only school district.[19]

See also

References
  1. "Census - Geography Profile: Greene 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. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 143.
  4. Ball, Brooks (August 4, 2017). "History of Greene County – Part 4 (the Civil War years )". Greene County Herald. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  5. Ball, Brooks (August 4, 2017). "THE HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY – Part 1". Greene County Herald. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  10. "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.
  11. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. Bureau, U.S. Census. "American FactFinder - Results". factfinder.census.gov. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  14. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  15. "State Prisons Archived 2002-12-06 at the Wayback Machine." Mississippi Department of Corrections. Retrieved on May 21, 2010.
  16. "MDOC QUICK REFERENCE." Mississippi Department of Corrections. Retrieved on May 21, 2010.
  17. "Greene County School District". www.greene.k12.ms.us. Archived from the original on March 3, 2018. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  18. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  19. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Greene County, MS" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 1, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2022. - Text list

31.22°N 88.64°W / 31.22; -88.64

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