Adams County, Mississippi

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Adams County, Mississippi
County
Adams County Courthouse, Natchez, MS IMG 6982.JPG
Adams County Courthouse
Flag of Adams County, Mississippi.png
Flag
Seal of Adams County, Mississippi.png
Seal
Map of Mississippi highlighting Adams County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Coordinates: 31°29′N91°21′W / 31.48°N 91.35°W / 31.48; -91.35
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Mississippi.svg Mississippi
Founded1799
Named after John Adams
Seat Natchez
Largest cityNatchez
Area
 • Total
488 sq mi (1,260 km2)
 • Land462 sq mi (1,200 km2)
 • Water25 sq mi (65 km2)  5.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
29,538
 • Estimate 
(2024)
28,674 Decrease2.svg
 • Density63.9/sq mi (24.7/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 2nd
Website www.adamscountyms.net
Stone wall provides protection to Natchez, Mississippi from the Mississippi River. Stone wall to protect Natchez, MS, from the river IMG 6942.JPG
Stone wall provides protection to Natchez, Mississippi from the Mississippi River.
A portion of the historic Natchez City Cemetery in Adams County Overview of part of Natchez City Cemetery in Adams Co., MS IMG 6996.JPG
A portion of the historic Natchez City Cemetery in Adams County

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

Contents

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. Five Mississippi governors have come from Adams County: David Holmes, George Poindexter, John A. Quitman, Gerard Brandon, and William Allain.

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 and parishes

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1800 4,660—
1810 10,002114.6%
1820 12,07620.7%
1830 14,93723.7%
1840 19,43430.1%
1850 18,601−4.3%
1860 20,1658.4%
1870 19,084−5.4%
1880 22,64918.7%
1890 26,03114.9%
1900 30,11115.7%
1910 25,265−16.1%
1920 22,183−12.2%
1930 23,5646.2%
1940 27,23815.6%
1950 32,25618.4%
1960 37,73017.0%
1970 37,293−1.2%
1980 38,0352.0%
1990 35,356−7.0%
2000 34,340−2.9%
2010 32,297−5.9%
2020 29,538−8.5%
2024 (est.)28,674 [5] −2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census [6]
1790-1960 [7] 1900-1990 [8]
1990-2000 [9] 2010-2013 [10]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 29,538. The median age was 43.7 years. 20.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 90.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.0 males age 18 and over. [11] [12]

The racial makeup of the county was 37.2% White, 56.8% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.6% from some other race, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.4% of the population. [12]

63.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 36.5% lived in rural areas. [13]

There were 12,686 households in the county, of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 31.5% were married-couple households, 21.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 42.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. [11]

There were 14,885 housing units, of which 14.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 66.7% were owner-occupied and 33.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.0%. [11]

Racial and ethnic composition

County racial composition as of 2020 [14]
RaceNum.Perc.
White 10,92636.99%
Black or African American 16,70956.57%
Native American 560.19%
Asian 1650.56%
Pacific Islander 70.02%
Other/Mixed 6632.24%
Hispanic or Latino 1,0123.43%

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 32,297 people, 11,237 households, and 6,650 families residing in the county. 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

All residents of the county are in the Natchez-Adams School District. [15]

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.

It is in the district of Copiah–Lincoln Community College, and has been since 1971. [16] There is a campus in Natchez. [17] This is adjacent to the Natchez campus of Alcorn State University.

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. [18]

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

Unincorporated areas

Census-designated places

Other communities

Ghost/extinct towns

Politics

United States presidential election results for Adams County, Mississippi [19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
№ %№ %№ %
1912 314.06%49164.35%24131.59%
1916 425.88%67193.98%10.14%
1920 11415.02%64284.58%30.40%
1924 30426.30%83672.32%161.38%
1928 84038.59%1,33761.41%00.00%
1932 38421.11%1,42078.06%150.82%
1936 1246.67%1,73293.12%40.22%
1940 1668.15%1,86991.80%10.05%
1944 28214.69%1,63885.31%00.00%
1948 954.32%713.23%2,03492.45%
1952 2,37258.29%1,69741.71%00.00%
1956 1,66440.64%1,27931.24%1,15128.11%
1960 1,22723.57%1,45227.90%2,52648.53%
1964 5,90084.37%1,09315.63%00.00%
1968 1,47510.93%5,21438.62%6,81250.46%
1972 8,50067.16%3,69729.21%4603.63%
1976 6,43146.40%6,61947.75%8115.85%
1980 7,52348.97%7,22847.05%6123.98%
1984 9,44054.32%7,84945.17%890.51%
1988 8,11650.74%7,73248.34%1460.91%
1992 5,83136.73%8,25551.99%1,79111.28%
1996 5,37837.29%8,21856.99%8255.72%
2000 6,69144.97%8,06554.20%1230.83%
2004 6,99645.20%8,42354.42%600.39%
2008 6,56641.83%9,02157.47%1090.69%
2012 6,29340.74%9,06158.66%930.60%
2016 5,87442.45%7,75756.06%2051.48%
2020 5,69641.40%7,91757.54%1461.06%
2024 5,08142.60%6,74356.53%1040.87%

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. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022. 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. ↑ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  6. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  10. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  11. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  12. 1 2 "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  13. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  15. ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Adams County, MS" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved September 27, 2024. - Text list
  16. ↑ "History". Copiah–Lincoln Community College . Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Campuses & Maps". Copiah-Lincoln Community College . Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Adams County Correctional Center Archived August 1, 2016, at the Wayback Machine ." Corrections Corporation of America. Retrieved on June 28, 2016. "20 Hobo Fork Road, Natchez, MS 39120"
  19. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections" . Retrieved November 15, 2016.

Sources

31°29′N91°21′W / 31.48°N 91.35°W / 31.48; -91.35

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