Covington County, Mississippi

Covington County
County
Covington County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°38′N89°33′W / 31.63°N 89.55°W / 31.63; -89.55
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
Founded	1819
Named for	Leonard Covington
Seat	Collins
Largest city	Collins
Area
• Total	415 sq mi (1,070 km2)
• Land	414 sq mi (1,070 km2)
• Water	1.1 sq mi (3 km2)  0.3%
Population  (2020)
• Total	18,340
• Estimate  (2023)	18,059
• Density	44/sq mi (17/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.covingtoncountyms.gov

Covington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,340. ^[1] Its county seat is Collins. ^[2] The county is named for U.S. Army officer and Congressman Leonard Covington. ^[3]

History

Covington County was established on January 5, 1819, less than two years after Mississippi earned statehood into the Union. The county was one of the first counties established out of the vast non-agricultural lands in the more eastern part of the state. Covington was originally cut out of Lawrence and Wayne Counties, and encompassed what is now Jefferson Davis, Covington, and Jones Counties.

In 1823, part of Covington County became Bainbridge County, most likely named after William Bainbridge, who became an American naval hero during the War of 1812. The next year, in 1824, the Mississippi legislature did away with Bainbridge County, giving its lands back to Covington County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 415 square miles (1,070 km²), of which 414 square miles (1,070 km²) is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) (0.3%) is water. ^[4]

Adjacent counties

• Smith County (north)
• Jones County (east)
• Forrest County (southeast)
• Lamar County (south)
• Jefferson Davis County (west)
• Simpson County (northwest)

Transportation

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 49
• U.S. Highway 84

Covington County is crossed both north-to-south and east-to-west by four-laned state highways. Highway 49, which runs north–south through all three municipalities and is commonly known as Mississippi's Main Street, connects the state's three largest cities—Jackson, Gulfport, and Hattiesburg—to Covington County as well as cities such as Wiggins, Magee, Clinton, and Yazoo City. Highway 49 brings to Covington County thousands each day.

Highway 84 cuts across Covington County east to west, and runs through the City of Collins. Highway 84 connects the mid-size cities of Laurel, Brookhaven, and Natchez to Covington County.

Minor highways

A network of two-laned highways runs through Covington County, connecting big cities and small communities alike. Main Street Collins is Highway 184, formerly Highway 84. Main Street Seminary is Highway 590. Others include:

• Mississippi Highway 35 (Mt. Olive, Mize, Raleigh)
• Mississippi Highway 37 (Collins to Taylorsville)
• Mississippi Highway 184 (Collins)
• Mississippi Highway 588 (Collins to Ellisville)
• Mississippi Highway 598 (Sanford)
• Mississippi Highway 589 (Seminary, Sumrall, Purvis)
• Mississippi Highway 590 (Seminary to Ellisville)
• Mississippi Highway 532 (Mt. Olive to Hopewell)
• Mississippi Highway 535 (Seminary to Collins)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1820	2,230		—
1830	2,551		14.4%
1840	2,717		6.5%
1850	3,338		22.9%
1860	4,408		32.1%
1870	4,753		7.8%
1880	5,993		26.1%
1890	8,299		38.5%
1900	13,076		57.6%
1910	16,909		29.3%
1920	14,869		−12.1%
1930	15,028		1.1%
1940	17,030		13.3%
1950	16,036		−5.8%
1960	13,637		−15.0%
1970	14,002		2.7%
1980	15,927		13.7%
1990	16,527		3.8%
2000	19,407		17.4%
2010	19,568		0.8%
2020	18,340		−6.3%
2023 (est.)	18,059	[5]	−1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [6] 1790-1960 [7] 1900-1990 [8] 1990-2000 [9] 2010-2013 [10]

Covington County racial composition as of 2020 ^[11]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	11,047	60.23%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	6,384	34.81%
Native American	20	0.11%
Asian	83	0.45%
Pacific Islander	4	0.02%
Other/Mixed	384	2.09%
Hispanic or Latino	418	2.28%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 18,340 people, 6,759 households, and 4,965 families residing in the county.

Education

Main article: Covington County School District (Mississippi)

The Covington County School District, the only school district in the county, ^[12] maintains a total of nine schools, plus an alternative school and a Vocational Education center.

The county is in the zone for Jones College. ^[13]

Politics

United States presidential election results for Covington County, Mississippi ^[14]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	5,869	66.23%	2,921	32.96%	71	0.80%
2020	5,854	62.54%	3,416	36.50%	90	0.96%
2016	5,435	61.68%	3,276	37.18%	100	1.13%
2012	5,405	57.82%	3,878	41.48%	65	0.70%
2008	5,523	58.38%	3,852	40.71%	86	0.91%
2004	5,044	61.12%	3,158	38.27%	50	0.61%
2000	4,180	60.75%	2,623	38.12%	78	1.13%
1996	3,219	51.05%	2,628	41.68%	458	7.26%
1992	3,525	50.39%	2,775	39.67%	696	9.95%
1988	4,005	60.38%	2,591	39.06%	37	0.56%
1984	4,165	64.95%	2,219	34.60%	29	0.45%
1980	3,471	53.15%	2,956	45.26%	104	1.59%
1976	2,591	46.53%	2,862	51.40%	115	2.07%
1972	3,842	84.09%	642	14.05%	85	1.86%
1968	445	9.26%	691	14.38%	3,668	76.35%
1964	3,033	88.55%	392	11.45%	0	0.00%
1960	371	16.88%	842	38.31%	985	44.81%
1956	386	18.82%	1,382	67.38%	283	13.80%
1952	770	33.41%	1,535	66.59%	0	0.00%
1948	16	0.95%	135	8.00%	1,536	91.05%
1944	58	3.35%	1,672	96.65%	0	0.00%
1940	52	3.54%	1,419	96.46%	0	0.00%
1936	52	3.16%	1,589	96.65%	3	0.18%
1932	22	1.59%	1,352	97.97%	6	0.43%
1928	189	14.32%	1,131	85.68%	0	0.00%
1924	48	4.98%	822	85.36%	93	9.66%
1920	257	27.49%	649	69.41%	29	3.10%
1916	63	6.49%	836	86.19%	71	7.32%
1912	8	1.17%	570	83.33%	106	15.50%

National politics

On the Presidential level, Covington County is solidly Republican and has been for more than two decades. A Democrat has not won Covington County since 1976, when native Southerner Jimmy Carter bested Gerald Ford by fewer than 300 votes. In the Congress, Covington County falls within the boundaries of Mississippi's Third Congressional District, which is represented by Republican Michael Guest.

State politics

On the state level, Covington County is solidly Republican. Not since 1995 has Covington County voted for the Democratic gubernatorial nominee. In the 2011 election, Covington County voters elected the Republican nominee in seven of the eight statewide contests.^{[ citation needed ]} In the Mississippi House of Representatives, the majority of Covington County is represented by Joseph L. "Joe" Warren, one of the longest-serving Democrats in the Mississippi House. Representing smaller portions of Covington County are Blaine Eaton and Bob Evans, both Democrats. In the State Senate, the county is represented by Joey Fillingane, a Republican.^{[ citation needed ]}

Local politics

On the local level, Covington County is still heavily Democratic. Of the six county-wide elected positions, all are held by Democrats. This is also the case for the five-member Board of Supervisors.

Visitor attractions

Okatoma River

The Okatoma River, also called Okatoma Creek, carves a winding path north to south through Covington County, running through three towns and eventually emptying into the Bouie River just south of the county line.

People from all over the Southeast travel to the county to canoe and kayak a portion of the river, from Seminary to Sanford. Okatoma Outdoor Post and Seminary Canoe Rental both provide canoe and kayak rentals, as well as lodging on the river. The Okatoma has consistently been ranked among the best rafting sites in the South.

Mitchell Farms

Located just east of Collins, Mitchell Farms is one of the top agri-tourism destinations in south Mississippi. Families and school groups alike travel to Collins each year to tour the farm and enjoy the pumpkin patch, rustic cabins and farm buildings, corn maze, sunflower field, and other family-oriented features.

Mississippi's Peanut Festival — complete with a harvest king and queen competition, 5K run/walk, food vendors, and children's activities — is held annually in October, attracting several thousand.

Grand Paradise Water Park

Collins' Grand Paradise is a seven-acre water park, one of the largest in Mississippi. Attractions include the Lazy River, Cannon Bowl, Pipeline, and more. Food concessions, lockers, a changing area, and a gift shop are available.

Communities

Cities

• Collins (county seat)

Towns

• Mount Olive
• Seminary

Unincorporated communities

• Hopewell
• Hot Coffee
• Lux
• Ora
• Sanford
• Williamsburg

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Covington County, Mississippi

Notable people

• Dana Andrews, actor and former president of the Screen Actors Guild (born on a farmstead outside Collins, but raised in Texas)
• Ernest Duff (1931-2016), businessman, lawyer and Mormon bishop ^[15]
• Steve McNair, former NFL quarterback
• Martin Sennett Conner, Governor of Mississippi, 1932–36
• Gerald McRaney, actor
• Dale Houston, singer

References

1. "Census - Geography Profile: Covington 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. pp.  94.
4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
5. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
9. "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.
10. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
11. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
12. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Covington County, MS" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved September 27, 2024. - Text list
13. "Profile". Jones College . Retrieved September 27, 2024.
14. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
15. "Southern Tire Mart founder Ernest Duff dies". Tire Business. June 1, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2018.

External links

• "Covington. II. A S. county of Mississippi"  . The American Cyclopædia . 1879.
• Media related to Covington County, Mississippi at Wikimedia Commons
• Mississippi Courthouses – Covington County

31°38′N89°33′W / 31.63°N 89.55°W / 31.63; -89.55