Flora, Mississippi | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 32°32′35″N90°18′43″W / 32.54306°N 90.31194°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Mississippi |
County | Madison |
Government | |
• Mayor | Les Childress |
Area | |
• Total | 3.33 sq mi (8.64 km2) |
• Land | 3.30 sq mi (8.54 km2) |
• Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.10 km2) |
Elevation | 240 ft (73 m) |
Population | |
• Total | 1,647 |
• Density | 499.70/sq mi (192.94/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
ZIP code | 39071 |
Area code | 601 |
FIPS code | 28-24940 |
GNIS feature ID | 0670043 |
Website | www |
Flora is a town in Madison County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 1,647 at the 2020 census, [2] down from 1,886 in 2010. It is part of the Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The town is named after Flora Mann Jones, an early resident.
Graves in Flora's cemetery date to 1821. [3] A post office was established in 1883. That same year, Flora became a stop on the newly constructed Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad. The railroad depot is now a museum and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [3] [4]
Flora was incorporated in 1886. [3]
In 1941, the Mississippi Ordnance Plant was constructed north of Flora to produce propellant and igniter charges for large-caliber guns during World War II. The site also had firing ranges for sub-machine guns, rifles, anti-aircraft guns, live grenades, and demolition explosives. [5] A notable employee was science fiction writer Cyril M. Kornbluth. [6]
The plant was operated by General Tire. It generally hired African-American men only for jobs as janitors, yard workers, freight loaders, truck drivers and maintenance workers. They were allowed to work in the higher paying production jobs only if white men were not available. African-American women were employed only as maids and cafeteria helpers. In 1942, a local group of African-American citizens met to protest the company's policy. [7]
After the war, the Defense Department declared the site as surplus in 1945. The army certified it as "completely decontaminated". [5] But standards since then are more refined, and the site was dangerously contaminated due to the production and heavy armaments.
In 1947, the Mississippi Department of Education planned to adapt part of the plant into a vocational school for African Americans, until white residents protested to the governor, stating that property values would be ruined. [8]
One of the reinforced bunkers eventually became used for the "Southern Vital Records" storage facility. In 1977, a local high school student found an abandoned M-2A2 tank in a wooded area. [9] [10]
In 2008, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that the Flora Industrial Park was one of six locations in the United States being considered for the construction of a new National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility. Some people were concerned about dangers from biological research.
Flora's mayor, Scott Greaves, had responded to opposition to the facility in 2007, saying, "Education is the whole key to it. You have to find the people who are concerned and educate them. In the end, you're still going to have a few idiots." Manhattan, Kansas, was finally selected as the site for the new facility. [11] [12] [13]
Flora is in western Madison County. U.S. Route 49 passes through the west side of the town, leading north 23 miles (37 km) to Yazoo City and southeast 20 miles (32 km) to Jackson. Mississippi Highway 22 passes through the center of Flora, leading east 18 miles (29 km) to Canton, the Madison county seat, and southwest 25 miles (40 km) to Edwards.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Flora has a total area of 3.3 square miles (8.5 km2), of which 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2), or 1.17%, are water. The east side of Flora is drained by Town Creek, while the west side is drained by unnamed tributaries of Bogue Chitto Creek. All of the streams eventually flow northwest to the Big Black River, a tributary of the Mississippi.
Just outside the Flora city limits lies a forest collection of petrified wood, the Mississippi Petrified Forest. It is said to be the only such forest east of the Mississippi River.[ citation needed ]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1890 | 228 | — | |
1900 | 304 | 33.3% | |
1910 | 747 | 145.7% | |
1920 | 698 | −6.6% | |
1930 | 513 | −26.5% | |
1940 | 509 | −0.8% | |
1950 | 655 | 28.7% | |
1960 | 743 | 13.4% | |
1970 | 987 | 32.8% | |
1980 | 1,507 | 52.7% | |
1990 | 1,482 | −1.7% | |
2000 | 1,546 | 4.3% | |
2010 | 1,886 | 22.0% | |
2020 | 1,647 | −12.7% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [14] |
Race | Num. | Perc. |
---|---|---|
White | 844 | 51.24% |
Black or African American | 746 | 45.29% |
Native American | 7 | 0.43% |
Asian | 2 | 0.12% |
Other/Mixed | 35 | 2.13% |
Hispanic or Latino | 13 | 0.79% |
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 1,647 people, 652 households, and 503 families residing in the town.
As of the census [16] of 2000, there were 1,546 people, 575 households, and 416 families residing in the town. The population density was 454.2 inhabitants per square mile (175.4/km2). There were 606 housing units at an average density of 178.0 per square mile (68.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 57.05% White, 42.04% African American, 0.65% Native American, 0.06% from other races, and 0.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.32% of the population.
There were 575 households, out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% were married couples living together, 25.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.3% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $38,077, and the median income for a family was $41,324. Males had a median income of $31,786 versus $22,176 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,075. About 18.7% of families and 25.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 44.4% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.
Amtrak’s City of New Orleans , which operates between New Orleans and Chicago, passes through the town on CN tracks, but makes no stop. The nearest station is located in Jackson, 20 miles (32 km) to the south.
Flora is served by the Madison County School District. [17] It is zoned to East Flora Elementary. [18] Residents are in turn zoned to Madison Middle School, Rosa Scott 9th Grade, and Madison Central High School. [19]
The Tri-County Academy, a private school, is located in Flora.
Flora is served both by radio station WYAB 103.9 FM and The Flora News, a monthly free community newspaper.
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,951. Its county seat and largest city is Washington Court House. The county was named for the Marquis de Lafayette, a Frenchman who was an officer in the American Army in the Revolution, when established on March 1, 1810.
Yazoo County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 26,743. The county seat is Yazoo City. It is named for the Yazoo River, which forms its western border. Its name is said to come from a Choctaw language word meaning "River of Death".
Warren County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. Its western border is formed by the Mississippi River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 44,722. Its county seat is Vicksburg. Established by legislative act of December 22, 1809, Warren County is named for American Revolutionary War officer Joseph Warren.
Tate County is a county located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,064. Its county seat is Senatobia. Organized in 1873 during the Reconstruction era, from portions of DeSoto, Marshall, and Tunica counties, the county is named for Thomas Simpson Tate, one of the first prominent American settlers of the area.
Madison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 109,145. The county seat is Canton. The county is named for Founding Father and U.S. President James Madison.
Leake County is a county in the center of the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,275. Its county seat is Carthage. The county is named for Walter Leake, the Governor of Mississippi from 1822 to 1825.
Madison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2020 census, the population was 52,913. The county seat and largest city is Rexburg.
Haralson County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 29,919, up from 28,780 in 2010. The county seat is Buchanan. The county was created on January 26, 1856, and was named for Hugh A. Haralson, a former Georgia congressman.
Horseshoe Lake is a town in Crittenden County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 264 at the 2020 census.
Haralson is a town in Coweta and Meriwether counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population was 172 at the 2020 census. It is noted for being one of the filming locations for both The Walking Dead and Lawless.
Buchanan is a city and the county seat of Haralson County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,104 at the 2010 census, up from 941 at the 2000 census.
Madison is a city in Madison and St. Clair counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 3,171 at the 2020 census, down from 3,891 in 2010. It is home to World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway and the first Bulgarian Orthodox church in the United States.
Port Byron is a village in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States and part of the Quad Cities Metropolitan Area. The population was 1,668 at the time of the 2020 census; up from 1,647 at the 2010 census.
Wesson is a town in Copiah and Lincoln counties, Mississippi, United States. The population was 1,925 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area.
West is a town in northeastern Holmes County, Mississippi, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 153. The Mayor of West, MS as of December 2020 is Michael Fancher.
Canton is a city in Madison County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 10,948 at the 2020 census, down from 13,189 in 2010. It is the county seat of Madison County, and is situated in the northern part of the metropolitan area surrounding the state capital, Jackson.
Madison is the 11th most populous city in Mississippi, United States, located in Madison County, 13 miles (21 km) north of the state capital, Jackson. The population was 27,747 at the 2020 census, up from 24,149 in 2010. It is part of the Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Oakland is a town in Yalobusha County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 527 at the time of the 2010 census.
Lyon is a town in Coahoma County, Mississippi, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 296.
Madison Central High School (MCHS) is a suburban public high school located in Madison, Mississippi, United States. Madison Central is part of the Madison County School District. The principal is Teague Burchfield.