Lowndes County, Mississippi

Lowndes County
County
Lowndes County Courthouse in Columbus
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°28′N88°26′W / 33.47°N 88.44°W / 33.47; -88.44
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
Founded	1830
Named for	William Jones Lowndes
Seat	Columbus
Largest city	Columbus
Area
• Total	516 sq mi (1,340 km2)
• Land	506 sq mi (1,310 km2)
• Water	11 sq mi (30 km2)  2.1%
Population  (2020)
• Total	58,879
• Density	110/sq mi (44/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	lowndescountyms.com

Lowndes County is a county on the eastern border of the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 58,879. ^[1] Its county seat is Columbus. ^[2] The county is named for U.S. Congressman William Jones Lowndes. ^[3]

Lowndes County comprises the Columbus, MS Micropolitan Statistical Area. ^[4] Since the late 20th century, it has been designated as one of three counties in the Golden Triangle region of the state.

History

This upland area was settled by European Americans who wanted to develop cotton plantations to produce what became the largest commodity crop in the state.

In the period from 1877 to 1950, Lowndes County had 19 documented lynchings of African Americans, third to Carroll and Leflore counties, which had 29 and 48, respectively. This form of racial terrorism was at its height in the decades around the turn of the 20th century, which followed the state's disenfranchisement of most blacks in 1890 through creating barriers to voter registration. ^[5]

Geography

Lowndes County lies on the east side of Mississippi, bordering the U.S. state of Alabama. Its terrain was completely wooded before settlement; at present its more level areas have been cleared and turned to agricultural or urban use, with the drainages (about 40% of the total area) still wooded. ^[6] The Tennessee−Tombigbee Waterway flows south-southeastward through the center of the county, with a significant lock system (John C. Stennis Lock and Dam) near Columbus. The county's highest point (450 feet/140 meters ASL) is a small rise near the county's NE corner. ^[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 516 square miles (1,340 km²), of which 506 square miles (1,310 km²) is land and 11 square miles (28 km²) (2.1%) is water. ^[8]

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 45
• U.S. Route 45 Alternate
• U.S. Highway 82
• Mississippi Highway 12
• Mississippi Highway 50
• Mississippi Highway 69
• Mississippi Highway 182

Adjacent counties

• Noxubee County - south
• Oktibbeha County - west
• Clay County - northwest
• Monroe County - north
• Lamar County, Alabama - northeast
• Pickens County, Alabama - southeast

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1830	3,173		—
1840	14,513		357.4%
1850	19,544		34.7%
1860	23,625		20.9%
1870	30,502		29.1%
1880	28,244		−7.4%
1890	27,047		−4.2%
1900	29,095		7.6%
1910	30,703		5.5%
1920	27,632		−10.0%
1930	29,987		8.5%
1940	35,245		17.5%
1950	37,852		7.4%
1960	46,639		23.2%
1970	49,700		6.6%
1980	57,304		15.3%
1990	59,308		3.5%
2000	61,586		3.8%
2010	59,779		−2.9%
2020	58,879		−1.5%
2023 (est.)	57,283	[9]	−2.7%
US Decennial Census [10] 1790-1960 [11] 1900-1990 [12] 1990-2000 [13] 2010-2013 [14]

2020 census

Lowndes County Racial Composition ^[15]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White	29,363	49.87%
Black or African American	25,885	43.96%
Native American	110	0.19%
Asian	514	0.87%
Pacific Islander	16	0.03%
Other/Mixed	1,668	2.83%
Hispanic or Latino	1,323	2.25%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 58,879 people, 22,436 households, and 14,654 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 59,779 people in the county. 54.0% were White, 43.5% Black or African American, 0.7% Asian, 0.2% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.6% of some other race and 1.1% of two or more races. 1.5% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States Census, ^[16] there were 61,586 people, 22,849 households, and 16,405 families in the county. The population density was 123 people per square mile (47 people/km²). There were 25,104 housing units at an average density of 50 units per square mile (19 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 56.47% White, 41.56% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. 1.11% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 22,849 households, out of which 36.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.20% were married couples living together, 18.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.13.

The county population contained 28.60% under the age of 18, 10.60% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 20.40% from 45 to 64, and 11.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 89.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,123, and the median income for a family was $38,248. Males had a median income of $31,792 versus $20,640 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,514. About 18.00% of families and 21.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.80% of those under age 18 and 16.80% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Portions of Lowndes County are served by the Columbus Municipal School District, Lowndes County School District, and the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools – Lowndes County Division.

The Columbus Municipal School District includes:

• Columbus High School
• Columbus Middle School
• McKellar Technology Center
• Joe Cook Elementary Fine Arts Magnet School
• Fairview Elementary Aerospace and Science Magnet School
• Franklin Academy Elementary Medical Sciences and Wellness Magnet School
• Sale Elementary International Studies Magnet School
• Stokes-Beard Elementary Communication and Technology Magnet School
• Columbus Alternative School

The Lowndes County School District has three areas, each with an elementary school, a middle school, and a high school

• Caledonia Schools
• New Hope Schools
• West Lowndes Schools

The Mississippi Association of Independent Schools – Lowndes County Division has provided five private and parochial schools for Lowndes County

• Heritage Academy High School
• Heritage Academy Elementary School
• Columbus Christian Academy
• Victory Christian Academy
• Annunciation Catholic School

Colleges and universities

Mississippi University for Women is located in Columbus. Lowndes County is within the service area of the East Mississippi Community College system. ^[17] The Golden Triangle Campus is located in Mayhew, an unincorporated area in Lowndes County. The system also offers classes at the Columbus Air Force Base Extension in Columbus. ^[18]

Communities

Friendship Cemetery

City

• Columbus (county seat)

Town

• Artesia
• Caledonia
• Crawford ("Crawfordsville" 1852–1870; "Crawfordville 1870–1879)

Census-designated places

• Columbus Air Force Base
• New Hope

Unincorporated communities

• Bent Oak
• Billups
• Flint Hill
• Forreston
• Kolola Springs
• Mayhew
• McCrary
• Penns
• Plum Grove
• Steens
• Trinity
• Wells
• Whitebury
• Woodlawn

Ghost towns

• Moores Bluff
• Nashville
• Plymouth

Politics

United States presidential election results for Lowndes County, Mississippi ^[19]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	13,800	50.66%	13,087	48.04%	354	1.30%
2016	13,271	51.65%	11,819	46.00%	605	2.35%
2012	13,518	49.78%	13,388	49.30%	252	0.93%
2008	13,994	50.95%	13,209	48.09%	262	0.95%
2004	13,690	56.41%	10,408	42.88%	172	0.71%
2000	11,404	59.30%	7,537	39.19%	289	1.50%
1996	9,169	56.40%	6,220	38.26%	869	5.35%
1992	10,509	55.80%	6,552	34.79%	1,774	9.42%
1988	11,258	64.96%	5,993	34.58%	80	0.46%
1984	12,049	66.29%	6,078	33.44%	50	0.28%
1980	9,973	60.98%	6,187	37.83%	195	1.19%
1976	8,003	54.44%	6,181	42.05%	516	3.51%
1972	10,098	78.70%	2,398	18.69%	335	2.61%
1968	1,968	17.85%	2,229	20.22%	6,829	61.94%
1964	6,135	92.01%	533	7.99%	0	0.00%
1960	2,010	42.95%	1,240	26.50%	1,430	30.56%
1956	1,205	29.21%	2,308	55.94%	613	14.86%
1952	2,670	62.27%	1,618	37.73%	0	0.00%
1948	66	2.25%	116	3.95%	2,755	93.80%
1944	360	13.98%	2,216	86.02%	0	0.00%
1940	147	6.08%	2,268	93.80%	3	0.12%
1936	56	2.34%	2,328	97.24%	10	0.42%
1932	50	2.12%	2,305	97.50%	9	0.38%
1928	185	7.97%	2,136	92.03%	0	0.00%
1924	62	3.61%	1,655	96.39%	0	0.00%
1920	51	5.16%	928	93.93%	9	0.91%
1916	29	2.72%	1,028	96.53%	8	0.75%
1912	12	1.32%	872	95.82%	26	2.86%

See also

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

References

1. "Census - Geography Profile: Lowndes County, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 14, 2023.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. US Government Printing Office. p. 191.
4. "OMB Bulletin No. 13-01: Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas" (PDF). United States Office of Management and Budget. February 28, 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 21, 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
5. Lynching in America, 3rd edition ^{[ permanent dead link ]}, Supplement by County, p. 6
6. Lowndes County MS (Google Maps, accessed 24 September 2020)
7. Lourdes County High Point, Mississippi (PeakBagger.com, accessed 24 September 2020)
8. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
9. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
10. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
12. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
14. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
15. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
16. "US Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
17. "CATALOG 2007-2009 Archived 18 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine ." East Mississippi Community College. 3 (3/147). accessed March 1, 2011.
18. CATALOG 2007-2009 Archived December 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine . East Mississippi Community College. 10 (10/147). Accessed March 1, 2011.
19. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 4, 2018.

33°28′N88°26′W / 33.47°N 88.44°W / 33.47; -88.44