Mississippi County | |
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Coordinates: 36°50′N89°17′W / 36.83°N 89.29°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Missouri |
Founded | February 14, 1845 |
Named for | Mississippi River |
Seat | Charleston |
Largest city | Charleston |
Area | |
• Total | 429 sq mi (1,110 km2) |
• Land | 412 sq mi (1,070 km2) |
• Water | 17 sq mi (40 km2) 4.0% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 12,577 |
• Density | 29/sq mi (11/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Congressional district | 8th |
Website | Mississippi County, Missouri |
Mississippi County is a county located in the Bootheel of the U.S. state of Missouri, with its eastern border formed by the Mississippi River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,577. [1] The largest city and county seat is Charleston. [2] The county was officially organized on February 14, 1845, and was named after the Mississippi River. [3]
Mississippi County is located in what was formerly known as "Tywappity Bottom," a vast floodplain area bordered by the Scott County Hills on the north, St. James Bayou on the south, the Mississippi River on the east, and Little River on the west.
In 1540, the Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto penetrated to the Arkansas River and perhaps well into present-day southeastern Missouri, which was then populated by various Native American tribes, including the Osage. Under pressure from a constantly advancing white settlement, the Native Americans gradually retreated westward. The area of southeastern Missouri was noted for its level swampy lowlands, subject to the seasonal flooding of the Mississippi River, which had resulted in extremely fertile soil.
By 1820 American pioneers, many migrating from the southern states, had settled most of the present counties of southeastern Missouri. The settlers were primarily farmers who came from Illinois and the states of the Upper South: Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. They were drawn by the fertile and cheap lands found in the area of present-day Charleston, Missouri. Cotton was cultivated through the 19th century, and the planters depended on enslaved African-American workers before the Civil War and freedmen afterward. There were marked adjustments as people adjusted to the free labor market.
The first American settlers reached what became Charleston in 1830. Seven years later, Thankful Randol sold Joseph Moore 22½ acres of land. Moore used it to lay out a plan for the city of Charleston. Its original boundary was 12 blocks square - four north and south, and three east and west. The Original Plat was filed on May 20, 1837. The General Assembly passed an act to incorporate the city of Charleston on March 25, 1872.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, violence increased against black Americans as the state disfranchised minority voters and enforce the Jim Crow segregation laws. Four African Americans were lynched in Mississippi County, the second-highest number in the state and tied with Callaway County. [4] Three of these murders took place in the county seat of Charleston. The fourth man was killed in Belmont, Missouri in 1905. Sam Fields and Robert Coleman were lynched in Charleston on July 3, 1910, allegedly for committing murder and robbery. The joint lynching was witnessed by a crowd of about 1,000. [5] Roosevelt Grigsby was lynched in Charleston in December 1924 by a mob of 200, who accused him of attempting to rape a woman. [5] [6]
At the turn of the 20th century, the virgin forests attracted timber barons. Following the clearing of the timber, the state assisted in the construction of levees, forming drainage districts to redevelop the land. As hundreds of miles of levees and dikes were constructed within the Little River Drainage District, thousands of acres of land were drained and "reclaimed" for agricultural use. The reclaimed land, highly fertile due to centuries of flooding from the Mississippi River, was cultivated for cotton, corn, and wheat. Since the late 20th century, soybeans and rice have been important commodity crops and are grown on an industrial scale.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 429 square miles (1,110 km2), of which 412 square miles (1,070 km2) is land and 17 square miles (44 km2) (4.0%) is water. [7] It is the easternmost county in the state, as well as the easternmost county in the United States located west of the Mississippi River.
Mississippi County has borders across the river with four Kentucky counties, but it has no direct highway connection between any of them due to the mile-wide barrier of the river in this area. None of the four Kentucky counties that border Missouri has any direct highway connection with Missouri. Kentucky and Missouri are the only two U.S. states to border each other, even across a major river, without a direct highway connection between them. This reflects the relatively low populations among the river counties on both sides, which are largely rural in character. In early 2016, Mississippi County was declared as the poorest county in Missouri. [8]
The rural county was at its peak of population in 1940. With changes in agriculture and mechanization requiring fewer workers, the number of jobs have declined, as has county population.
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1850 | 3,123 | — | |
1860 | 4,859 | 55.6% | |
1870 | 4,982 | 2.5% | |
1880 | 9,270 | 86.1% | |
1890 | 10,134 | 9.3% | |
1900 | 11,837 | 16.8% | |
1910 | 14,557 | 23.0% | |
1920 | 12,860 | −11.7% | |
1930 | 15,762 | 22.6% | |
1940 | 23,149 | 46.9% | |
1950 | 22,551 | −2.6% | |
1960 | 20,695 | −8.2% | |
1970 | 16,647 | −19.6% | |
1980 | 15,726 | −5.5% | |
1990 | 14,442 | −8.2% | |
2000 | 13,427 | −7.0% | |
2010 | 14,358 | 6.9% | |
2020 | 12,577 | −12.4% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [9] 1790-1960 [10] 1900-1990 [11] 1990-2000 [12] 2010-2015 [13] |
As of the census [14] of 2000, there were 13,427 people, 5,383 households, and 3,671 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile (12 people/km2). There were 5,840 housing units at an average density of 14 units per square mile (5.4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 77.93% White, 20.53% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. Approximately 0.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 5,383 households, out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.70% were married couples living together, 17.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.80% were non-families. 28.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.30% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 87.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,837, and the median income for a family was $35,554. Males had a median income of $26,110 versus $17,204 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,847. About 19.00% of families and 23.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.70% of those under age 18 and 21.70% of those age 65 or over.
According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2000), Mississippi County is a part of the Bible Belt with evangelical Protestantism being the majority religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Mississippi County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (53.88%), Methodists (13.70%), and Christian Churches and Churches of Christ (7.55%).
Race | Num. | Perc. |
---|---|---|
White (NH) | 8,814 | 70% |
Black or African American (NH) | 3,060 | 24.33% |
Native American (NH) | 33 | 0.26% |
Asian (NH) | 20 | 0.16% |
Pacific Islander (NH) | 0 | 0% |
Other/Mixed (NH) | 427 | 3.4% |
Hispanic or Latino | 223 | 1.8% |
Of adults 25 years of age and older in Mississippi County, 61.1% possess a high school diploma or higher, while 9.6% hold a bachelor's degree or higher as their highest educational attainment.
Mississippi County, Missouri | |||
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Elected countywide officials | |||
Assessor | Lisa Finley-Norton | Republican | |
Circuit Clerk | Christina Turner | Republican | |
County Clerk | Emily Pullen | Republican | |
Collector | Cyndi Hensley | Republican | |
Commissioner (Presiding) | James Conn | Republican | |
Commissioner (District 1) | Mitch Pullen | Republican | |
Commissioner (District 2) | Darrell Jones | Republican | |
Coroner | Terry A. Parker | Democratic | |
Prosecuting Attorney | Claire Poley | Republican | |
Public Administrator | Melissa Fisher Davis | Republican | |
Recorder | George Bays | Democratic | |
Sheriff | Britton Ferrell | Republican | |
Treasurer | Paul Moore | Republican |
Mississippi County is split in half by two different districts of the Missouri House of Representatives. The northern portion of the county is a part of House District 148 and is currently represented by State Representative Holly Rehder(R) [21] of Sikeston. The southern portion of the county is a part of House District 149 and is represented by State Representative Don Rone(R) [21] of Portageville.
All of Mississippi County is a part of Missouri's 25th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by State Senator Jason Bean [22] (R).
Mississippi County is included in Missouri's 8th Congressional District and is represented by Jason T. Smith [23] (R-Salem) in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2024 | 3,404 | 76.51% | 1,015 | 22.81% | 30 | 0.67% |
2020 | 3,537 | 74.37% | 1,178 | 24.77% | 41 | 0.86% |
2016 | 3,600 | 69.65% | 1,458 | 28.21% | 111 | 2.15% |
2012 | 2,997 | 60.91% | 1,858 | 37.76% | 65 | 1.32% |
2008 | 3,034 | 56.65% | 2,247 | 41.95% | 75 | 1.40% |
2004 | 2,903 | 54.79% | 2,374 | 44.81% | 21 | 0.40% |
2000 | 2,395 | 45.93% | 2,756 | 52.85% | 64 | 1.23% |
1996 | 1,595 | 30.39% | 3,235 | 61.63% | 419 | 7.98% |
1992 | 1,675 | 29.45% | 3,226 | 56.73% | 786 | 13.82% |
1988 | 2,218 | 43.99% | 2,814 | 55.81% | 10 | 0.20% |
1984 | 2,502 | 49.78% | 2,524 | 50.22% | 0 | 0.00% |
1980 | 2,459 | 44.08% | 3,040 | 54.49% | 80 | 1.43% |
1976 | 1,733 | 33.87% | 3,366 | 65.79% | 17 | 0.33% |
1972 | 2,727 | 64.97% | 1,470 | 35.03% | 0 | 0.00% |
1968 | 1,421 | 26.82% | 2,303 | 43.46% | 1,575 | 29.72% |
1964 | 1,665 | 29.31% | 4,015 | 70.69% | 0 | 0.00% |
1960 | 2,629 | 40.55% | 3,855 | 59.45% | 0 | 0.00% |
1956 | 2,111 | 36.62% | 3,653 | 63.38% | 0 | 0.00% |
1952 | 2,380 | 35.36% | 4,331 | 64.35% | 19 | 0.28% |
1948 | 1,293 | 21.86% | 4,592 | 77.63% | 30 | 0.51% |
1944 | 1,944 | 31.59% | 4,182 | 67.97% | 27 | 0.44% |
1940 | 3,073 | 41.18% | 4,362 | 58.46% | 27 | 0.36% |
1936 | 2,552 | 37.88% | 4,160 | 61.75% | 25 | 0.37% |
1932 | 1,687 | 34.73% | 3,136 | 64.55% | 35 | 0.72% |
1928 | 1,999 | 43.37% | 2,602 | 56.45% | 8 | 0.17% |
1924 | 1,797 | 41.69% | 2,360 | 54.76% | 153 | 3.55% |
1920 | 2,193 | 46.87% | 2,442 | 52.19% | 44 | 0.94% |
1916 | 1,330 | 40.76% | 1,874 | 57.43% | 59 | 1.81% |
1912 | 1,050 | 39.49% | 1,388 | 52.20% | 221 | 8.31% |
1908 | 1,320 | 44.75% | 1,589 | 53.86% | 41 | 1.39% |
1904 | 1,161 | 47.41% | 1,229 | 50.18% | 59 | 2.41% |
1900 | 1,020 | 42.03% | 1,384 | 57.03% | 23 | 0.95% |
1896 | 1,074 | 39.01% | 1,673 | 60.77% | 6 | 0.22% |
1892 | 734 | 35.70% | 1,240 | 60.31% | 82 | 3.99% |
1888 | 787 | 36.97% | 1,312 | 61.63% | 30 | 1.41% |
At the presidential level, Mississippi County was a solidly Democratic county from its founding in 1845 through 2000, breaking with the Democratic Party only to vote for Constitutional Unionist John Bell in 1860 and Richard Nixon in his 1972 landslide within this period. [25] In 2004, George W. Bush became only the second Republican ever to carry the county, despite his narrow national popular vote win, and in 2008, John McCain carried it again, by a larger margin, despite his convincing national defeat. As of 2020, the county has voted Republican for five straight elections, with an increased vote share every time; the Republican vote share has not gone below 60% since 2008.
Voters in Mississippi County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative principles but are more moderate or populist on economic issues, typical of what was formerly considered the white conservative Dixiecrat philosophy of southern Democrats, before African Americans regained the power to vote. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman—it overwhelmingly passed in Mississippi County with 86.87 percent of the vote. The initiative passed the state with 71 percent of support from voters; Missouri became the first state to ban same-sex marriage. (This law was overturned as unconstitutional by a US Supreme Court decision.) In 2006, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to fund and legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state—it failed in Mississippi County with 57.35 percent voting against the measure. The initiative narrowly passed the state with 51 percent of support from voters; Missouri became one of the first states in the nation to approve embryonic stem cell research.
Despite Mississippi County's longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing populist causes such as increasing the minimum wage. In 2006, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition B) to increase the minimum wage in the state to $6.50 an hour—it passed Mississippi County with 75.66 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri, with 75.94 percent voting in favor as the minimum wage was increased to $6.50 an hour in the state.
During the 2008 presidential primary, voters in Mississippi County from both political parties supported candidates who finished in second place in the state at large and nationally. Former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 1,094, than any candidate from either party in Mississippi County during the 2008 presidential primary.
Mobile County is a county located in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is the third-most populous county in the state after Jefferson and Madison counties. As of the 2020 census, its population was 414,809. Its county seat is Mobile, which was founded as a deepwater port on the Mobile River. The only such port in Alabama, it has long been integral to the economy for providing access to inland waterways as well as the Gulf of Mexico.
Webster County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 39,085. Its county seat is Marshfield. The county was organized in 1855 and named for U.S. Senator and U.S. Secretary of State Daniel Webster.
Warren County is a county located in the eastern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 35,532. The county is located on the north side of the Missouri River. Its county seat is Warrenton. The county was established on January 5, 1833, and was named for General Joseph Warren, who died in the Battle of Bunker Hill during the American Revolutionary War.
Texas County is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 24,487. Its county seat is Houston. The county was organized in 1843 as Ashley County. Its name was changed in 1845 to Texas County, after the Republic of Texas. The 2010 U.S. Census indicates that the county was the center of population for the United States.
Stoddard County is a county located in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,672. The county seat is Bloomfield. The county was officially organized on January 2, 1835, and is named for Amos Stoddard, the first American commandant of Upper Louisiana.
Sainte Genevieve County, often abbreviated Ste. Genevieve County, is a county located in the eastern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,479. The largest city and county seat is Ste. Genevieve. The county was officially organized on October 1, 1812, and is named after the Spanish district once located in the region, after Saint Genevieve, patroness of Paris, France.
Scott County is a county located in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 38,059. Its county seat is Benton. The county was organized in 1821 and named for U.S. Representative John Scott, the first federal representative from Missouri. Scott County comprises the Sikeston, MO Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Cape Girardeau-Sikeston, MO-IL Combined Statistical Area. The county is home to Scott County Central High School, which has won 18 state championships in boys basketball—the most of any high school in the state.
Pike County is a county on the eastern border of the U.S. state of Missouri, bounded by the Mississippi River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,587. Its county seat is Bowling Green. Its namesake was a city in middle Kentucky, a region from where many early migrants came. The county was organized December 14, 1818, and named for explorer Zebulon Pike. The folksong "Sweet Betsy from Pike" is generally thought to be associated with Pike County, Missouri.
Pemiscot County is a county located in the southeastern corner in the Bootheel in the U.S. state of Missouri, with the Mississippi River forming its eastern border. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,661. The largest city and county seat is Caruthersville. The county was officially organized on February 19, 1851. It is named for the local bayou, taken from the word pem-eskaw, meaning "liquid mud", in the language of the native Meskwaki people. This has been an area of cotton plantations and later other commodity crops.
Oregon County is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,635. Its county seat is Alton. The county was officially organized on February 14, 1845, and was named for the Oregon Territory in the northwestern United States.
New Madrid County is a county located in the Bootheel of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,434. The largest city is Portageville and county seat is New Madrid, located on the northern side of the Kentucky Bend in the Mississippi River, where it has formed an oxbow around an exclave of Fulton County, Kentucky. This feature has also been known as New Madrid Bend or Madrid Bend, for the city.
Howard County is located in the U.S. state of Missouri, with its southern border formed by the Missouri River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,151. Its county seat is Fayette.
Franklin County is located in the U.S. state of Missouri. At the 2020 census, the population was 104,682. Its county seat is Union. The county was organized in 1818 and is named after Founding Father Benjamin Franklin. Franklin County is part of the St. Louis, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area and contains some of the city's exurbs. It is located along the south side of the Missouri River. The county has wineries that are included in the Hermann AVA and is part of the region known as the Missouri Rhineland, which extends on both sides of the Missouri River.
Crawford County is a county located in the east-central portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. At the 2020 Census, the population was 23,056. Its county seat is Steelville. The county was organized in 1829 and is named after U.S. Senator William H. Crawford of Georgia.
Christian County is located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, its population was 88,842. Its county seat is Ozark. The county was organized in 1859 and is named after Christian County, Kentucky, which in turn is named for William Christian, a Kentucky soldier of the American Revolutionary War.
Cape Girardeau County is located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Missouri; its eastern border is formed by the Mississippi River. At the 2020 census, the population was 81,710. The county seat is Jackson, the first city in the US to be named in honor of President Andrew Jackson. Officially organized on October 1, 1812, the county is named after Ensign Sieur Jean Baptiste de Girardot, an official of the French colonial years. The "cape" in the county's name is named after a former promontory rock overlooking the Mississippi River; this feature was demolished during railroad construction. Cape Girardeau County is the hub of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson metropolitan area. Its largest city is Cape Girardeau.
Callaway County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 United States Census, the county's population was 44,283. Its county seat is Fulton. With a border formed by the Missouri River, the county was organized November 25, 1820, and named for Captain James Callaway, grandson of Daniel Boone. The county has been historically referred to as "The Kingdom of Callaway" after an incident in which some residents confronted Union troops during the U.S. Civil War.
Anniston is a city in Mississippi County, Missouri, United States. The population was 180 at the 2020 census, down from 232 in 2010. In 2024, the city voted to disincorporate.
East Prairie is a city in Mississippi County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,943 at the 2020 census, down from 3,176 in 2010.
St. Charles County is located in the central eastern part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 405,262, making it Missouri's third-most populous county. Its county seat is St. Charles. The county was organized October 1, 1812, and named for Saint Charles Borromeo, an Italian cardinal.