Sharkey County, Mississippi

Last updated

Sharkey County
County
Sharkey County Mississippi Courthouse.jpg
Sharkey County courthouse in Rolling Fork
Map of Mississippi highlighting Sharkey County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Mississippi in United States.svg
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°53′N90°49′W / 32.88°N 90.81°W / 32.88; -90.81
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Mississippi.svg  Mississippi
Founded1876
Named for William L. Sharkey
Seat Rolling Fork
Largest cityRolling Fork
Area
 • Total
435 sq mi (1,130 km2)
 • Land432 sq mi (1,120 km2)
 • Water3.4 sq mi (9 km2)  0.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
3,800
 • Density8.7/sq mi (3.4/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 2nd
Website www.sharkeycounty.net

Sharkey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. Part of the eastern border is formed by the Yazoo River. According to the 2020 census, the population was 3,800, [1] making it the second-least populous county in Mississippi, after Issaquena County. Its county seat is Rolling Fork. [2] The county is named after William L. Sharkey, the provisional Governor of Mississippi in 1865.

Contents

Sharkey County is located in the Mississippi Delta region.

Historic Weather

On the afternoon of Sunday, February 21, 1971, a large and long-tracked F5 tornado impacted areas of Sharkey County. On March 24, 2023, a high-end EF4 tornado hit the city of Rolling Fork with estimated wind speeds of 195 mph (314kph), causing catastrophic damage throughout the community. The tornado was responsible for 17 fatalities and 165 injuries. [3] [4] [5]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 435 square miles (1,130 km2), of which 432 square miles (1,120 km2) is land and 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2) (0.8%) is water. [6]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880 6,306—
1890 8,38232.9%
1900 12,17845.3%
1910 15,69428.9%
1920 14,190−9.6%
1930 13,877−2.2%
1940 15,43311.2%
1950 12,903−16.4%
1960 10,738−16.8%
1970 8,937−16.8%
1980 7,964−10.9%
1990 7,066−11.3%
2000 6,580−6.9%
2010 4,916−25.3%
2020 3,800−22.7%
2023 (est.)3,336 [7] −12.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [8]
1790-1960 [9] 1900-1990 [10]
1990-2000 [11] 2010-2013 [12]

2020 census

Sharkey County Racial Composition [13]
RaceNum.Perc.
White 96225.32%
Black or African American 2,67170.29%
Asian 140.37%
Pacific Islander 30.08%
Other/Mixed 892.34%
Hispanic or Latino 611.61%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 3,800 people, 1,751 households, and 1,046 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 4,916 people living in the county. 71.0% were Black or African American, 27.9% White, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native American, 0.4% of some other race and 0.4% or two or more races. 0.8% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census

As of the census [14] of 2000, there were 6,580 people, 2,163 households, and 1,589 families living in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile (5.8 people/km2). There were 2,416 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 69.32% Black or African American, 29.36% White, 0.18% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.27% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. 1.31% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,163 households, out of which 36.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.00% were married couples living together, 26.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.50% were non-families. 23.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.56.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 33.00% under the age of 18, 10.40% from 18 to 24, 24.80% from 25 to 44, 20.40% from 45 to 64, and 11.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 88.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $22,285, and the median income for a family was $26,786. Males had a median income of $26,563 versus $17,931 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,396. About 30.50% of families and 38.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 50.00% of those under age 18 and 24.20% of those age 65 or over.

Sharkey County has the tenth-lowest per capita income in Mississippi and the 73rd lowest in the United States.

Education

Communities

Crossing the Sunflower River by ferry southeast of Rolling Fork, 1965 Sharkey County, Miss. June 1, 1965. Sunflower River Ferry is used by Ed Blake and Austin McMurchy on a field trip in the delta.png
Crossing the Sunflower River by ferry southeast of Rolling Fork, 1965

City

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Politics

Sharkey County is, like the rest of the Mississippi Delta region, heavily Democratic. It has voted for the Democratic nominee for president in every election since 1976, and no Republican has broken 40% of the vote since George H. W. Bush in 1988.

United States presidential election results for Sharkey County, Mississippi [15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2024 55131.20%1,20168.01%140.79%
2020 68831.52%1,46567.11%301.37%
2016 69231.60%1,47967.53%190.87%
2012 73729.11%1,78270.38%130.51%
2008 87331.23%1,90768.23%150.54%
2004 1,12036.21%1,56050.44%41313.35%
2000 1,07437.00%1,70658.77%1234.24%
1996 90634.59%1,56659.79%1475.61%
1992 1,00836.63%1,52655.45%2187.92%
1988 1,27743.00%1,60954.18%842.83%
1984 1,48743.76%1,72350.71%1885.53%
1980 99632.97%1,95764.78%682.25%
1976 1,02441.81%1,28352.39%1425.80%
1972 1,42667.94%65531.21%180.86%
1968 24910.34%97240.35%1,18849.32%
1964 1,11689.71%12810.29%00.00%
1960 31331.08%26326.12%43142.80%
1956 21125.36%30837.02%31337.62%
1952 60060.73%38839.27%00.00%
1948 101.29%232.96%74595.76%
1944 243.32%69896.68%00.00%
1940 182.35%74797.65%00.00%
1936 71.22%56798.78%00.00%
1932 00.00%55199.82%10.18%
1928 367.05%47592.95%00.00%
1924 348.65%35389.82%61.53%
1920 72.98%22897.02%00.00%
1916 62.36%24696.85%20.79%
1912 31.79%15793.45%84.76%

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. ↑ "Census - Geography Profile: Sharkey County, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ National Weather Service in Jackson, Mississippi (March 27, 2023). NWS Damage Survey for March 24 tornado event (Report). Iowa Environmental Mesonet. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  4. ↑ Will McDuffie (March 24, 2023). "7 dead in 'destructive' Mississippi tornado, official says". ABC News. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Mississippi death toll from March tornado climbs to 22". AP News . May 4, 2023. Archived from the original on May 5, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  6. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  11. ↑ "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 7, 2014.
  12. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  14. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  15. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 4, 2018.

32°53′N90°49′W / 32.88°N 90.81°W / 32.88; -90.81

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