Aberdeen, Mississippi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Aberdeen, Mississippi
City
Aberdeen City Hall (early 20th century)
Flag
Motto(s):  "A Great Place to Live, Work and Play"
Location of Aberdeen, Mississippi
Aberdeen, Mississippi Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
County	Monroe
Area
• Total	12.37 sq mi (32.04 km2)
• Land	12.09 sq mi (31.31 km2)
• Water	0.28 sq mi (0.73 km2)
Elevation	230 ft (70 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,961
• Density	410.34/sq mi (158.43/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	39730
Area code(s)	662
FIPS code	28-00180
GNIS feature ID	2403058

Aberdeen is a city in Monroe County, Mississippi, in the United States. It is the main town, also known as the county seat, of Monroe County. In 2020, about 4,961 people lived there.

Aberdeen is located right on the Tombigbee River. In the 1800s, it was one of Mississippi's busiest ports. Many goods, especially cotton, were traded here. For a while, Aberdeen was the second-largest city in Mississippi!

Today, Aberdeen still has many old buildings from that time. More than 200 of them are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Each spring, people can visit these beautiful old homes, like The Magnolias, which was built in 1850.

Just outside the city, the Aberdeen Lock and Dam creates Aberdeen Lake. This lake is a fun place for outdoor activities. The lock and dam are part of the larger Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway system.

History of Aberdeen

A barbershop in Aberdeen around 1907.

The first Europeans to explore the area around Aberdeen were part of Hernando DeSoto's expedition in 1540.

Aberdeen was first settled in 1834. It officially became a town in 1837. In 1849, it was chosen as the county seat when Monroe County was formed.

During the American Civil War, a small battle happened in Aberdeen on February 18, 1864. Union soldiers met Confederate forces and pushed them back. The Union army took control of Aberdeen. They also destroyed Confederate food and equipment.

Hiram Revels, who was the first African-American to serve as a United States senator, passed away in Aberdeen on January 16, 1901. He was attending a church meeting at the time.

Aberdeen's population has changed over the years. In 1910, about 3,708 people lived there. By 1950, the population had grown to 5,920. In 1980, it reached 7,184 people.

Geography and Location

Aberdeen is in the southwest part of Monroe County. The city center is on a small hill next to the Tombigbee River.

Major roads pass near or through Aberdeen:

• U.S. Highway 45 goes around the city. It leads north to Tupelo (about 35 miles away) and south to Columbus (about 27 miles away).
• Mississippi Highway 8 runs through the south side of the city. It goes northeast to Wise Gap and west to Houston.
• Mississippi Highway 25 also passes through the south side. It leads north-northeast to Amory and southwest to West Point.

The city covers about 12.4 square miles (32.04 square kilometers). Most of this is land, but about 0.3 square miles (0.73 square kilometers) is water. The Tombigbee River and the Tennessee–Tombigbee Waterway flow through the eastern part of the city. The Aberdeen Lock and Dam is located within the city limits.

The bridge over the Tombigbee River in Aberdeen during the 1955 floods.

Aberdeen's Climate

Aberdeen has a climate with hot, humid summers. The winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate.

Population Information

2020 Census Details

In 2020, there were 4,961 people living in Aberdeen. There were 2,016 households and 1,195 families.

Here's a look at the different groups of people living in Aberdeen in 2020:

2010 Census Details

In 2010, there were 5,612 people in the city. About 69.2% were African American and 28.8% were White. A small number of people were Native American, Asian, or from other backgrounds. About 1.0% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Education in Aberdeen

Students in Aberdeen attend schools that are part of the Aberdeen School District.

Media and Communications

Radio Stations

• 1240 WWZQ-AM
• 105.3 WACR-FM

Transportation and Infrastructure

Highways

• U.S. Highway 45
• Mississippi Highway 8
• Mississippi Highway 25
• Mississippi Highway 145

Railroads

Several railway lines serve Aberdeen:

• Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway
• Alabama and Gulf Coast Railway
• Kansas City Southern Railway

Notable People from Aberdeen

Many interesting people have connections to Aberdeen, including:

• Joel M. Acker, who served in the Mississippi State Senate.
• Stephen Adams, a former member of the U.S. House and Senate.
• Steve Baylark, a running back in the United Football League.
• Guy Bush ("the Mississippi Mudcat"), a famous Major League Baseball pitcher.
• Oliver Darden, a basketball player for the University of Michigan.
• Reuben Davis, a Congressman and Confederate general.
• Wilma Cozart Fine, a well-known record producer.
• Samuel J. Gholson, a congressman, judge, and general.
• Joe Green, a former NFL defensive back.
• Ann Gregory, a talented golfer.
• Moses Hardy, who was once the oldest living American man and a World War I veteran.
• Reggie Kelly, a former NFL tight end.
• Albert King, a legendary blues guitarist.
• Fredrick McGhee, the first black lawyer in Minnesota.
• James Phelan Jr., a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
• Roscoe Simmons, an orator and journalist.
• Eugene Sykes, a justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi.
• Butch Thompson, a college baseball head coach.
• Andre Townsend, a former defensive end for the Denver Broncos.
• Jim Walden, a college football head coach.
• Channing Ward, a former NFL defensive tackle.
• Bukka White (Booker T. Washington White), a famous blues musician.
• Dwayne Whitfield, a former National Basketball Association player.
• Chris Willis, a former college football head coach.

Images for kids

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  Aberdeen City Hall (early 20th century)

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  Flag of Aberdeen, Mississippi

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  Location of Aberdeen, Mississippi

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  Barbershop in Aberdeen, 1907

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  Failure of the Mississippi Highway 25 N/U.S. Route 45 S bridge over the Tombigbee River in Aberdeen during the 1955 floods.

See also

In Spanish: Aberdeen (Misisipi) para niños