Austin, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Austin, Mississippi
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 Austin, Mississippi
Location in Mississippi
Austin, Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Tunica |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.10 sq mi (0.26 km2) |
| • Land | 0.10 sq mi (0.26 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 197 ft (60 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 51 |
| • Density | 504.95/sq mi (195.89/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
38676
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| GNIS feature ID | 666428 |
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Austin is a small community in Tunica County, Mississippi, United States. It is known as a census-designated place, which means the government counts its population separately. It is also an unincorporated community, so it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. In 2020, only 51 people lived in Austin.
Austin was once a busy shipping port on the Mississippi River. It even served as the main town for the county, called the county seat, from 1847 to 1888. Before Austin, other towns like Commerce and Peyton were the county seats.
Contents
History of Austin
Austin was started in 1847. It was named after Austin Miller, who gave the land for the town and its courthouse.
Austin During the Civil War
In 1863, during the American Civil War, Union soldiers burned down most of Austin. These soldiers were part of the Mississippi Marine Brigade, led by Alfred W. Ellet. Only two houses in the town were saved from the fire.
After the war, the town was rebuilt. It officially became an incorporated town in 1871, meaning it had its own local government. However, it is no longer incorporated today.
Changes to Austin's Location
In 1884, a nearby levee (a wall built to prevent floods) broke, and the area was flooded. When the water went away, a large sandbar was left between Austin and the Mississippi River. This meant that steamboats could no longer reach the town.
Around the same time, a new railroad, the Louisville, New Orleans and Texas Railway, was built about 3 miles (5 km) east of Austin in the late 1880s. This made Austin even more isolated.
Because it was harder to reach Austin, the county seat was moved in 1888 to Tunica, which was easier to get to.
Later, in 1942, the Hardin Cutoff was built. This project created Tunica Lake and moved the Mississippi River even further away, about 7 miles (11 km) west of Austin.
People in Austin
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 51 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 |
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According to the 2020 Census, 51 people live in Austin. Most residents are Black or African American, making up about 86% of the population. White people make up about 6%, and people of mixed races also make up about 6%.
Education
Students in Austin attend schools within the Tunica County School District. The main high school for the district is Rosa Fort High School.
Notable Person
- Sport McAllister (1874–1962) was a professional baseball player who was from Austin.
