Clinton, Mississippi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Clinton, Mississippi
City
Flag
Nickname(s):  Mount Salus (original name)
Motto(s):  You Belong Here
Location in Hinds County, Mississippi
Location of Mississippi in the United States
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
County	Hinds
Founded	1823
Incorporation	1824
Government
• Type	Mayor-council government
Area
• Total	42.14 sq mi (109.15 km2)
• Land	41.87 sq mi (108.44 km2)
• Water	0.28 sq mi (0.71 km2)
Elevation	335 ft (102 m)
Population
• Total	28,100
• Density	671.16/sq mi (259.13/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	39056, 39058, 39060 (P.O. boxes)
Area codes	601 and 769
FIPS code	28-14420
GNIS feature ID	2404080

Clinton is a city in Hinds County, Mississippi, United States. It is part of the Jackson metropolitan area. Clinton is the 10th most populated city in Mississippi. In 2020, about 28,100 people lived there.

A Look Back: Clinton's History

Camp Clinton entrance in 1943. It was a camp for German prisoners of war.

The Cedars in Clinton is a historic building.

Clinton was founded in 1823. Its first name was Mt. Salus, which means "Mountain of health." This name came from the plantation home of Walter Leake, who was the third governor of Mississippi. His home was built in Clinton in 1812. The city changed its name to Clinton in 1828. This was to honor DeWitt Clinton, a former governor of New York. He helped complete the famous Erie Canal.

The first main road through Clinton was the Natchez Trace. This was an old Native American path that was improved over time. Today, three major highways pass through Clinton: the Natchez Trace Parkway, U.S. Route 80, and Interstate 20.

Colleges and Education

Mississippi College is a Christian university in Clinton. It is the oldest college in Mississippi, started in 1826. It was one of the first colleges in the United States to give a degree to a woman. Clinton is also home to sports teams called the "Clinton Arrows" and "Mississippi College Choctaws." Another college, Hillman College, was founded in 1853 for women. Mount Hermon Female Seminary, a college for Black women, was started in 1875 by Sarah Ann Dickey.

Railroads and Cotton

The Clinton-Vicksburg Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in Mississippi. It started in 1831. This railroad helped Clinton become a major center for shipping cotton. Cotton from three nearby counties was sent through Clinton. Then it went by rail to Grand Gulf on the Mississippi River.

The Civil War Years

During the Civil War, both Confederate and Union armies passed through Clinton. Union generals Ulysses S. Grant and Sherman were here in May 1863. They were on their way to the Battle of Vicksburg.

The Clinton Riot

In September 1875, a political gathering took place in Clinton. About 3,000 people, including many Black citizens, were there. White groups attacked the people at the rally. This event was called the "Clinton Riot." Several white men and many Black people died during this time. More armed white people arrived and continued the attacks. Black teachers, church leaders, and local organizers were among the victims.

This violence was part of a larger effort to stop Black citizens from voting. Groups like the Red Shirts used threats and violence. The governor asked the U.S. government for help, and troops were sent. However, violence and unfair voting practices continued. White Democrats gained control of the state government. This marked the end of the Reconstruction era, a period after the Civil War.

From World War II to Today

During World War II, a German POW camp called Camp Clinton was built south of town. It held about 3,000 German soldiers. Many of these prisoners were from the Afrika Korps. They helped build a large model of the Mississippi River Basin. This model was used by the U.S. Army to plan for flood control.

Clinton was once home to WorldCom, a very large company. It was headquartered here from the mid-1990s until 2002. WorldCom faced major financial problems and had to close. The company later changed its name to MCI. Now, Verizon owns the former WorldCom buildings in Clinton.

On April 15, 2011, a strong tornado hit Clinton. It caused damage near Interstate 20. Ten people were hurt by the tornado.

Where is Clinton? (Geography)

Clinton covers about 42.14 square miles (109.15 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Who Lives in Clinton? (Demographics)

In 2020, Clinton had 28,100 people. This was an increase from 25,216 people in 2010. The city had about 9,047 households.

According to the 2020 census, the population was made up of:

• 51.3% non-Hispanic white people
• 38.1% Black or African American people
• 4.6% Asian people
• 2.8% Hispanic or Latino people (of any race)
• And smaller percentages of other groups.

Economy: How People Make a Living

For a time, WorldCom (now Verizon) had its main office in Clinton. In 2003, the company moved its headquarters to Virginia.

Delphi Corporation, a company that made car parts, had a factory in Clinton. It operated from the early 1970s until 2009. When it closed, about 280 jobs were lost.

Learning in Clinton (Education)

Universities and Colleges

• Mississippi College: Founded in 1826.
• Hinds Community College: A local community college.

Schools for Kids

The public schools in Clinton are part of the Clinton Public School District.

High Schools

• Clinton High School (Grades 10-12)
• Sumner Hill Junior High School (Grade 9)
• Clinton Junior High School (Grades 7-8)

Elementary Schools

• Lovett Elementary School (Grade 6)
• Northside/Eastside Elementary School (Grades 2-5)
• Clinton Park Elementary School (Grades K-1)

There are also private schools in Clinton:

• Clinton Christian Academy (Grades K-4 through 12)
• Mt. Salus Christian School (Grades K-4 through 12)

Public Library

The Quisenberry Library in Clinton is part of the Jackson/Hinds Library System. The library has faced some closures in the past but is now open to the public.

Sports in Clinton

The Mississippi Brilla is a soccer team that plays in Clinton. They are part of USL League Two, which is a high level of soccer in the United States. They play their home games at Traceway Park.

Famous People from Clinton

Many notable people have connections to Clinton, including:

• Cam Akers – Professional football player
• Mandy Ashford – Singer and model
• Lance Bass – Pop singer from the group *NSYNC*
• Charles Hillman Brough – Former governor of Arkansas
• Jon Brown – NFL kicker
• Keith Carlock – Jazz drummer
• Cynthia F. Cooper – Auditor
• Ted DiBiase, Sr. – Professional wrestler
• Ted DiBiase, Jr. – Professional wrestler
• Dominic Douglas – Professional football player
• Bernard Ebbers – Co-founder and CEO of WorldCom
• Jenna Edwards – Model
• Meredith Edwards – Country music singer
• Shelly Fairchild – Country music singer
• Taryn Foshee – 2006 Miss Mississippi
• James E. Graves, Jr. – Judge
• Phillip Gunn – Former Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives
• Barry Hannah – Writer and professor
• Beth Holloway – Author
• Jaret Holmes – Former football placekicker
• Niesa Johnson – Professional basketball player
• Daniel Curtis Lee – Actor
• Rory Lee – Former vice president of Mississippi College
• Robert S. McElvaine – Writer and professor
• Crystal Renn – Plus-size model
• Scott Savage – Former drummer for Jars of Clay
• Leon Seals – Former NFL defensive tackle
• Jerod Ward – Former professional basketball player

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See also

In Spanish: Clinton (Misisipi) para niños