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Drew, Mississippi
Drewmississippisign.jpg
Location of Drew, Mississippi
Location of Drew, Mississippi
Drew, Mississippi is located in the United States
Drew, Mississippi
Drew, Mississippi
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Mississippi
County Sunflower
Area
 • Total 1.12 sq mi (2.91 km2)
 • Land 1.12 sq mi (2.91 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
138 ft (42 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 1,852
 • Density 1,650.62/sq mi (637.33/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
38737-38738
Area code(s) 662
FIPS code 28-20020
GNIS feature ID 2403508

Drew is a city located in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States. In 2020, about 1,852 people lived there. Drew is known for being near many farms and for its connection to a very important event in American history.

History of Drew

How Drew Got Its Name

Drew became a town when the Yellow Dog Railroad was built through the area. The local post office moved to this new spot. The town and its post office were named after Miss Drew Daniel, who was the daughter of Andrew Jackson Daniel.

The Little Red Schoolhouse

In 1928, a school called the Little Red Schoolhouse was built in Drew. It received money from the Rosenwald Fund, which helped build schools for African American children in the South. This school later received a grant to be renovated.

Emmett Till and Civil Rights

In 1955, a 14-year-old African American teenager named Emmett Louis Till was killed near Drew. His death brought a lot of attention across the country. This event became a very important part of the Civil Rights Movement, which fought for equal rights for all people.

Geography of Drew

Where is Drew Located?

Drew is a small city in northern Sunflower County. It covers about 1.1 square miles (2.9 square kilometers) of land. You can travel across the whole town in just a few minutes! Drew is located on U.S. Route 49W, which is a road between Jackson and Clarksdale. It is about 8 miles (13 km) south of the Mississippi State Penitentiary and north of Ruleville. Cleveland, Mississippi is about 12 miles (19 km) from Drew.

People in Drew

Population Changes Over Time

Historical population
Census Pop.
1900 195
1910 278 42.6%
1920 721 159.4%
1930 1,373 90.4%
1940 1,579 15.0%
1950 1,681 6.5%
1960 2,143 27.5%
1970 2,574 20.1%
1980 2,528 −1.8%
1990 2,349 −7.1%
2000 2,434 3.6%
2010 1,927 −20.8%
2020 1,852 −3.9%
U.S. Decennial Census

The population of Drew has changed over the years. In 1900, there were 195 people living there. The population grew steadily until the 1970s. By 2020, the population was 1,852 people.

Who Lives in Drew?

According to the 2020 United States Census, there were 1,852 people living in Drew. Most of the people in Drew are African American, making up about 84.94% of the population. White people make up about 10.69%. There are also smaller numbers of Native American, Asian, and Hispanic or Latino residents.

Economy in Drew

Farming and Businesses

Drew was once a very important place for cotton farming. It used to have many cotton gins, which are machines that separate cotton fibers from their seeds. In 2008, there was only one cotton gin left.

Today, there are still some farms growing corn and beans. However, there are not many businesses in Drew. A grocery store called SuperValu closed in 2012. This made it harder for people in Drew to find jobs. The Drew School District is one of the biggest employers in the area.

Education in Drew

Local Schools

Students in Drew attend schools that are part of the Sunflower County Consolidated School District. Younger students go to A. W. James Elementary School for grades K-5. Middle school students attend Drew Hunter Middle School for grades 6-8. For high school, students go to Ruleville Central High School in Ruleville.

There is also a private school called North Sunflower Academy. It is located a few miles south of Drew in an area that is not officially part of a town.

Community College and Library

Mississippi Delta Community College has a center in Drew. This allows people to take college classes closer to home. The Sunflower County Library also operates the Drew Public Library, where people can borrow books and use computers.

Transportation in Drew

Getting Around

The Ruleville-Drew Airport is located between Drew and Ruleville. This airport is managed together by both cities. It helps people travel to and from the area.

Famous People from Drew

Many interesting people have connections to Drew, Mississippi:

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Drew (Misisipi) para niños

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