Hazlehurst, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hazlehurst, Mississippi
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Amtrak station at Hazlehurst
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Location of Hazlehurst, Mississippi
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 Hazlehurst, Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Mississippi | |
| County | Copiah | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 4.47 sq mi (11.59 km2) | |
| • Land | 4.43 sq mi (11.47 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.12 km2) | |
| Elevation | 476 ft (145 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,619 | |
| • Density | 816.93/sq mi (315.39/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | |
| ZIP code |
39083
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| Area code(s) | 601 | |
| FIPS code | 28-31220 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0671047 | |
Hazlehurst is a city in Mississippi, United States. It is the main city, or county seat, of Copiah County. Hazlehurst is about 30 miles (48 km) south of Jackson, the state capital, right along Interstate 55. In 2020, about 3,619 people lived there. Hazlehurst is part of the larger Jackson metropolitan area. Its economy mainly relies on farming, especially growing tomatoes and cabbage.
Contents
History of Hazlehurst
Early Settlement and Naming
The first European-American settlement in this area was called Gallatin. In 1819, two lawyers, Walters and Saunders, came from Gallatin, Tennessee. They named the new village after their hometown. They built their houses near the Bayou Pierre. More settlers joined them, and in 1829, the state officially recognized the town.
Railroad and Growth
The town of Hazlehurst began to grow when the New Orleans, Jackson and Great Northern Railroad started being built in 1865. The city was named after Colonel George H. Hazlehurst. He was an engineer who worked on the new railroad. There is also a city in Georgia named after him.
Moving the County Seat
As Hazlehurst grew, Gallatin became less important. In 1872, the state decided to move the county seat from Gallatin to Hazlehurst. A county seat is the city where the local government offices are. After people voted for the change, Gallatin's old brick courthouse was taken apart and rebuilt in Hazlehurst.
Civil Rights Era
In the mid-1960s, Hazlehurst was a place where people worked for civil rights. Groups like the NAACP worked to make sure everyone had equal rights. They encouraged people to support businesses that treated everyone fairly. To help protect those working for change, the armed Deacons for Defense and Justice set up centers in Hazlehurst and nearby Crystal Springs. They helped keep people safe during protests. This led to more equal opportunities and jobs for African Americans.
1969 Tornado
On January 23, 1969, a very strong tornado hit Hazlehurst. It was an F4 tornado, which is very powerful. It caused a lot of damage on the south side of the city. Eleven people in the town died, and 175 homes were damaged or destroyed.
Geography of Hazlehurst
Hazlehurst is located a little east of the center of Copiah County. U.S. Route 51 goes right through the middle of the city. It leads north 9 miles (14 km) to Crystal Springs. It goes south 20 miles (32 km) to Brookhaven.
Interstate 55 runs to the west of Hazlehurst, generally parallel to US 51. You can get to Hazlehurst from exits 59 and 61 on I-55. Mississippi Highway 28 crosses US 51 and I-55 in the northern part of town. It goes east 14 miles (23 km) to Georgetown. It goes west 46 miles (74 km) to Fayette.
The United States Census Bureau says Hazlehurst covers a total area of 4.47 square miles (11.5 km²). Most of this area, 4.43 square miles (11.3 km²), is land. Only a small part, 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²), is water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 662 | — | |
| 1880 | 463 | −30.1% | |
| 1900 | 1,579 | — | |
| 1910 | 2,056 | 30.2% | |
| 1920 | 1,762 | −14.3% | |
| 1930 | 2,447 | 38.9% | |
| 1940 | 3,124 | 27.7% | |
| 1950 | 3,397 | 8.7% | |
| 1960 | 3,400 | 0.1% | |
| 1970 | 4,577 | 34.6% | |
| 1980 | 4,437 | −3.1% | |
| 1990 | 4,221 | −4.9% | |
| 2000 | 4,400 | 4.2% | |
| 2010 | 4,009 | −8.9% | |
| 2020 | 3,619 | −9.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The table below shows the different groups of people living in Hazlehurst as of 2020.
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 461 | 12.74% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 2,744 | 75.82% |
| Native American | 2 | 0.06% |
| Asian | 30 | 0.83% |
| Pacific Islander | 3 | 0.08% |
| Other/Mixed | 106 | 2.93% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 273 | 7.54% |
In 2020, there were 3,619 people living in Hazlehurst. There were 1,108 households and 743 families.
Education in Hazlehurst
The Hazlehurst City School District serves the city's students. The main offices for the Copiah-Jefferson Regional Library are in Hazlehurst. The main office for the Copiah County School District is also located here.
Transportation
Train Travel
Amtrak, which is the national passenger train system, offers service to Hazlehurst. The southbound train, called the City of New Orleans, leaves Hazlehurst daily around 11:55 am. It travels to cities like Brookhaven and New Orleans. The northbound City of New Orleans train leaves Hazlehurst daily around 4:17 pm. It goes to cities such as Jackson, Memphis, and Chicago.
Notable People from Hazlehurst
Many interesting people have connections to Hazlehurst:
- Joe Bailey (1863-1929) was a lawyer and a U.S. Senator from Texas. He lived and worked in Hazlehurst for a time.
- Houston Boines was a blues singer and harmonica player.
- Alvin Chester Cockrell Jr. received a Navy Cross for his bravery in World War II.
- Max Dale Cooper is an immunologist. He is known for finding T cells and B cells, which are important parts of our immune system.
- Clifford Davis was a U.S. Representative from Tennessee for many years.
- Mablean Ephriam was a judge on the TV show Divorce Court.
- John Epperson is an actor and singer, famous for his character Lypsinka. He was born in Hazlehurst.
- Robert Evans is a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives.
- Ron Franklin was a well-known sportscaster.
- Ben Garry was a player in the NFL (National Football League).
- Beth Henley is a playwright. She was born in Jackson, but spent much of her childhood in Hazlehurst. Her play, Crimes of the Heart, which won a Pulitzer Prize, is set in Hazlehurst.
- William Hester was a tennis player and official. He used to be the president of the United States Tennis Association.
- Roy Hilton was a professional football defensive end.
- Gregory Holloway Sr. is a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives.
- Ruth Atkinson Holmes was a painter and also gave money to good causes.
- Robert Johnson, the famous Delta blues musician, was born in Hazlehurst. There is a monument to him in the city.
- Rory Lee was a pastor at Antioch Baptist Church in Hazlehurst for many years.
- Print Matthews was a former sheriff of Copiah County.
- Benjamin Morgan Palmer was a Presbyterian minister in the 1800s. He lived in Hazlehurst for a summer while serving as a chaplain.
- Lawrence Pillers was a professional football defensive end.
- Mary Tillman Smith was an outsider artist, known for her unique style.
- Truett Smith was a professional football blocking back.
- Lewis Tillman was a professional football player.
- Walter Washington was a former president of Alcorn State University.
- H. Lynn Womack was a publisher.
See also
In Spanish: Hazlehurst (Misisipi) para niños
