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Hinds County, Mississippi facts for kids

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Hinds County
Hinds County Courthouse and Confederate Monument in Raymond
Hinds County Courthouse and Confederate Monument in Raymond
Official seal of Hinds County
Seal
Location in Mississippi
Location in Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Mississippi
Founded 1821
Named for Thomas Hinds
County seat Jackson and Raymond
Largest city Jackson
Area
 • Total 2,270 km2 (877 sq mi)
 • Land 2,300 km2 (870 sq mi)
 • Water 20 km2 (7.6 sq mi)
 • percentage 2 km2 (0.9 sq mi)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 227,742
 • Estimate 
(2022)
217,730
 • Rank MS: 1st
US: 321st
 • Density 100.26/km2 (259.68/sq mi)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code 601, 769
Congressional districts 2nd, 3rd

Hinds County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. With its county seats (Raymond and the state's capital, Jackson), Hinds is the most populous county in Mississippi with a 2020 census population of 227,742 residents. Hinds County is a central part of the Jackson metropolitan statistical area. It is a professional, educational, business and industrial hub in the state. It is bordered on the northwest by the Big Black River and on the east by the Pearl River. It is one county width away from the Yazoo River and the southern border of the Mississippi Delta.

In the 19th century, the rural areas of the county were devoted to cotton plantations worked by enslaved African Americans and depended on agriculture well into the 20th century.

In September 2022, it was reported that Hinds County, Mississippi, had the highest STD rate in the United States, with 2,253 cases per 100,000 residents.

Etymology

The county is named for General Thomas Hinds, a hero of the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 877 square miles (2,270 km2), of which 870 square miles (2,300 km2) is land and 7.6 square miles (20 km2) (0.9%) is water. It is the third-largest county in Mississippi by land area and fifth-largest by total area.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

  • Natchez Trace Parkway (part)

Transportation

Major highways

  • I-20
  • I-55
  • I-220
  • US 49
  • US 51
  • US 80
  • MS 18
  • MS 22
  • MS 25
  • MS 27
  • MS 467
  • MS 473
  • MS 476
  • Natchez Trace Parkway

Airports

The following public-use airports are located in Hinds County:

  • Hawkins Field (HKS) in Jackson
  • John Bell Williams Airport (JVW) in Raymond

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1830 8,645
1840 19,098 120.9%
1850 25,340 32.7%
1860 31,339 23.7%
1870 30,488 −2.7%
1880 43,958 44.2%
1890 39,279 −10.6%
1900 52,577 33.9%
1910 63,726 21.2%
1920 57,110 −10.4%
1930 85,118 49.0%
1940 107,273 26.0%
1950 142,164 32.5%
1960 187,045 31.6%
1970 214,973 14.9%
1980 250,998 16.8%
1990 254,441 1.4%
2000 250,800 −1.4%
2010 245,285 −2.2%
2020 227,742 −7.2%
2023 (est.) 214,870 −12.4%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010–2020

With a population of 8,645 at the 1830 census, the county's population has experienced growth to an initial historic high of 250,000 in 1980; its second historic high was 254,441 at the 1990 census. Since then, its population has fluctuated to 250,800 in 2000 and 245,285 in 2010. At the 2020 census, its population was 227,742, locally reflecting a drop in the state's overall population.

Race and ethnicity

Hinds County racial composition as of 2020
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 58,012 25.5%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 157,483 69.2%
Native American 332 0.2%
Asian 2,157 1.0%
Pacific Islander 43 nil%
Other/Mixed 5,151 2.3%
Hispanic or Latino 4,564 2.0%

With the trend of greater diversification in the United States leading up to and following the 2020 census, the county and state's population declined with non-Hispanic whites and overall; for contrast, in 2010, non-Hispanic whites made up 28.4% of the population, yet in 2020 they declined to 25.5% of the population. Historic minorities in the county and state increased in population. The 2020 census reported 69.2% of its population was Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.0% Asian, nil% Pacific Islander, 2.3% of two or more races, and 2.0% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Law enforcement

Hinds County Sheriff's Office
MS - Hinds County Sheriff.jpg
Hinds County Sheriff Department patch
Agency overview
Formed January 1, 1928 (1928-01-01)
Agency executive
  • Tyree Jones, Sheriff
Website Hinds County Sheriff's site

The Hinds County Sheriffs Department provides police services to areas of the county that are unincorporated or in municipalities that do not have their own local police force. It was founded on January 1, 1928.

Tyrone Lewis took office January 3, 2012, taking over from Malcolm E. McMillin who had held the role for 20 years. Victor Mason defeated Tyrone Lewis August 4, 2015, as Lewis sought another term. Mason went on to secure the Office November 3, 2015. Mason defeated 3 other candidates securing more than seventy percent of the vote. Victor Mason was defeated in the Democratic Primary on August 27, 2019, by Lee D. Vance. On August 4, 2021, Sheriff Lee Vance was found deceased at his home after contracting COVID-19. The current sheriff is Tyree Jones, elected November 23, 2021.

Education

School Districts in Hinds County, Mississippi
Public School Districts in Hinds County

Public schools

School districts:

  • Clinton Public School District
  • Hinds County School District (Raymond)
  • Jackson Public School District

State-operated schools:

  • Mississippi School for the Blind
  • Mississippi School for the Deaf

Private schools

  • Clinton Christian Academy (Clinton)
  • Hillcrest Christian School (Jackson)
  • Jackson Academy (Jackson)
  • Mt. Salus Christian School (Clinton)
  • Rebul Academy (Learned)
  • Central Hinds Academy (Raymond)

Colleges and universities

  • Belhaven University (Jackson)
  • Hinds Community College (Raymond)
  • Jackson State University (Jackson)
  • Millsaps College (Jackson)
  • Mississippi College (Clinton)
    • Mississippi College School of Law (Jackson)
  • Reformed Theological Seminary (Jackson)
  • Tougaloo College (Tougaloo)
  • University of Mississippi Medical Center (Jackson)
  • Wesley Biblical Seminary (Jackson)

Hinds County is in the community college district of Hinds Community College.

Public libraries

  • Jackson/Hinds Library System

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Notable people

  • Kate Stone (1841–1907), diarist
  • Henry Sloan (1870–1948), delta blues musician
  • Charley Patton (1891–1934), blues musician
  • Richard Durham (1917–1984), writer of the radio series Destination Freedom

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Hinds para niños

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