Houston, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Houston, Mississippi
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Chickasaw County Courthouse in Houston
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Location of Houston, Mississippi
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 Houston, Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Mississippi | |
| County | Chickasaw | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 7.40 sq mi (19.15 km2) | |
| • Land | 7.38 sq mi (19.11 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) | |
| Elevation | 354 ft (108 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,797 | |
| • Density | 514.71/sq mi (198.74/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | |
| ZIP code |
38851
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| Area code(s) | 662 | |
| FIPS code | 28-33900 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0693543 | |
Houston is a city located in northeastern Mississippi, United States. It is one of two county seats for Chickasaw County. A county seat is like the main town where the local government offices are. In 2020, about 3,797 people lived in Houston.
Contents
History of Houston, Mississippi
Early Beginnings and Founding
Long before Europeans arrived, Native American groups lived in the area that is now Chickasaw County. Over many thousands of years, they used this land. Eventually, these native groups were moved out of the area.
In 1832, a special agreement called a treaty was signed. This treaty made the land safe for new settlers to move in. People quickly began to arrive and build homes.
Becoming a County Seat
On February 9, 1836, Chickasaw County was officially created. A few days later, a group was chosen to find the best spot for the county seat. Judge Joel Pinson offered to give some of his land for this new town. His offer was accepted on July 8, 1836.
Judge Pinson decided to name the new settlement Houston. He chose this name to honor Sam Houston, who was a friend of his from childhood.
Growth and First Buildings
That same year, construction began on a brick courthouse in the town square. A jail was also built one block north. The city of Houston was officially made a city on May 9, 1837. Its first post office opened on December 5, 1837.
This means that Houston, Mississippi, is actually older than Houston, Texas. The Texas city was made a city one month later, on June 5, 1837.
Civil War and Recovery
The Civil War caused a lot of damage and loss in the county. During the war, Union soldiers burned almost all of the county's important records. Workers had tried to move the records to keep them safe, but it didn't work.
After the war, the economy slowly started to get better. However, bad roads made it hard for businesses and daily life. To help with this, the state decided in 1866 to create a second court district in Okolona. Houston's court system continued to operate as well. This made Chickasaw County one of the few places in the country with two main court locations.
Houston's First Public Library
In 1909, Houston became home to the very first Carnegie library in Mississippi. A local school leader, L. B. Reid, asked for a public library. A kind person named Andrew Carnegie agreed to help. He had a program that matched money for libraries.
Local Festivals
Today, Houston hosts the Mississippi Flywheel Festival twice a year. This fun event takes place every April and September.
Geography and Climate
Where is Houston Located?
Houston is found west of the center of Chickasaw County. Mississippi Highway 8 goes right through the city. If you go east on Highway 8, it's about 29 miles to Aberdeen. If you go west, it's about 18 miles to Calhoun City.
Mississippi Highway 15 goes around the city to the west. It crosses Highway 8 near the edge of Houston. Highway 15 leads north about 26 miles to Pontotoc. Going south on Highway 15 takes you about 27 miles to Mathiston.
The Natchez Trace Parkway is a historic road that passes about 3 miles east of the city center. This parkway follows an old trail used by Native Americans long ago.
Land and Water Area
The city of Houston covers a total area of about 7.40 square miles (19.15 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 7.38 square miles (19.11 square kilometers), is land. A very small part, about 0.02 square miles (0.05 square kilometers), is water.
Houston's Climate
The weather in Houston has hot and humid summers. The winters are usually mild to cool. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Houston has a humid subtropical climate. This type of climate is often shown as "Cfa" on climate maps.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 400 | — | |
| 1880 | 480 | 20.0% | |
| 1890 | 893 | 86.0% | |
| 1900 | 677 | −24.2% | |
| 1910 | 1,400 | 106.8% | |
| 1920 | 1,408 | 0.6% | |
| 1930 | 1,477 | 4.9% | |
| 1940 | 1,729 | 17.1% | |
| 1950 | 1,664 | −3.8% | |
| 1960 | 2,577 | 54.9% | |
| 1970 | 2,720 | 5.5% | |
| 1980 | 3,745 | 37.7% | |
| 1990 | 3,903 | 4.2% | |
| 2000 | 4,079 | 4.5% | |
| 2010 | 3,623 | −11.2% | |
| 2020 | 3,797 | 4.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 Census Information
The 2020 United States Census counted 3,797 people living in Houston. There were 1,404 households and 917 families in the city.
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White | 1,672 | 44.03% |
| Black or African American | 1,726 | 45.46% |
| Native American | 3 | 0.08% |
| Asian | 11 | 0.29% |
| Other/Mixed | 99 | 2.61% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 286 | 7.53% |
Education in Houston
The schools in Houston are part of the Chickasaw County School District. Students attend Houston High School for their high school years.
On July 1, 2021, the Houston School District joined with the old Chickasaw County district. They formed a new, combined school district.
The Houston Public Schools system is famous for its success in the National Dell-Winston Solar Car Challenge. They have won this competition 11 times!
Transportation in Houston
Past and Present Rail Lines
In the past, Houston had two train lines: the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad and the Okolona, Houston and Calhoun City Railway. These railways helped people and goods travel.
However, in the early 2000s, both of these train lines were no longer used. Parts of the old railway tracks have now been turned into a fun trail for walking and biking.
Notable People from Houston
Many interesting people have come from Houston, Mississippi. Here are a few:
- Dee Barton – A composer for films and big bands. He was also a drummer for the Stan Kenton Orchestra.
- David R. Bowen – He served as a U.S. Representative for Mississippi from 1973 to 1983.
- N. W. Bradford – A member of the Mississippi State Senate and the Mississippi House of Representatives.
- T. Jeff Busby – He was a U.S. Representative from 1923 to 1935.
- Terry Catledge – A professional basketball player in the NBA.
- William R. Dunlap – An artist, writer, and commentator on the arts.
- Chris Jones – An NFL football player.
- Ricky Love – A former professional basketball player.
- Walter Stanley Mooneyham – An author who wrote about evangelical topics.
- Rosa Lee Tucker – She was the Mississippi State Librarian from 1866 to 1946.
- William F. Tucker – A brigadier general in the Confederate States Army and a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives.
- Howard Waldrop – A science fiction author.
- Bukka White – A famous Delta blues guitarist.
See also
In Spanish: Houston (Misisipi) para niños
