Itawamba County, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Itawamba County
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Itawamba County Courthouse in Fulton
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Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
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 Mississippi's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Mississippi |
| Founded | 1836 |
| Named for | Levi Colbert (Itawamba) |
| Seat | Fulton |
| Largest city | Fulton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 540 sq mi (1,400 km2) |
| • Land | 533 sq mi (1,380 km2) |
| • Water | 7.7 sq mi (20 km2) 1.4% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 23,863 |
| • Density | 44.2/sq mi (17.06/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
Itawamba County is a county in the state of Mississippi, USA. It is located in the northeastern part of the state. In 2020, about 23,863 people lived there. The main town and county seat is Fulton. Itawamba County is part of the larger Tupelo area.
The county got its name from Itawamba. He was an important leader of the Chickasaw people in the early 1800s. He passed away before his people moved from this area.
Contents
Geography of Itawamba County
Itawamba County covers a total area of about 540 square miles. Most of this area, around 533 square miles, is land. The rest, about 7.7 square miles, is water.
Main Roads and Highways
Many important roads run through Itawamba County. These roads help people travel and transport goods.
Interstate 22
U.S. Highway 78
Mississippi Highway 23
Mississippi Highway 25
Mississippi Highway 76
Mississippi Highway 178- Natchez Trace Parkway
Neighboring Counties
Itawamba County shares borders with several other counties. These are:
- Tishomingo County (to the northeast)
- Franklin County, Alabama (to the east)
- Marion County, Alabama (to the southeast)
- Monroe County (to the south)
- Lee County (to the west)
- Prentiss County (to the northwest)
Protected Natural Areas
Part of the Natchez Trace Parkway runs through Itawamba County. This historic road follows an old Native American trail.
Near Tupelo, there are also the Pharr Mounds. These are ancient earthwork burial mounds built by people from the Middle Woodland period. They cover about 85 acres.
Population and People
The number of people living in Itawamba County has changed over time. Here's how the population has grown and shrunk:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1840 | 5,375 | — | |
| 1850 | 13,528 | 151.7% | |
| 1860 | 17,695 | 30.8% | |
| 1870 | 7,812 | −55.9% | |
| 1880 | 10,663 | 36.5% | |
| 1890 | 11,708 | 9.8% | |
| 1900 | 13,544 | 15.7% | |
| 1910 | 14,526 | 7.3% | |
| 1920 | 15,647 | 7.7% | |
| 1930 | 18,225 | 16.5% | |
| 1940 | 19,922 | 9.3% | |
| 1950 | 17,216 | −13.6% | |
| 1960 | 15,080 | −12.4% | |
| 1970 | 16,847 | 11.7% | |
| 1980 | 20,518 | 21.8% | |
| 1990 | 20,017 | −2.4% | |
| 2000 | 22,770 | 13.8% | |
| 2010 | 23,401 | 2.8% | |
| 2020 | 23,863 | 2.0% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 24,093 | 3.0% | |
| US Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013 2017 |
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In 2020, there were 23,863 people living in Itawamba County. Most residents were White (about 88.5%). About 6.8% were Black or African American. Smaller groups included Native American, Asian, and people of mixed races. About 1.6% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Towns and Communities
Itawamba County has one city and several towns and smaller communities.
City
- Fulton is the county seat. This means it is where the county government is located.
Towns
Census-Designated Place
- Kirkville is a place that the Census Bureau defines for gathering population data.
Smaller Communities
These are places that are not officially incorporated as cities or towns.
- Beans Ferry
- Bounds Crossroads
- Cadamy
- Carolina
- Clay
- Dorsey
- Tilden
- Turon
Old or "Ghost" Towns
Some communities in Itawamba County no longer exist or have very few people. They are sometimes called "ghost towns."
Education
The main school system in the county is the Itawamba County School District. Students attend schools within this district.
Itawamba Community College is also located in the county. It offers higher education and training programs.
Civil Rights and Fairness
Itawamba County holds an annual event in January to celebrate Civil Rights. This event often includes a march and speakers. It usually takes place around the time of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
In 2010, there was a situation at a school in Fulton. A student wanted to bring her partner to the prom. This led to a discussion about fairness and equal rights for all students. The school district and the student's representatives worked together to resolve the issue. In the end, the school district agreed to create a new rule. This rule ensures that all students are treated fairly and without discrimination.
Notable People from Itawamba County
Many interesting people have come from Itawamba County.
- Brian Dozier is a professional baseball player. He played second base and won the 2019 World Series with the Washington Nationals.
- Delphia Spencer Hankins was an American supercentenarian, meaning she lived to be over 110 years old.
- John E. Rankin was a politician who served as a U.S. Congressman for many years.
- Tammy Wynette was a famous American country music singer.
- Walter Williams was believed to be the last living soldier who fought for the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Itawamba (Misisipi) para niños
