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Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi facts for kids

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Jefferson Davis County
County
Jefferson Davis County Courthouse in Prentiss
Map of Mississippi highlighting Jefferson Davis County
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Map of the United States highlighting Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Mississippi
Founded 1906
Named for Jefferson Davis
Seat Prentiss
Largest town Prentiss
Area
 • Total 409 sq mi (1,060 km2)
 • Land 408 sq mi (1,060 km2)
 • Water 0.7 sq mi (2 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 11,321
 • Density 27.68/sq mi (10.687/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 3rd
Website www.jeffersondaviscountyms.com

Jefferson Davis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,321. Its county seat is Prentiss. The county is named after Mississippi Senator and Confederate President Jefferson Davis. The county was carved out of Covington and Lawrence counties in March 1906. Governor James K. Vardaman signed the bill creating the county on May 9, 1906.

History

The genesis of the county occurred on March 31, 1906, when a Mississippi state legislative act authorized the new country's boundaries. The residents of western Covington County and eastern Lawrence County had frequently complained of the rivers and streams impeding the route to their respective county seats. Jefferson Davis County was the state's 77th county.

A 1906 special referendum determined that the county seat would be Prentiss, named for either famed Mississippi lawmaker and orator Seargent Smith Prentiss, or wealthy landowner Prentiss Webb Berry. The settlement was originally named Blountville after early settler William Blount.

In 1933, the county was the first in Mississippi to issue a prohibition on alcohol after the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Round dancing in the community hall was banned in 1938.

In 1935, notorious bank robber Raymond Hamilton, known to hide out in the county's wilderness, was involved in a hostage situation after robbing Prentiss' Bank of Blountville, but escaped in Memphis.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 409 square miles (1,060 km2), of which 408 square miles (1,060 km2) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) (0.2%) is water.

Major highways

  • US 84.svg U.S. Route 84
  • Circle sign 13.svg Mississippi Highway 13
  • Circle sign 35.svg Mississippi Highway 35
  • Circle sign 42.svg Mississippi Highway 42
  • Circle sign 43.svg Mississippi Highway 43

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1910 12,860
1920 12,755 −0.8%
1930 14,281 12.0%
1940 15,869 11.1%
1950 15,500 −2.3%
1960 13,540 −12.6%
1970 12,936 −4.5%
1980 13,846 7.0%
1990 14,051 1.5%
2000 13,962 −0.6%
2010 12,487 −10.6%
2020 11,321 −9.3%
2023 (est.) 10,969 −12.2%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2013
Jefferson Davis County racial composition as of 2020
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 4,330 38.25%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 6,622 58.49%
Native American 8 0.07%
Asian 21 0.19%
Other/Mixed 239 2.11%
Hispanic or Latino 101 0.89%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 11,321 people, 4,713 households, and 3,003 families residing in the county.

Communities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Historic sites

Jefferson Davis County Courthouse in Prentiss is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Jefferson Davis para niños

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