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Kosciusko, Mississippi facts for kids

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Kosciusko, Mississippi
Welcome sign located on Mississippi Highway 12
Welcome sign located on Mississippi Highway 12
Flag of Kosciusko, Mississippi
Flag
Official logo of Kosciusko, Mississippi
Logo
Location of Kosciusko, Mississippi
Location of Kosciusko, Mississippi
Country United States
State Mississippi
County Attala
Named for Tadeusz Kościuszko
Area
 • Total 7.55 sq mi (19.56 km2)
 • Land 7.54 sq mi (19.53 km2)
 • Water 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation
479 ft (146 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 7,114
 • Density 943.38/sq mi (364.22/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
39090
Area code(s) 662
FIPS code 28-38320
GNIS feature ID 0672213

Kosciusko (/ˌkɒziˈɛsk/ KOZ-ee-ESK-oh) is a city in Attala County, Mississippi, United States. It is the main city and county seat of Attala County. In 2020, about 7,114 people lived there.

Exploring Kosciusko's Past

Kosciusko has a rich history that goes back to the early 1800s.

Early Days and the Natchez Trace

Before the War of 1812, a French trader named David Choate and his Choctaw wife opened an inn. It was called the Choate Stand and was located along the Natchez Trace. This spot was chosen because it was near a natural spring, which provided fresh water. During the War of 1812, General Andrew Jackson even received supplies at Choate Stand.

A Name Change and a Festival

The settlement was first known as Red Bud Springs, named after the natural spring. Later, it was renamed Kosciusko. This new name honored General Tadeusz Kościuszko, a Polish officer. He bravely served with the Continental Army and helped the American forces during the American Revolution. His name was changed to 'Kosciusko' to make it easier to say in English.

In 1850, the Choate family and other Native Americans were forced to move from their homes. This happened because of the Indian Removal Act, signed by Andrew Jackson. To remember this important part of history, Kosciusko started an annual Return to Redbud Springs Festival in 2017.

Farming and Education in Kosciusko

Throughout the 1800s, cotton was the most important crop grown in the area, and it still is today. Kosciusko also became a place for learning. In 1893, Central Mississippi College opened here. It was a private school for African American students. Later, Magnolia Bible College was also located in Kosciusko from 1976 to 2008.

Kosciusko's Location and Weather

Kosciusko is located along the Yockanookany River. It is about 62 miles (100 km) northeast of Jackson.

Land and Water

The city covers about 7.6 square miles (19.7 square kilometers) in total. Most of this area is land, with only a small part (about 0.13%) being water.

Climate of Kosciusko

Kosciusko has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.

Climate data for Kosciusko, Mississippi (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 85
(29)
85
(29)
92
(33)
98
(37)
102
(39)
109
(43)
108
(42)
109
(43)
109
(43)
98
(37)
89
(32)
84
(29)
109
(43)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 54.3
(12.4)
58.8
(14.9)
66.8
(19.3)
74.3
(23.5)
81.2
(27.3)
87.5
(30.8)
90.0
(32.2)
89.9
(32.2)
85.3
(29.6)
74.5
(23.6)
63.8
(17.7)
56.1
(13.4)
73.5
(23.1)
Daily mean °F (°C) 43.7
(6.5)
47.3
(8.5)
54.8
(12.7)
62.6
(17.0)
70.7
(21.5)
77.7
(25.4)
80.5
(26.9)
80.0
(26.7)
74.4
(23.6)
63.2
(17.3)
52.5
(11.4)
46.0
(7.8)
62.8
(17.1)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 33.0
(0.6)
35.9
(2.2)
42.8
(6.0)
50.9
(10.5)
60.1
(15.6)
67.8
(19.9)
70.9
(21.6)
70.0
(21.1)
63.6
(17.6)
51.8
(11.0)
41.1
(5.1)
35.8
(2.1)
52.0
(11.1)
Record low °F (°C) −14
(−26)
−9
(−23)
10
(−12)
24
(−4)
36
(2)
41
(5)
53
(12)
50
(10)
37
(3)
20
(−7)
12
(−11)
0
(−18)
−14
(−26)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 5.79
(147)
5.97
(152)
5.88
(149)
6.75
(171)
4.83
(123)
4.17
(106)
5.85
(149)
3.74
(95)
4.45
(113)
4.49
(114)
4.76
(121)
5.84
(148)
62.52
(1,588)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 0.6
(1.5)
0.2
(0.51)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.5
(1.3)
1.3
(3.31)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 8.7 8.8 9.4 7.1 8.5 8.5 9.7 7.6 5.7 6.0 6.7 9.2 95.9
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.8
Source: NOAA

People of Kosciusko

Historical population
Census Pop.
1890 1,394
1900 2,078 49.1%
1910 2,385 14.8%
1920 2,258 −5.3%
1930 3,237 43.4%
1940 4,291 32.6%
1950 6,753 57.4%
1960 6,800 0.7%
1970 7,266 6.9%
1980 7,415 2.1%
1990 6,986 −5.8%
2000 7,372 5.5%
2010 7,402 0.4%
2020 7,114 −3.9%
U.S. Decennial Census

Who Lives in Kosciusko?

In 2020, there were 7,114 people living in Kosciusko. These people made up 2,645 households and 1,720 families.

Kosciusko Racial Composition
Race Num. Perc.
White 2,672 37.56%
Black or African American 4,012 56.4%
Native American 9 0.13%
Asian 50 0.7%
Pacific Islander 1 0.01%
Other/Mixed 172 2.42%
Hispanic or Latino 198 2.78%

Arts and Fun in Kosciusko

Kosciusko is a lively place with many cultural events and activities.

Local Traditions and Music

For over 100 years, Kosciusko has hosted the Central Mississippi Fair. This is a big event for the community. The city is also part of the Mississippi Blues Trail, which highlights important places in blues music history.

Performing Arts and Music Education

If you love the arts, Kosciusko has the Skipworth Performing Arts Center. It's a great place to see shows. There's also The Guitar Academy, where you can learn to play the guitar.

Education in Kosciusko

The Kosciusko School District serves the city. Students attend schools like Kosciusko Senior High School.

Famous People from Kosciusko

Many notable people have come from Kosciusko, Mississippi.

  • Dave Barnes, a singer-songwriter
  • Billy Ray Bates, a professional basketball player
  • Eva Webb Dodd, Anna Boyd Ellington, and Mary Comfort Leonard, who founded the Delta Gamma sorority
  • Clarence Harmon, a former NFL running back
  • James Meredith, an important figure in the civil rights movement
  • Charlie Musselwhite, a famous blues harmonica player
  • Jason Niles, a lawyer and politician
  • Topher Payne, a playwright
  • Blanche Colton Williams, an author and professor who helped women get higher education
  • Oprah Winfrey, a billionaire media producer, actress, and talk show host
  • Marc Woodard, a former NFL linebacker

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Kosciusko (Misisipi) para niños

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