Laurel, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Laurel, Mississippi
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Lauren Rogers Museum of Art in Laurel
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| Nickname(s):
"The City Beautiful"
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Location of Laurel in Mississippi
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 Laurel, Mississippi
Location in the United States
Laurel, Mississippi
Location in Mississippi
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Mississippi | |
| County | Jones | |
| Incorporated | 1882 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Mayor-Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 16.54 sq mi (42.83 km2) | |
| • Land | 16.24 sq mi (42.05 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.30 sq mi (0.78 km2) | |
| Elevation | 269 ft (82 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 17,161 | |
| • Density | 1,129.47/sq mi (436.09/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) | |
| ZIP codes |
39440–39443
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| Area code(s) | 601, 769 | |
| FIPS code | 28-39640 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0672321 | |
Laurel is a city in and the second county seat of Jones County, Mississippi, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 17,161. It is located northeast of Ellisville, the first county seat, which contains the first county courthouse. Laurel has the second county courthouse as there are two judicial districts in Jones County. Laurel is the headquarters of the Jones County Sheriff's Department, which administers in the county. Laurel is the principal city of a micropolitan statistical area named for it. Major employers include Howard Industries, Sanderson Farms, Masonite International, Family Health Center, Howse Implement, Thermo-Kool, and South Central Regional Medical Center. Laurel is home to the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, Mississippi's oldest art museum, established by the family of Lauren Eastman Rogers.
Contents
History
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Laurel was founded in 1882 as a lumber town, as the industry harvested yellow pine forests in the region. The city was named for laurel thickets near the original town site.
By the turn of the century, the city became a site of cotton mills, to process and manufacture textiles from the state's commodity crop of cotton. The city population grew markedly during the early 20th century, as rural people were attracted to manufacturing jobs. Mechanization of agriculture reduced the number of farming jobs. The city reached its peak of population in 1960, and has declined about one third since then.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.8 square miles (41 km2), of which 15.4 square miles (40 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2), or 2.09%, is water.
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Laurel has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 3,193 | — | |
| 1910 | 8,465 | 165.1% | |
| 1920 | 13,037 | 54.0% | |
| 1930 | 18,017 | 38.2% | |
| 1940 | 20,598 | 14.3% | |
| 1950 | 25,038 | 21.6% | |
| 1960 | 27,889 | 11.4% | |
| 1970 | 24,145 | −13.4% | |
| 1980 | 21,897 | −9.3% | |
| 1990 | 18,827 | −14.0% | |
| 2000 | 18,393 | −2.3% | |
| 2010 | 18,540 | 0.8% | |
| 2020 | 17,161 | −7.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 4,465 | 26.02% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 10,642 | 62.01% |
| Native American | 35 | 0.2% |
| Asian | 109 | 0.64% |
| Pacific Islander | 2 | 0.01% |
| Other/Mixed | 453 | 2.64% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,455 | 8.48% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 17,161 people, 6,825 households, and 4,278 families residing in the city.
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, Laurel had a population of 18,540. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 61.3% African-American, 29.8% non-Hispanic white, 7.7% Hispanic or Latino, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Native American, and 1.0% reporting two or more races.
Education
Public schools
Almost all of Laurel is within the Laurel School District. Small portions are in the Jones County School District.
Private schools
- Laurel Christian School
- Laurel Christian High School
- St. John's Day School (affiliated with the Episcopal Church)
Infrastructure
Amtrak's Crescent train connects Laurel with the cities of New York City; Philadelphia; Baltimore; Washington, D.C.; Charlotte, North Carolina; Atlanta; Birmingham, Alabama; and New Orleans. The Laurel Amtrak station is situated at 230 North Maple Street.
Hattiesburg–Laurel Regional Airport is located in an unincorporated area in Jones County near Moselle, 21 miles (34 km) southwest of Laurel.
- Major highways
