Lexington, Mississippi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lexington, Mississippi
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Location of Lexington, Mississippi
Lexington, Mississippi Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
County	Holmes
Area
• Total	2.42 sq mi (6.27 km2)
• Land	2.42 sq mi (6.26 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation	233 ft (71 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,602
• Density	662.81/sq mi (255.86/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	39095
Area code(s)	662
FIPS code	28-40600
GNIS feature ID	0672434

Lexington is a city in Holmes County, Mississippi, United States. It is also the county seat, which means it's where the local government is located. The county was set up in 1833, and the city of Lexington was officially formed in 1836.

In 2020, about 1,602 people lived here. The number of people living in Lexington has changed over time. For example, in 1950, there were 3,198 residents. The population has gone down since then, partly because of big changes in farming.

History of Lexington

Lexington became a city in 1836. It was founded by European-American settlers. Before they arrived, the Choctaw people lived in this area for a long time. They were later forced to give up their land to the United States.

The new settlers started large cotton farms along the Yazoo and Black rivers. These farms mostly used enslaved African Americans for labor. Many enslaved people were brought from other parts of the South. This broke up many families. Soon, African Americans made up most of the population in Holmes County.

Lexington was a busy trading center. People came from all over the county on court days. In the 1830s, some German-Jewish immigrants moved to Lexington. Many of them became merchants, or shopkeepers. Later, more Jewish immigrants came from Russia. The Jewish community built a special building called Temple Beth El in 1905. It closed in 2009 because fewer people lived there.

During the time of the large cotton farms, the city was very active. Farm owners became rich because there was a high demand for cotton.

Early Settlers and Businesses

One early settler in the 1830s was Jacob Sontheimer. He was a German-Jewish immigrant. He first worked helping an older farm owner. Later, he was given land and became a merchant in town. His two daughters, Rose and Bettie, also ran the family business.

More Jewish immigrants came from Germany. By the late 1870s, there were about 20. By 1900, there were about 50. Later, Jewish immigrants also came from Eastern Europe. They started businesses like tailoring and grocery stores. The Lewis Grocery Store grew into a very large wholesale business in Mississippi.

After the Civil War, formerly enslaved people, called freedmen, made up most of the population in Holmes County. They joined the Republican Party. They elected several local leaders, like county sheriffs. They also wanted education and some bought land. They cleared land and sold timber to earn money.

However, after 1890, the state government made new laws. These laws made it very hard for African Americans to vote. This kept them out of politics for many decades. Later, many freedmen lost their land. They became sharecroppers or tenant farmers. This meant they farmed land owned by others.

Lexington in the 20th Century

Edmund F. Noel was a lawyer from Lexington. He became a state legislator. Later, he was elected as the governor of Mississippi. He served from 1908 to 1912. His house on North Street is a special building. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In the early 1900s, farmers in Mississippi needed more workers. Some Chinese immigrants came to Holmes County to help. But then, tiny insects called boll weevils damaged the cotton crops. Also, new machines meant fewer people were needed for farm work. Because of this, the number of people in the county and town started to go down from the 1930s.

Many African Americans moved away from the South. This was part of a movement called the Great Migration. They went to cities in the North and Midwest. They hoped to find better jobs and escape unfair rules.

Lexington is known for two important women:

• Arenia Mallory: She was an African-American music teacher from Illinois. She became the president of Saints Academy in Lexington. She made the school excellent and even started a junior college. She also worked for the federal government.
• Hazel Brannon Smith: She was a white woman who owned newspapers in Lexington. She wrote articles that supported fairness and change during the Civil Rights era. She won a special award called a Pulitzer Prize for her writing.

Geography and Climate

Lexington covers about 2.5 square miles (6.27 square kilometers) of land. There is almost no water area.

Weather in Lexington

The weather in Lexington has hot and humid summers. The winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate. It is common in most of the Southern United States.

Population Changes

The table below shows how the population of Lexington has changed over time. You can see two big drops in population. One was from 1910 to 1920. The other was after 1960. These drops happened because farming became more mechanized. Also, many African Americans moved away during the Great Migration. They sought better jobs and to escape unfair laws.

People in Lexington (2020)

In 2020, there were 1,602 people living in Lexington. There were 545 households and 363 families.

People in Lexington (2010)

In 2010, the people living in Lexington were:

• 71.8% Black or African American
• 27.0% White
• 0.5% Asian
• 0.5% from two or more races
• 0.1% American Indian

Schools in Lexington

The Holmes County School District serves Lexington. William Dean Jr. Elementary School and Holmes County Central High School are in the area.

Lexington was also home to Saints Academy. This private school for African-American students started in 1918. It was founded by the Church of God in Christ. Arenia Mallory became the principal and president. She helped the school grow and set high academic standards. It became a well-known school.

Another private school in the city is Central Holmes Christian School. It was started in 1967.

Famous People from Lexington

Many notable people have connections to Lexington:

• Chalmers Archer: An author, teacher, and U.S. Special Forces veteran.
• John C. Black: A member of the U.S. House of Representatives and a Medal of Honor winner.
• Lee Cooper: A blues guitarist.
• Minnie M. Cox: A postmaster and teacher.
• Leonard B. Cresswell: A major general in the United States Marine Corps.
• Buford Ellington: A former Governor of Tennessee.
• Malachi Favors: A jazz bassist.
• B.B. King: A famous musician who lived in Lexington.
• Ronald Kirklin: A Quartermaster General for the U.S. Army.
• John R. Land: A Justice on the Louisiana Supreme Court.
• Alexander Lane: An Illinois state representative and doctor.
• Ronnie Lewis: A former mayor of Dolton, Illinois.
• Arenia Mallory: An important African-American educator and activist.
• Charles Harrison Mason: The founder of the Church of God in Christ.
• Melany Neilson: An author.
• William Nichols: An architect.
• Edmond Favor Noel: A lawyer and former Governor of Mississippi.
• Milton L. Olive III: A U.S. Army Soldier and Medal of Honor recipient.
• Lonnie Pitchford: A blues musician.
• Monroe Saffold Jr.: An American bodybuilder.
• Hazel Brannon Smith: A newspaper owner and publisher who won a Pulitzer Prize.
• Otis "Big Smokey" Smothers: A Chicago blues guitarist.
• Neely Tucker: A journalist and author.
• Willie West: A former National Football League player.
• Hattie Winston: An actress in TV, movies, and theater.
• Jill Collen Jefferson: An African American Civil Rights Attorney and activist.

See also

In Spanish: Lexington (Misisipi) para niños