Lowndes County, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lowndes County
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Lowndes County Courthouse in Columbus
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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 | 1830 |
| Named for | William Jones Lowndes |
| Seat | Columbus |
| Largest city | Columbus |
| Area | |
| • Total | 516 sq mi (1,340 km2) |
| • Land | 506 sq mi (1,310 km2) |
| • Water | 11 sq mi (30 km2) 2.1% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 58,879 |
| • Density | 114.11/sq mi (44.06/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
Lowndes County is a county located on the eastern edge of the U.S. state of Mississippi. In 2020, about 58,879 people lived there. The main city and county seat is Columbus. The county is named after U.S. Congressman William Jones Lowndes.
Lowndes County is part of the Columbus, MS Micropolitan Statistical Area. It is also one of three counties in the "Golden Triangle" area of Mississippi.
Contents
Exploring Lowndes County's Past
This area was first settled by European Americans. They wanted to create large cotton farms, known as plantations. Cotton became the most important crop grown in Mississippi.
Geography and What It Looks Like
Lowndes County is in eastern Mississippi, right next to the state of Alabama. Before people settled here, the entire area was covered in forests. Today, the flatter parts have been cleared for farms and towns. The areas with rivers and streams, which make up about 40% of the county, are still wooded.
The Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway flows through the middle of the county. This waterway has a big lock system called the John C. Stennis Lock and Dam near Columbus. The highest point in the county is about 450 feet (137 meters) above sea level. This small hill is found near the northeast corner of the county.
The county covers a total area of about 516 square miles (1,336 square kilometers). Most of this, about 506 square miles (1,311 square kilometers), is land. The remaining 11 square miles (28 square kilometers) is water.
Main Roads You Can Take
U.S. Highway 45- U.S. Route 45 Alternate
U.S. Highway 82
Mississippi Highway 12
Mississippi Highway 50
Mississippi Highway 69
Mississippi Highway 182
Neighboring Counties
- Noxubee County - to the south
- Oktibbeha County - to the west
- Clay County - to the northwest
- Monroe County - to the north
- Lamar County, Alabama - to the northeast
- Pickens County, Alabama - to the southeast
Who Lives in Lowndes County?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1830 | 3,173 | — | |
| 1840 | 14,513 | 357.4% | |
| 1850 | 19,544 | 34.7% | |
| 1860 | 23,625 | 20.9% | |
| 1870 | 30,502 | 29.1% | |
| 1880 | 28,244 | −7.4% | |
| 1890 | 27,047 | −4.2% | |
| 1900 | 29,095 | 7.6% | |
| 1910 | 30,703 | 5.5% | |
| 1920 | 27,632 | −10.0% | |
| 1930 | 29,987 | 8.5% | |
| 1940 | 35,245 | 17.5% | |
| 1950 | 37,852 | 7.4% | |
| 1960 | 46,639 | 23.2% | |
| 1970 | 49,700 | 6.6% | |
| 1980 | 57,304 | 15.3% | |
| 1990 | 59,308 | 3.5% | |
| 2000 | 61,586 | 3.8% | |
| 2010 | 59,779 | −2.9% | |
| 2020 | 58,879 | −1.5% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 57,283 | −4.2% | |
| US Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013 |
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What the 2020 Census Shows
The 2020 United States Census counted 58,879 people living in Lowndes County. There were 22,436 households and 14,654 families. The census also looks at the different backgrounds of the people living in the county.
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White | 29,363 | 49.87% |
| Black or African American | 25,885 | 43.96% |
| Native American | 110 | 0.19% |
| Asian | 514 | 0.87% |
| Pacific Islander | 16 | 0.03% |
| Other/Mixed | 1,668 | 2.83% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,323 | 2.25% |
What the 2010 Census Showed
In the 2010 United States Census, there were 59,779 people in Lowndes County. About 54% of the people were White, and 43.5% were Black or African American. Other groups included Asian, Native American, and Pacific Islander people. About 1.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Learning and Schools in Lowndes County
Lowndes County has several school districts that serve its students. These include the Columbus Municipal School District and the Lowndes County School District. There are also private schools available.
Schools for Kids and Teens
The Columbus Municipal School District has several schools:
- Columbus High School
- Columbus Middle School
- McKellar Technology Center
- Joe Cook Elementary Fine Arts Magnet School
- Fairview Elementary Aerospace and Science Magnet School
- Franklin Academy Elementary Medical Sciences and Wellness Magnet School
- Sale Elementary International Studies Magnet School
- Stokes-Beard Elementary Communication and Technology Magnet School
- Columbus Alternative School
The Lowndes County School District is divided into three areas. Each area has an elementary school, a middle school, and a high school:
- Caledonia Schools
- New Hope Schools
- West Lowndes Schools
The Mississippi Association of Independent Schools – Lowndes County Division offers five private and religious schools:
- Heritage Academy High School
- Heritage Academy Elementary School
- Columbus Christian Academy
- Victory Christian Academy
- Annunciation Catholic School
Colleges and Universities
For students who want to continue their education after high school, Mississippi University for Women is located in Columbus. Lowndes County is also served by the East Mississippi Community College system. Their Golden Triangle Campus is in Mayhew, which is an unincorporated area in Lowndes County. The college also offers classes at the Columbus Air Force Base Extension in Columbus.
Towns and Places in Lowndes County
Main City
- Columbus (This is the county seat, meaning it's the main administrative city.)
Towns
- Artesia
- Caledonia
- Crawford (This town had different names in the past, like "Crawfordsville" and "Crawfordville.")
Special Census Areas
These are places that are counted separately for the census but aren't officially cities or towns:
- Columbus Air Force Base
- New Hope
Other Small Communities
These are smaller places that are not officially incorporated as towns:
Old "Ghost Towns"
These are places that used to be towns but are now abandoned or have very few people:
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Lowndes (Misisipi) para niños
