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Marks, Mississippi
Marks Welcome Sign.jpg
Location of Marks, Mississippi
Location of Marks, Mississippi
Marks, Mississippi is located in the United States
Marks, Mississippi
Marks, Mississippi
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Mississippi
County Quitman
Area
 • Total 1.28 sq mi (3.32 km2)
 • Land 1.28 sq mi (3.32 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
161 ft (49 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 1,444
 • Density 1,125.49/sq mi (434.69/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
38646
Area code(s) 662
FIPS code 28-45240
GNIS feature ID 2405026

Marks is a city located in Quitman County, Mississippi. It is also the main town, or county seat, of Quitman County. In 2020, about 1,444 people lived there.

History of Marks, Mississippi

Marks is famous for being the starting point of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Poor People's Campaign in 1968. This campaign aimed to help people living in poverty.

Founding of Marks

The town of Marks was named after Leopold Marks (1851-1910). He came to America from Germany in 1868. He wanted to avoid being forced to join the German army. When he arrived in New York, he knew no English and had very little money.

Leopold Marks became the first person to represent Quitman County in the state legislature. He served in this role for eight years. In 1875, he got married to Pauline.

Marks saw how much potential the Coldwater River area had. He noticed the thick forests and rich land near Cassidy's Bayou. He bought a small boat and sold goods along the river. Later, he opened his own store and started buying land. He also sold jewelry across the county.

He faced challenges when trying to get land grants. To solve this, he created the Marks Townsite Company. This company helped him get the land he needed.

Growth and Development

Leopold Marks helped the Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad come to the area. He gave the railroad company land for free. His son, Henry Marks, later donated land for the town's cemetery.

The town of Marks was officially founded on May 12, 1907. On May 12, 2007, the town celebrated its 100th birthday.

Geography of Marks

Marks is located at 34°15′18″N 90°16′22″W / 34.25500°N 90.27278°W / 34.25500; -90.27278.

The United States Census Bureau says the city covers about 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) of land. There is no water area within the city limits.

Population and Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1910 670
1920 1,020 52.2%
1930 1,258 23.3%
1940 1,818 44.5%
1950 2,209 21.5%
1960 2,572 16.4%
1970 2,609 1.4%
1980 2,260 −13.4%
1990 1,758 −22.2%
2000 1,551 −11.8%
2010 1,735 11.9%
2020 1,444 −16.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 Census Information

The 2020 United States census counted 1,444 people living in Marks. There were 699 households and 425 families in the city.

Marks racial composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 381 26.39%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 1,031 71.4%
Asian 4 0.28%
Other/Mixed 23 1.59%
Hispanic or Latino 5 0.35%

Education in Marks

Students in Marks attend schools run by the Quitman County School District.

There is also a private school in Marks called Delta Academy.

Notable People from Marks

Many interesting people have come from Marks, Mississippi:

  • Dawn H. Beam – An Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of Mississippi.
  • Larry Garron – A professional football player.
  • Reginald Jackson – A member of the Mississippi Senate.
  • Robert L. Jackson – A former member of the Mississippi Senate and father of Reginald Jackson.
  • Charles Lipson – A political scientist and professor emeritus at the University of Chicago.
  • Frederick W. Smith – The founder and CEO of FedEx Corporation.
  • Carolyn Stanford Taylor – The Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Gallery

See also

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

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