Raleigh, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Raleigh, Mississippi
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Smith County Courthouse in Raleigh
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Location of Raleigh, Mississippi
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 Raleigh, Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Smith |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.11 sq mi (13.23 km2) |
| • Land | 5.10 sq mi (13.20 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) |
| Elevation | 545 ft (166 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,094 |
| • Density | 214.68/sq mi (82.89/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
39153
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| Area code(s) | 601 |
| FIPS code | 28-60840 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0694503 |
Raleigh is a town and the county seat of Smith County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 1,094 at the 2020 census, making it the second largest town in Smith County. Named for English explorer Sir Walter Raleigh, Raleigh has been home to such Mississippians as Governor Robert Lowry, Governor/U.S. Senator Anselm McLaurin and pioneer William H. Hardy.
Contents
History
Raleigh was first established as the community of Indian Springs and was renamed when the county seat was moved from Fairfield to Raleigh in 1834. The town of Raleigh and its citizens were very active in the Civil War; it was home to numerous companies of the Army of Mississippi and a training camp. In 1863, Raleigh was part of Grierson's Raid which played a major role in the defeat of the Confederate Army at Vicksburg.
Geography
Raleigh is located at 32°1′59″N 89°31′22″W / 32.03306°N 89.52278°W (32.033008, -89.522893).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.1 square miles (13 km2), of which 5.0 square miles (13 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) (0.40%) is water.
Raleigh's tornado activity is slightly above the state's average and 187% above the national average.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1940 | 644 | — | |
| 1950 | 580 | −9.9% | |
| 1960 | 614 | 5.9% | |
| 1970 | 1,018 | 65.8% | |
| 1980 | 998 | −2.0% | |
| 1990 | 1,291 | 29.4% | |
| 2000 | 1,255 | −2.8% | |
| 2010 | 1,462 | 16.5% | |
| 2020 | 1,094 | −25.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 662 | 60.51% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 394 | 36.01% |
| Native American | 4 | 0.37% |
| Asian | 3 | 0.27% |
| Other/Mixed | 18 | 1.65% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 13 | 1.19% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,094 people, 435 households, and 255 families residing in the town.
Arts and culture
Raleigh is the site of the annual Raleigh heritage festival and is the former home of The National Tobacco Spitting Contest.
Landmarks
The Harrison Hotel, now closed, is a famous hotel. Many Mississippi politicians, governors and U.S. Senators have stayed there, including Theodore G. Bilbo and Jefferson Davis.
The Smith County Courthouse is the major focal point of the town. Two earlier courthouses were destroyed in fires in the 1800s. The current court house was completed in 1912; but a leak in the roof caused the eventual loss of its signature dome. In 2005, a dedication service was held in honor of a new dome built as a replacement.
A new Chancery Court building was completed in 2009 to make room for county offices and added court room space. The new Chancery Court building is designed in a similar Greek revival design which resembles the County Courthouse.
Education
Raleigh is served by the Smith County School District.
Raleigh High School is the educational center for the towns of Raleigh, Polkville and Sylvarena. Its school colors are maroon and white. Its mascot is Rah-Lee the Lion.
Notable people
- Christopher "Big Black" Boykin, American entertainer and musician
- Bobby Keyes, Professional American, Canadian defensive back Edmonton Eskimos CFL
- Donte Moncrief, (American Football) Wide Receiver Houston Texans
- Mark Tullos, lawyer and current state representative
See also
In Spanish: Raleigh (Misisipi) para niños
