Scooba, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Scooba, Mississippi
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| Town of Scooba | |||
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Scooba railway station in 1975
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Location in Kemper county and Mississippi
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 Scooba, Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Mississippi |
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| County | Kemper | ||
| District | 1 | ||
| Founded | December 13, 1858 | ||
| Incorporated | April 9, 1873 | ||
| Named for | Choctaw: scooba ("Reed brake") |
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| Government | |||
| • Type | Mayor–Council | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 2.48 sq mi (6.42 km2) | ||
| • Land | 2.48 sq mi (6.42 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 213 ft (65 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 744 | ||
| • Density | 300.12/sq mi (115.88/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
39358
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| Area code(s) | 662 | ||
| FIPS code | 28-66160 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 677458 | ||
| Highways |
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| Major airport | Jackson Airport (JAN) | ||
Scooba is a small town located in Kemper County, Mississippi, in the United States. It was founded in 1858. According to the 2020 Census, about 744 people live there.
Contents
What "Scooba" Means
Scooba gets its name from the Choctaw language. In Choctaw, "scooba" means "reed brake." A reed brake is like a thick patch of reeds, which are tall, grass-like plants. This name was fitting because the area was known for its very good farmland.
Scooba's History
The first people to settle permanently in Scooba arrived in the 1830s. A railroad line, the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad, was built through the town. This helped Scooba grow. In 1876, a local newspaper called The Kemper Herald started in Scooba.
By the early 1900s, Scooba was a busy place. It had many homes, a hotel, and a post office. There were also two sawmills, a cotton gin, and a general store. The town had five churches and a school. The Bank of Kemper opened in 1904. Scooba was an important place for selling cotton from local farms.
In December 1906, there were some serious conflicts in Scooba and a nearby town called Wahalak, Mississippi. These events started with disagreements on the railroad. Sadly, these conflicts led to the deaths of several people. The local sheriff had to ask for help from the state militia to restore peace. These events were even reported in newspapers across the country.
Where is Scooba Located?
Scooba covers an area of about 2.5 square miles (6.42 square kilometers), and all of it is land. It is right next to U.S. Route 45 and Mississippi Highway 16, which are major roads. A railroad also runs through the town. Scooba is about 35 miles (56 km) north of Meridian and 50 miles (80 km) south of Columbus.
People Living in Scooba
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 286 | — | |
| 1910 | 322 | 12.6% | |
| 1920 | 700 | 117.4% | |
| 1930 | 933 | 33.3% | |
| 1940 | 606 | −35.0% | |
| 1950 | 734 | 21.1% | |
| 1960 | 513 | −30.1% | |
| 1970 | 626 | 22.0% | |
| 1980 | 511 | −18.4% | |
| 1990 | 541 | 5.9% | |
| 2000 | 632 | 16.8% | |
| 2010 | 732 | 15.8% | |
| 2020 | 744 | 1.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Scooba's Population in 2020
The 2020 United States Census counted 744 people living in Scooba. There were 191 households and 107 families in the town.
| Race | Number of People | Percentage |
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| White | 186 | 25.0% |
| Black or African American | 539 | 72.45% |
| Native American | 11 | 1.48% |
| Other/Mixed | 4 | 0.54% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 4 | 0.54% |
Education in Scooba
Students in Scooba attend schools run by the Kemper County School District. Scooba is also home to the main campus of East Mississippi Community College (EMCC). This college is where the administrative offices for the entire college system are located. EMCC became well-known when it was featured in the Netflix documentary Last Chance U. This show followed the college's football teams during their 2015 and 2016 seasons.
Famous People from Scooba
- Abner M. Aust – A brave United States Air Force officer and a flying ace during World War II.
- Kevin Granger – A professional basketball player.
- Charles Jones – Played basketball for four seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
- John J. Pettus – The 23rd Governor of Mississippi. He moved to Scooba when he was 22 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Scooba para niños
