Scott County, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Scott County
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1900 Scott County Courthouse (replaced 1924 and again in 1955)
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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 | 1833 |
| Named for | Abram M. Scott |
| Seat | Forest |
| Largest city | Forest |
| Area | |
| • Total | 610 sq mi (1,600 km2) |
| • Land | 609 sq mi (1,580 km2) |
| • Water | 1.2 sq mi (3 km2) 0.2% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 27,990 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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27,507  |
| • Density | 45.9/sq mi (17.72/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
Scott County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 27,990. Its county seat is Forest. The county is named for Abram M. Scott, the Governor of Mississippi from 1832 to 1833.
Contents
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 610 square miles (1,600 km2), of which 609 square miles (1,580 km2) is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2) (0.2%) is water.
It is an approximately 45 minute driving distance from Jackson.
Major highways
Interstate 20
U.S. Highway 80
Mississippi Highway 13
Mississippi Highway 21
Mississippi Highway 35
Adjacent counties
- Leake County (north)
- Newton County (east)
- Smith County (south)
- Rankin County (west)
- Madison County (northwest)
National protected area
- Bienville National Forest (part)
History
This area was developed by European Americans for cotton plantations. After the American Civil War, many freedmen worked as sharecroppers or tenant farmers on the plantations. In 1890 the state legislature disenfranchised most blacks, who were a majority in the state, by creating barriers to voter registration; it also passed Jim Crow laws, treating freedmen and their descendants as second-class citizens.
From 1877 to 1950, there were nine lynchings of blacks in Scott County. It was a form of racial terrorism that was at its height at the turn of the 20th century.
On October 23–25, 1898, a "race war" erupted in Harperville, an unincorporated community in Scott County, after blacks resisted one of their community being arrested for an alleged conflict with his white employer. They fatally shot a white deputy and wounded three others. A mob of whites gathered that night and started hunting down and killing black suspects, killing nine to eleven black men by the end of the following day. Sources vary in the count of fatalities, and some blacks were buried before being identified or counted. The county sheriff arrested some black suspects and took them first to the county seat at Forest, and then to Meridian for their safety. Associated Press and major newspapers covered the events.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1840 | 1,653 | — | |
| 1850 | 3,961 | 139.6% | |
| 1860 | 8,139 | 105.5% | |
| 1870 | 7,847 | −3.6% | |
| 1880 | 10,845 | 38.2% | |
| 1890 | 11,740 | 8.3% | |
| 1900 | 14,316 | 21.9% | |
| 1910 | 16,723 | 16.8% | |
| 1920 | 16,420 | −1.8% | |
| 1930 | 20,914 | 27.4% | |
| 1940 | 23,144 | 10.7% | |
| 1950 | 21,681 | −6.3% | |
| 1960 | 21,187 | −2.3% | |
| 1970 | 21,369 | 0.9% | |
| 1980 | 24,556 | 14.9% | |
| 1990 | 24,137 | −1.7% | |
| 2000 | 28,423 | 17.8% | |
| 2010 | 28,264 | −0.6% | |
| 2020 | 27,990 | −1.0% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 27,507 | −2.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013 |
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2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White | 13,145 | 46.96% |
| Black or African American | 9,923 | 35.45% |
| Native American | 95 | 0.34% |
| Asian | 103 | 0.37% |
| Other/Mixed | 576 | 2.06% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 4,148 | 14.82% |
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 27,990 people, 10,180 households, and 7,015 families residing in the county.
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 28,264 people, 10,248 households, and 7,264 families residing in the county. The population density was 46.4 people per square mile (17.9 people/km2). There were 11,470 housing units at an average density of 18 units per square mile (6.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 53.3% White, 37.5% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 7.2% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. 10.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino (6.3% Mexican, 1.5% Guatemalan, 0.7% Cuban).
There were 10,183 households, out of which 36.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.80% were married couples living together, 18.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.00% were non-families. 22.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.60% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 21.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $26,686, and the median income for a family was $31,487. Males had a median income of $26,406 versus $18,459 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,013. About 16.50% of families and 20.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.80% of those under age 18 and 22.70% of those age 65 or over.
Media
The Scott County Times has served Scott County since 1939. It is a weekly publication owned by Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Communities
Cities
Towns
- Lake (partly in Newton County)
- Sebastopol (partly in Leake County)
Census-designated places
Other unincorporated communities
Education
School districts include:
- Forest Municipal School District
- Scott County School District
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Scott (Misisipi) para niños
