Shannon, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shannon, Mississippi
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| Motto(s):
Where good neighbors aren't hard to find
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Location of Shannon, Mississippi
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 Shannon, Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Mississippi | ||
| County | Lee | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 4.05 sq mi (10.49 km2) | ||
| • Land | 4.05 sq mi (10.49 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 256 ft (78 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,496 | ||
| • Density | 369.38/sq mi (142.62/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
38868
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| Area code(s) | 662 | ||
| FIPS code | 28-66720 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0677612 | ||
Shannon is a small town located in Lee County, Mississippi. In 2020, about 1,496 people lived there. The town is found on Mississippi Highway 145, just west of U.S. Route 45. A stream called Chiwapa Creek flows to the south of Shannon.
Contents
History of Shannon
Shannon is named after Samuel Shannon. He bought land in this area from a Chickasaw Chief named Itawamba a long time ago, in the early 1800s. Samuel Shannon then built a cabin and started a farm. More people came to settle here after the Treaty of Pontotoc. This treaty meant the Chickasaw people traded their land for money.
In the early 1800s, Constantine Shannon took strawberry plants from Shannon to Plant City, Florida. This helped start a huge strawberry farming business in Plant City that is worth millions of dollars today.
A church was built in Shannon in 1839.
The first town area was a bit north of where Shannon is now. The town moved when the Mobile and Ohio Railroad was built through the community in the 1850s. Shannon officially became a town in 1860, and a post office was opened. Shannon was first part of Itawamba County. But it became part of Lee County when that county was created in 1866.
Businesses grew in Shannon. There was a place to store corn, another for grain, and three cotton gins. Around 1915, Coca-Cola was even bottled in Shannon.
The old Francis Store is one of the town's original buildings. Today, it is a restaurant owned by the Town of Shannon.
The 1963 Tornado Event
On April 29, 1963, a very strong tornado hit the center of Shannon. It caused a lot of damage, destroying 27 buildings. Sadly, three people lost their lives, and 20 others were hurt. Reports say that parts of the asphalt from Highway 45 were even pulled up from the ground by the powerful storm.
Geography and Location
Shannon is located at specific coordinates: 34.116826 degrees North and -88.701520 degrees West.
The United States Census Bureau says that the town covers a total area of about 4.1 square miles (10.49 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no water.
Population Information
The town of Shannon has seen its population change over the years. Here's how many people lived there during different census counts:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 232 | — | |
| 1890 | 329 | 41.8% | |
| 1900 | 434 | 31.9% | |
| 1910 | 564 | 30.0% | |
| 1920 | 498 | −11.7% | |
| 1930 | 524 | 5.2% | |
| 1940 | 615 | 17.4% | |
| 1950 | 520 | −15.4% | |
| 1960 | 554 | 6.5% | |
| 1970 | 575 | 3.8% | |
| 1980 | 680 | 18.3% | |
| 1990 | 1,419 | 108.7% | |
| 2000 | 1,657 | 16.8% | |
| 2010 | 1,753 | 5.8% | |
| 2020 | 1,496 | −14.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 Census Details
In the 2020 United States Census, there were 1,496 people living in Shannon. There were 700 households and 416 families.
The population of Shannon in 2020 included people from different backgrounds:
| Race | Number of People | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White | 488 | 32.62% |
| Black or African American | 919 | 61.43% |
| Asian | 4 | 0.27% |
| Pacific Islander | 2 | 0.13% |
| Other/Mixed | 59 | 3.94% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 24 | 1.6% |
Economy and Businesses
In 2005, a company called General Atomics opened a large factory in Shannon. This factory cost $38 million to build. A lot of the work done there is for the U.S. Navy. This includes making advanced systems to help aircraft land and take off from aircraft carriers.
The Natchez Trace Parkway RV Park is also located in Shannon. This park offers a place for people traveling in recreational vehicles (RVs) to stay.
Education in Shannon
Students in the Town of Shannon attend schools that are part of the Lee County School District.
Notable People from Shannon
Many interesting people have connections to Shannon:
- Cousins Bertha Barbee and Norma Barbee, who were members of the music group The Velvelettes, were born in Shannon.
- Guy Bush, a professional baseball player, retired and lived in Shannon.
- George Washington Forbes helped start the Boston Guardian newspaper.
- Romaro Miller was a professional football player who played as a NFL quarterback.
- Rickey W. Thompson is a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives, which is part of the state government.
See also
- In Spanish: Shannon (Misisipi) para niños
