Sharkey County, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sharkey County
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Sharkey County courthouse in Rolling Fork
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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 | 1876 |
| Named for | William L. Sharkey |
| Seat | Rolling Fork |
| Largest city | Rolling Fork |
| Area | |
| • Total | 435 sq mi (1,130 km2) |
| • Land | 432 sq mi (1,120 km2) |
| • Water | 3.4 sq mi (9 km2) 0.8% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,800 |
| • Density | 8.74/sq mi (3.37/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
Sharkey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. Part of the eastern border is formed by the Yazoo River. According to the 2020 census, the population was 3,800, making it the second-least populous county in Mississippi, after Issaquena County. Its county seat is Rolling Fork. The county is named after William L. Sharkey, the provisional Governor of Mississippi in 1865.
Sharkey County is located in the Mississippi Delta region.
Contents
Historic Weather
On the afternoon of Sunday, February 21, 1971, a large and long-tracked F5 tornado impacted areas of Sharkey County. On March 24, 2023, a high-end EF4 tornado hit the city of Rolling Fork with estimated wind speeds of 195 mph (314kph), causing catastrophic damage throughout the community. The tornado was responsible for 17 fatalities and 165 injuries.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 435 square miles (1,130 km2), of which 432 square miles (1,120 km2) is land and 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2) (0.8%) is water.
Major highways
U.S. Route 61
Mississippi Highway 14
Mississippi Highway 16
Adjacent counties
- Washington County (north)
- Humphreys County (northeast)
- Yazoo County (east)
- Issaquena County (southwest)
National protected area
- Delta National Forest
- Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge (part)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 6,306 | — | |
| 1890 | 8,382 | 32.9% | |
| 1900 | 12,178 | 45.3% | |
| 1910 | 15,694 | 28.9% | |
| 1920 | 14,190 | −9.6% | |
| 1930 | 13,877 | −2.2% | |
| 1940 | 15,433 | 11.2% | |
| 1950 | 12,903 | −16.4% | |
| 1960 | 10,738 | −16.8% | |
| 1970 | 8,937 | −16.8% | |
| 1980 | 7,964 | −10.9% | |
| 1990 | 7,066 | −11.3% | |
| 2000 | 6,580 | −6.9% | |
| 2010 | 4,916 | −25.3% | |
| 2020 | 3,800 | −22.7% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 3,336 | −32.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013 |
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2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
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| White | 962 | 25.32% |
| Black or African American | 2,671 | 70.29% |
| Asian | 14 | 0.37% |
| Pacific Islander | 3 | 0.08% |
| Other/Mixed | 89 | 2.34% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 61 | 1.61% |
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 3,800 people, 1,751 households, and 1,046 families residing in the county.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 4,916 people living in the county. 71.0% were Black or African American, 27.9% White, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native American, 0.4% of some other race and 0.4% or two or more races. 0.8% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).
Education
- Public School Districts
- South Delta School District, which operates South Delta High School
- Private Schools
- Sharkey-Issaquena Academy (Rolling Fork)
Communities
City
- Rolling Fork (county seat)
Towns
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities
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Washington County | Humphreys County | |
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| Issaquena County |  |
Yazoo County | ||
 Sharkey County, Mississippi  |
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| Issaquena County |
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Sharkey (Misisipi) para niños
