Shaw, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shaw, Mississippi
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Mississippi Blues Trail marker for David "Honeyboy" Edwards in Shaw
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Location of Shaw, Mississippi
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 Shaw, Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| Counties | Bolivar, Sunflower |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.11 sq mi (2.88 km2) |
| • Land | 1.11 sq mi (2.88 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 135 ft (41 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,457 |
| • Density | 1,309.07/sq mi (505.46/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
38773
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| Area code(s) | 662 |
| FIPS code | 28-67000 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2405451 |
Shaw is a small city in Mississippi, located in a flat area called the Mississippi Delta. It's split between two counties: Bolivar and Sunflower. The city's name comes from an old Native American tribe. In 2010, about 1,952 people lived in Shaw.
Contents
History of Shaw
Early Events in Shaw
In 1914, a man named Jack Farmer was being looked for by a group of people. They believed he was involved in the death of another man, Earl Chase. During the search, two other people died by accident. Jennie Collins, a Black woman, was thought to have helped Farmer. James Jolly, a member of the search group, was mistaken for Farmer in the dark. Both were killed in a swamp where Farmer was thought to be hiding. Jack Farmer was never found.
Fighting for Equal Rights
Shaw became well-known across the country in 1971 because of a very important court case. A group of local residents, led by Andrew Hawkins, sued the town. They said the town was not treating everyone equally when it came to public services. This went against their rights under the Fourteenth Amendment.
The residents pointed out that almost all homes where white people lived had access to sewers. However, only 80 percent of homes where Black people lived had sewers. They also noted that water pressure was lower in Black neighborhoods.
A Landmark Court Decision
The court, called the Fifth Circuit Court, decided that the residents were right. It ordered Shaw to make sure everyone had equal access to public services. These services included fire hydrants, water pipes, streetlights, sewers, and paved streets.
This ruling was a huge win for civil rights. Some people even compared it to Brown v. Board of Education, another very important case that ended segregation in schools. Even though it was a big victory, this case did not lead to many similar lawsuits in other places.
Geography of Shaw
Where is Shaw Located?
Shaw is mostly in Bolivar County. A small part of the city stretches east into Sunflower County. In the year 2000, all 2,313 people living in Shaw were in Bolivar County. By 2006, just one person lived in the Sunflower County part of the city.
Size of the City
According to the United States Census Bureau, Shaw covers about 1.1 square miles (2.9 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no water.
Population Changes in Shaw
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 201 | — | |
| 1900 | 422 | 110.0% | |
| 1910 | 871 | 106.4% | |
| 1920 | 1,375 | 57.9% | |
| 1930 | 1,612 | 17.2% | |
| 1940 | 1,669 | 3.5% | |
| 1950 | 1,892 | 13.4% | |
| 1960 | 2,062 | 9.0% | |
| 1970 | 2,513 | 21.9% | |
| 1980 | 2,461 | −2.1% | |
| 1990 | 2,349 | −4.6% | |
| 2000 | 2,312 | −1.6% | |
| 2010 | 1,952 | −15.6% | |
| 2020 | 1,457 | −25.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Shaw's Population in 2020
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White | 51 | 3.5% |
| Black or African American | 1,376 | 94.44% |
| Asian | 8 | 0.55% |
| Other/Mixed | 12 | 0.82% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 10 | 0.69% |
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 1,457 people living in Shaw. These people lived in 737 households, which included 548 families.
Education in Shaw
Local School Districts
Most of Shaw is part of the West Bolivar Consolidated School District. The small part of the city that is in Sunflower County is served by the Sunflower County School District.
Schools in Town
The schools located directly in Shaw are McEvans Elementary School and Shaw High School. At one point, these two schools were combined into one K-12 school called McEvans Warriors K-12 School. However, as of 2024, they are separate schools again.
Before July 1, 2014, the Bolivar County part of Shaw was in the Shaw School District. That district then joined with others to form the West Bolivar Consolidated School District.
Famous People from Shaw
Many interesting people have come from Shaw, Mississippi:
- Katie G. Dorsett – A politician who was a member of the North Carolina General Assembly.
- David Honeyboy Edwards – A famous blues singer and guitarist.
- Boo Ferriss – A professional baseball pitcher who played for the Boston Red Sox.
- Paul Gallo – A well-known radio show host.
- Louis Satterfield – A talented musician.
- Bill Triplett – A professional football player.
See also
In Spanish: Shaw (Misisipi) para niños
