Smithville, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Smithville, Mississippi
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Water tower in Smithville (2018)
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| Motto(s):
"Dig in and grow with us"
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Location in Monroe County and the state of Mississippi
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 Smithville, Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Monroe |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.61 sq mi (4.17 km2) |
| • Land | 1.48 sq mi (3.84 km2) |
| • Water | 0.12 sq mi (0.32 km2) |
| Elevation | 262 ft (80 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 509 |
| • Density | 342.99/sq mi (132.45/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
38870
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| Area code(s) | 662 |
| FIPS code | 28-68720 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0677945 |
Smithville is a small town located in Monroe County, Mississippi, in the United States. In 2020, about 509 people lived there. This was a decrease from the 942 people who lived in Smithville in 2010.
Contents
Smithville's History
Smithville was founded on land bought from a Chickasaw chief named Che-lah-cha-chubby in 1836. The town is named after William Smith. He was an early settler who opened a store there around 1840. Smithville officially became a town in 1845.
The 2011 Tornado
On April 27, 2011, a very powerful tornado hit Smithville. It struck around 3:45 p.m. CDT. The tornado was an EF5, which is the strongest type. Its winds were estimated to be as fast as 205 miles per hour (330 km/h).
Sadly, 16 people lost their lives, and 40 people were hurt. The tornado destroyed 117 buildings in Monroe County. Another 50 buildings were badly damaged. The tornado then moved into Itawamba County.
In Smithville, the tornado caused a lot of damage. An SUV was lifted high into the air and thrown half a mile. It even hit the town's water tower, leaving a dent. The tornado completely destroyed important buildings like the city hall, post office, and police station. Four churches were also ruined. Even heavy granite gravestones were knocked down.
Geography of Smithville
Smithville is in the northern part of Monroe County. Its exact location is 34°4′7″N 88°23′44″W / 34.06861°N 88.39556°W. The town sits on the east side of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. This waterway is a large canal system. The Glover Wilkins Lock, which helps boats move along the waterway, is just downstream from the town.
Mississippi Highway 25 goes through Smithville. This highway connects the town to Fulton to the north. It also connects Smithville to Amory to the south.
The U.S. Census Bureau says that Smithville covers about 1.6 square miles (4.1 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 1.5 square miles (3.8 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.1 square miles (0.3 square kilometers), is water.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 150 | — | |
| 1910 | 179 | 19.3% | |
| 1920 | 138 | −22.9% | |
| 1930 | 401 | 190.6% | |
| 1940 | 402 | 0.2% | |
| 1950 | 419 | 4.2% | |
| 1960 | 489 | 16.7% | |
| 1970 | 552 | 12.9% | |
| 1980 | 866 | 56.9% | |
| 1990 | 871 | 0.6% | |
| 2000 | 882 | 1.3% | |
| 2010 | 942 | 6.8% | |
| 2020 | 509 | −46.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 882 people living in Smithville. These people lived in 365 households. About 243 of these households were families. The town had about 602 people per square mile.
Most of the people in Smithville were White (97.62%). A smaller number were African American (1.59%). Other groups included Native American, Asian, and people of two or more races. About 0.79% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 33.7% of the households had children under 18 living with them. Many households (47.9%) were married couples. About 14.5% had a female head of household with no husband present.
The average household had 2.42 people. The average family had 3.03 people.
The population was spread out by age. About 26.2% were under 18. About 15.5% were 65 or older. The average age in the town was 36 years old.
Education in Smithville
Students in Smithville attend schools in the Monroe County School District.
Smithville High School has a strong sports history.
- The football team won two state championships in Class 1A. They won in 1993 and 1998.
- The softball team has won the 1A state championship three times: in 2008, 2011, and 2012.
- The Smithville High School Band has also won two state marching band championships.
Famous People from Smithville
- Rod Brasfield: A comedian and member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. He was also part of the Grand Ole Opry.
- Anthony J. Cox: A former member of the Mississippi State Senate.
- Mississippi Slim: A country singer who was also part of the Grand Ole Opry.
- Frances Irene Reels: A talented screenwriter and actress.
See also
In Spanish: Smithville (Misisipi) para niños
