Soso, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Soso, Mississippi
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Location of Soso, Mississippi
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 Soso, Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Jones |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.04 sq mi (5.28 km2) |
| • Land | 2.03 sq mi (5.26 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 315 ft (96 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 418 |
| • Density | 205.71/sq mi (79.43/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
39480
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| Area code(s) | 601 |
| FIPS code | 28-69160 |
Soso is a small town located in Jones County, Mississippi, United States. In 2020, about 418 people lived there.
A famous singer and songwriter named Paul Davis, who was from Meridian, Mississippi, even wrote a song called "Sweet Magnolia Blues" that mentions Soso.
History of Soso
People say the town got its name "Soso" from an old settler. When someone asked him how he was doing, he would often reply, "so-so."
After the Civil War, many farmers came back to the area. A small community of people from different backgrounds grew in Soso. One important person who lived there was Newton Knight. He was a Unionist, meaning he supported the Union during the Civil War.
Knight led a group called the Knight Company in Jones County. They resisted the Confederate authorities from 1863 to 1864. Their goal was to protect local farmers. After the war, Knight lived in Jasper County for a while. He was active in the Republican Party. In 1872, he became a deputy U.S. Marshal. Later, he stopped being involved in politics.
Newton Knight lived in Soso with his wife Rachel and their family. Rachel was a freedwoman who had helped the resistance during the war. She and Knight had several children together.
Tornadoes in Soso
Soso has been hit by powerful tornadoes. On April 12, 2020, a very strong tornado, called an EF4 tornado, struck the town. It was about 2.25 miles wide.
This tornado caused a lot of damage. Homes, churches, and the fire station were badly hurt. Many trees were broken, and the old elementary school was damaged. Several buildings and churches were destroyed. This tornado followed a path similar to an F3 tornado that hit the town on April 21, 1951, which also caused severe damage.
Geography of Soso
Soso is located in the northwestern part of Jones County. You can find it at 31°45′16″N 89°16′27″W / 31.75444°N 89.27417°W.
Mississippi Highway 28 goes right through the middle of Soso. This highway leads about 5 miles (8 km) southeast to U.S. Route 84. It also goes about 10 miles (16 km) northwest to Taylorsville. Laurel, which is the biggest city in Jones County, is about 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Soso. You can get there by taking Highways 28 and 84.
Mississippi Highway 29 starts in Soso and goes south for about 12 miles (19 km) to Ellisville.
The United States Census Bureau says that Soso covers an area of about 2.04 square miles (5.28 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with only a tiny bit (0.01 square miles or 0.01 square kilometers) being water.
Population of Soso
The population of Soso has changed over the years:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 162 | — | |
| 1920 | 142 | −12.3% | |
| 1930 | 214 | 50.7% | |
| 1980 | 434 | — | |
| 1990 | 366 | −15.7% | |
| 2000 | 379 | 3.6% | |
| 2010 | 408 | 7.7% | |
| 2020 | 418 | 2.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Here's a look at the different groups of people living in Soso in 2020:
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 266 | 63.64% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 97 | 23.21% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 1 | 0.24% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 1 | 0.24% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 5 | 1.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 48 | 11.48% |
| Total | 418 |
In 2020, there were 418 people living in Soso. There were 163 households and 130 families.
Back in 2010, there were 408 people in Soso. There were 160 households and 116 families. About 79.2% of the people were White, and 20.3% were African American. A small number (2.2%) were Hispanic or Latino.
In 2010, about 30.6% of households had children under 18 living with them. Many households (56.3%) were married couples living together. About 12.5% of households had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.
The population was spread out by age. About 29.7% of the people were under 19 years old. About 36.5% were under 50, and 33.8% were over 50 years old.
Education in Soso
Students in Soso attend schools that are part of the Jones County School District.
Younger students go to West Jones Elementary School. Older students attend West Jones Middle and High Schools.
For higher education, Jones County is also home to Jones College.
