Toccopola, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Toccopola, Mississippi
|
|
|---|---|
Location of Toccopola, Mississippi
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Pontotoc |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8.65 sq mi (22.40 km2) |
| • Land | 8.45 sq mi (21.89 km2) |
| • Water | 0.20 sq mi (0.51 km2) |
| Elevation | 446 ft (136 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 286 |
| • Density | 33.84/sq mi (13.07/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 662 |
| FIPS code | 28-73760 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2406740 |
Toccopola is a small town in Pontotoc County, Mississippi, in the United States. In 2020, about 286 people lived there.
The town's name comes from an old Native American village. The name is from the Chickasaw language and is thought to mean "dismal prairie."
Contents
History of Toccopola
The area where Toccopola is located was first settled by the Chickasaw people. In 1840, two people named Tobias and Allison Furr moved to the area. They built a water mill, which used water power to grind grain, and a store.
After the American Civil War (a big war in the U.S. from 1861-1865), a person named W. B. Gilmer started Toccopola College. However, the college closed in 1907. This happened because the Gulf, Mobile & Northern Railroad built its tracks through a different town, Pontotoc, instead of Toccopola. Many people then left Toccopola to live closer to the railroad.
In 1900, Toccopola had 249 people. It also had three churches, a high school, a grist mill (another type of mill for grinding grain), and a shop that made carriages.
Geography
Toccopola is located in Mississippi. The town covers about 1.5 square miles (3.9 square kilometers) of land.
Mississippi Highway 334 goes right through Toccopola. This highway connects the town to Oxford to the west and Pontotoc to the east.
Population Facts
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 190 | — | |
| 1900 | 249 | 31.1% | |
| 1910 | 233 | −6.4% | |
| 1920 | 325 | 39.5% | |
| 1930 | 288 | −11.4% | |
| 1940 | 332 | 15.3% | |
| 1950 | 262 | −21.1% | |
| 1960 | 198 | −24.4% | |
| 1970 | 175 | −11.6% | |
| 1980 | 184 | 5.1% | |
| 1990 | 154 | −16.3% | |
| 2000 | 189 | 22.7% | |
| 2010 | 246 | 30.2% | |
| 2020 | 286 | 16.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 189 people living in Toccopola. Most of the people were White (98.41%). A small number were African American (0.53%) or from two or more races (1.06%).
About 35.2% of the homes had children under 18 living there. The average family had about three people. The median age in the town was 38 years old.
Education
Students in Toccopola attend schools in the Pontotoc County School District.
The University of Mississippi is also located less than 25 miles (40 kilometers) away from Toccopola.
Famous People from Toccopola
- Betsy Love Allen – She helped to advance the 1839 Married Women's Property Act in Mississippi. This law gave married women more rights over their own property.
- Harmonica Frank – He was a blues singer, guitarist, and harmonica player. He was born in Toccopola.
- Thomas J. Wingo – He was a former member of the Mississippi House of Representatives, which is part of the state's government.
See Also
In Spanish: Toccopola para niños
