Walnut Grove, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Walnut Grove, Mississippi
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Location of Walnut Grove, Mississippi
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 Walnut Grove, Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Mississippi | ||
| County | Leake | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 1.62 sq mi (4.19 km2) | ||
| • Land | 1.62 sq mi (4.19 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 361 ft (110 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 510 | ||
| • Density | 315.59/sq mi (121.86/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
39189
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| Area code(s) | 601 | ||
| FIPS code | 28-77520 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0679299 | ||
Walnut Grove is a small town in Leake County, Mississippi, United States. In 2020, 510 people lived there. This number was much lower than in 2010, when 1,911 people lived in the town. The population dropped because a facility for young people, the Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility, closed in 2016. This facility had been privately run since 2001.
Golden Memorial State Park is located just east of Walnut Grove. It is a great place for outdoor activities.
Contents
History of Walnut Grove
Walnut Grove started as a settlement by European-Americans. This was in a nearby area, now called "Old Walnut Grove." This older area was known for its cotton farms before the American Civil War.
Town's Early Days
The town of Walnut Grove officially became a town in 1884. A post office opened there in 1854. In the early 1900s, the town got electricity and street lights. This helped the town grow and modernize.
Transportation and Communication
The Jackson and Eastern Railway reached Walnut Grove in 1923. It was later extended to Tuscola, Mississippi in 1925. This railway helped people and goods travel. The town was surveyed at its current spot in 1923. Two canals were built in the late 1920s to make transportation easier. Walnut Grove also got telephone service in 1927.
Modern Services and Growth
In 1962, the town installed a sewage and water system. Natural gas was added in 1966. Walnut Grove started a volunteer fire department in 1970. They bought their first fire truck in 1974.
William Grady Sims became mayor in 1981. He served for a long time, until 2012. Around 2006, the town grew by adding the land where the Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility was built. This facility had opened in 2001. The prison brought more people to the town. It also paid money to the town, which made up about 15% of the town's budget in 2011. The facility closed in September 2016.
Geography of Walnut Grove
Walnut Grove is located in Mississippi. The United States Census Bureau says the town covers about 0.8 square miles (2.1 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Town Layout
Interestingly, the town hall, post office, and library are not in the very center of Walnut Grove. They are located in other parts of the community.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 166 | — | |
| 1900 | 207 | 24.7% | |
| 1910 | 199 | −3.9% | |
| 1930 | 753 | — | |
| 1940 | 653 | −13.3% | |
| 1950 | 517 | −20.8% | |
| 1960 | 433 | −16.2% | |
| 1970 | 398 | −8.1% | |
| 1980 | 439 | 10.3% | |
| 1990 | 389 | −11.4% | |
| 2000 | 488 | 25.4% | |
| 2010 | 1,911 | 291.6% | |
| 2020 | 510 | −73.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The population of Walnut Grove has changed over the years. It grew a lot between 2000 and 2010. This was mainly because the youth facility was built and its population was counted as part of the town. When the facility closed, the town's population went back down.
Population in 2020
As of the 2020 United States census, 510 people lived in Walnut Grove. There were 286 households and 172 families.
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White | 135 | 26.47% |
| Black or African American | 355 | 69.61% |
| Native American | 3 | 0.59% |
| Asian | 1 | 0.2% |
| Other Race | 2 | 0.39% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial | 6 | 1.18% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 8 | 1.57% |
| Total | 510 |
Economy of Walnut Grove
Walnut Grove has seen changes in its economy.
Local Businesses
Marco Apparel, a company that makes clothes, opened in Walnut Grove in 1984. In 2001, the company had to let go of more than 100 employees. This made things difficult for the town.
Impact of the Youth Facility
In 2001, the Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility opened. It was built to house young people. The town later added the facility's land to its own area. This made the town's population much larger. The facility also provided jobs for local people. It paid money to the town, which helped the town's budget. The facility closed in 2016.
Education in Walnut Grove
Students in Walnut Grove attend schools that are part of the Leake County School District.
- Leake County Elementary (for grades K-6)
- Leake County High School (for grades 7-12)
Famous People from Walnut Grove
Many notable people have connections to Walnut Grove:
- Thomas Norman Brooks – A former member of the Mississippi Senate.
- Homer Casteel – He was the Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi from 1920 to 1924.
- Jerrion Ealy – A wide receiver in the National Football League.
- Sue Gunter – An Olympic silver medalist and a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. She coached the LSU Lady Tigers.
- Na'Taki Osborne Jelks – An environmental scientist.
- Ken Lewis – The former CEO, President, and Chairman of Bank of America.
- Luther Riley – A college basketball coach who grew up in Walnut Grove.
See also
In Spanish: Walnut Grove (Misisipi) para niños
