Wesson, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wesson, Mississippi
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|||
Location of Wesson, Mississippi
|
|||
 Wesson, Mississippi
Location in the United States
|
|||
| Country | United States | ||
| State | Mississippi | ||
| Counties | Copiah, Lincoln | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 4.51 sq mi (11.67 km2) | ||
| • Land | 4.50 sq mi (11.67 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 466 ft (142 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
|
|||
| • Total | 1,833 | ||
| • Density | 406.88/sq mi (157.09/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
39191
|
||
| Area code(s) | 601 | ||
| FIPS code | 28-78640 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 679462 | ||
Wesson is a small town in the state of Mississippi, United States. It is located in both Copiah and Lincoln counties. In 2020, about 1,833 people lived there. Wesson is also part of the larger Jackson Metropolitan Area.
Contents
Town History: How Wesson Began
Wesson was started in 1864, during the Civil War. A man named Colonel James Madison Wesson founded it. He had lost his factories in another town. So, he moved and built a new company in this area. He called it the Mississippi Manufacturing Company. This company made very good cotton fabric.
Mississippi Mills: A Time of Growth
In 1871, Colonel Wesson sold his company. The new owners, William Oliver and John T. Hardy, renamed it the Mississippi Mills. These mills became famous for their high-quality cotton fabric. People even called it "Mississippi silk" at a big celebration in 1876.
The mills used new technology from the Industrial Revolution. For example, just one year after Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, the Mississippi Mills started using them. People on evening trains would look out their windows to see the amazing lights of Wesson.
Challenges and Changes
This successful time ended after Captain Oliver died in 1891. The mills then faced money problems. There was a big economic downturn called the Panic of 1893. Family disagreements and worker issues also caused trouble. In the early 1900s, the mills went into receivership, meaning a court took control. Finally, during World War I, the mills were taken apart and sold for scrap metal.
The first public school in Wesson opened in 1875. A community college was added later in 1928.
Wesson's Location and Size
Wesson is mainly in the southern part of Copiah County. A small part of the town also reaches into Lincoln County. U.S. Route 51 goes through Wesson. This road leads north about 11 miles to Hazlehurst. Hazlehurst is the main town of Copiah County. South of Wesson, the road goes about 9 miles to Brookhaven.
Interstate 55 is a major highway. Exit 48 for this highway is about 3.5 miles west of Wesson. The town covers a total area of about 11.5 square kilometers (4.5 square miles). All of this area is land.
People Living in Wesson
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 464 | — | |
| 1880 | 1,707 | 267.9% | |
| 1890 | 3,168 | 85.6% | |
| 1900 | 3,279 | 3.5% | |
| 1910 | 2,024 | −38.3% | |
| 1920 | 885 | −56.3% | |
| 1930 | 799 | −9.7% | |
| 1940 | 837 | 4.8% | |
| 1950 | 1,235 | 47.6% | |
| 1960 | 1,157 | −6.3% | |
| 1970 | 1,253 | 8.3% | |
| 1980 | 1,313 | 4.8% | |
| 1990 | 1,510 | 15.0% | |
| 2000 | 1,693 | 12.1% | |
| 2010 | 1,925 | 13.7% | |
| 2020 | 1,833 | −4.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The table above shows how the population of Wesson has changed over many years.
Who Lives in Wesson Today?
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 1,329 | 72.5% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 371 | 20.24% |
| Native American | 3 | 0.16% |
| Asian | 8 | 0.44% |
| Pacific Islander | 3 | 0.16% |
| Other/Mixed | 40 | 2.18% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 79 | 4.31% |
In 2020, there were 1,833 people living in Wesson. These people lived in 609 households, with 429 of them being families.
Learning and Schools in Wesson
Wesson offers different types of education, from schools for younger kids to colleges.
Schools for Kids (K-12)
The part of Wesson in Copiah County is served by the Copiah County School District. The part in Lincoln County is served by the Lincoln County School District.
A school called Copiah-Lincoln Agricultural High School started in Wesson in 1915. It was a boarding school for students from nearby rural areas. Over time, more local high schools opened. This changed the role of the agricultural school.
In 1978, the high school became Wesson High School. It moved to a new building in 1979. Later, it was renamed Wesson Attendance Center.
Colleges and Universities
Copiah-Lincoln Community College, often called Co-Lin, is a college in Wesson. It offers classes that are like the first two years of a university degree. Students can also learn skills for jobs or update their current skills. The main campus is in Wesson. Co-Lin also has campuses in Natchez and Magee.
The idea for Copiah-Lincoln Community College came about because young people in the area needed more education after high school. It officially started in 1928. They expected about 50 students, but over 90 students enrolled that first year!
Since 1928, Co-Lin has grown a lot. It is now an important part of Mississippi's education system. It has over 2,000 students and many valuable buildings.
Over the years, more counties have joined to support Copiah-Lincoln Community College. These include Simpson County (1934), Franklin County (1948), Lawrence County (1965), Jefferson County (1967), and Adams County (1971).
Wesson is also in the district of Hinds Community College.
Famous People from Wesson
Some notable people have come from Wesson:
- Booker Brown – A former professional football player.
- Lawrence R. Ellzey – He was a U.S. Representative for Mississippi from 1932 to 1935.
- Bertha LaBranche Johnson – A well-known educator and clubwoman.
- Houston Stackhouse – A famous Delta blues guitarist and singer.
