West Point, Mississippi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids West Point, Mississippi
City
Downtown West Point from Broad Street
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  Point City
Location of West Point, Mississippi
West Point, Mississippi Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
County	Clay
Area
• Total	21.13 sq mi (54.73 km2)
• Land	20.88 sq mi (54.09 km2)
• Water	0.24 sq mi (0.64 km2)
Elevation	223 ft (68 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	10,105
• Density	483.86/sq mi (186.82/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP code	39773
Area code(s)	662
FIPS code	28-79120
GNIS feature ID	0679519

West Point is a city in Clay County, Mississippi, United States. It is located in a part of the state known as the Golden Triangle. In 2020, about 10,105 people lived there. West Point is the main city of Clay County.

Geography

West Point is in the northeast part of Mississippi, close to the Alabama state line. The city covers about 21 square miles (54 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

People Living in West Point

West Point has a rich history with many families living there for generations. The people in the area have backgrounds that include African American, White, and Native American heritage. The city often has fun social events organized by churches and community groups.

Population Changes Over Time

West Point in 2020

In 2020, there were 10,105 people living in West Point. There were 4,211 households and 2,523 families. Most people identified as Black or African American (62.1%) or White (34.33%).

West Point in 2010

In 2010, the city had 11,307 people. There were 4,444 households. About 61.40% of the people were African American, and 37.57% were White.

The average household had about 2.48 people. The average family had about 3.04 people. The median age in the city was 36.4 years. This means half the people were younger than 36.4, and half were older.

The median income for a household was $30,440. This means half of the households earned more than this, and half earned less. About 24.6% of the people in West Point lived below the poverty line.

Economy and Businesses

West Point is home to several large businesses. These include Southern Ionics, Babcock & Wilcox, and Mossy Oak.

Bryan Foods was a food company started in West Point in 1936. It was bought by Sara Lee Corporation in 1968. Bryan Foods continued to operate in West Point until 2007.

Arts and Culture

West Point offers many fun activities and places to visit.

Golf and Sports

Old Waverly Golf Club is a famous golf course near West Point. It is known as one of Mississippi's best. It even hosted a major golf tournament, the 1999 U.S. Women's Open. West Point Country Club also has an 18-hole golf course, swimming, and tennis.

Aviation History

Payne Field was an important aviation school. It operated from 1918 to 1920. About 1,500 pilots learned to fly there. It was the first airfield in Mississippi.

Famous Sleds

Even though West Point gets very little snow, it was once home to Blazon-Flexible Flyer, Inc. This company made the famous Flexible Flyer snow sleds. These sleds became an American tradition.

Historic Mansion

Waverly Plantation Mansion is a National Historic Landmark located near West Point. It is famous for its unique four-story staircase and cupola. You can take tours of the mansion every day.

Festivals and Museums

West Point is also home to the Howlin' Wolf Blues Museum. This museum celebrates the famous blues musician Howlin' Wolf, who was born in West Point.

Every year on Labor Day weekend, West Point hosts the Prairie Arts Festival. This festival starts with the Howlin’ Wolf Blues Festival on Friday night. On Saturday, the Prairie Arts Festival showcases local arts and crafts. It also features music, rides for kids, a 5K race, and a car show.

Education

Public schools in West Point are part of the West Point Consolidated School District.

High Schools

West Point has three high schools.

• West Point High School is the public high school. It has a diverse learning environment and is the largest school in town.
• Oak Hill Academy and Hebron Christian School are private schools that require tuition.
• Oak Hill Academy is a private school for students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade. It was started in 1966.

Sports Achievements

The West Point Green Wave football team is very successful. They have won the state championship for their classification 13 times. Their wins were in 1982, 1987, 1988, 1989, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023, and 2024.

Notable People

Many interesting people have come from West Point, Mississippi. Here are a few:

• Jesse Anderson, professional football player
• Orlando Bobo, professional football player
• George W. Bryan, a local businessman and former CEO of Sara Lee Foods
• John H. Bryan, a local businessman and former chairman of Sara Lee Corporation
• Kevin Dotson, football offensive guard
• Tom Goode, professional football player
• Toxey Haas, founder and CEO of Haas Outdoors, Inc.
• Floyd Heard, a retired track and field sprinter
• Paul V. Hester, a high-ranking Air Force commander
• Bubba Phillips, baseball player
• Lenore L. Prather, former Chief Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court
• Larry Semon, an actor and director from the silent film era
• Brad Smith and Rogers Stevens, guitarists for the band Blind Melon
• Barrett Strong, a Motown singer famous for the song "Money"
• Howlin' Wolf (real name Chester Arthur Burnett), a famous blues musician
• Zora Young, a blues singer

Images for kids

• 

  Children working in West Point Cotton Mills, May 1911. Photo by Lewis Hine.

• 

  Sallie Kate Winters Park in full bloom.

See also

In Spanish: West Point (Misisipi) para niños