Itawamba County, Mississippi | |
|---|---|
 Itawamba County Courthouse inFulton | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofMississippi | |
 Mississippi's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:34°17′N88°22′W / 34.28°N 88.36°W /34.28; -88.36 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Mississippi |
| Founded | 1836 |
| Named after | Levi Colbert (Itawamba) |
| Seat | Fulton |
| Largest city | Fulton |
| Area | |
• Total | 540 sq mi (1,400 km2) |
| • Land | 533 sq mi (1,380 km2) |
| • Water | 7.7 sq mi (20 km2) 1.4% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 23,863 |
| • Density | 44.8/sq mi (17.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | itawamba |
Itawamba County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofMississippi. As of the2020 United States census, the population was 23,863.[1] Itscounty seat isFulton.[2] The county is part of theTupelo, MSMicropolitan Statistical Area.
The county was named forItawamba, an early 19th-centuryChickasaw leader.[3] He was prominent during theIndian Removal period of the early 19th century, but died before his people left the area.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 540 square miles (1,400 km2), of which 533 square miles (1,380 km2) is land and 7.7 square miles (20 km2) (1.4%) is water.[4]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 5,375 | — | |
| 1850 | 13,528 | 151.7% | |
| 1860 | 17,695 | 30.8% | |
| 1870 | 7,812 | −55.9% | |
| 1880 | 10,663 | 36.5% | |
| 1890 | 11,708 | 9.8% | |
| 1900 | 13,544 | 15.7% | |
| 1910 | 14,526 | 7.3% | |
| 1920 | 15,647 | 7.7% | |
| 1930 | 18,225 | 16.5% | |
| 1940 | 19,922 | 9.3% | |
| 1950 | 17,216 | −13.6% | |
| 1960 | 15,080 | −12.4% | |
| 1970 | 16,847 | 11.7% | |
| 1980 | 20,518 | 21.8% | |
| 1990 | 20,017 | −2.4% | |
| 2000 | 22,770 | 13.8% | |
| 2010 | 23,401 | 2.8% | |
| 2020 | 23,863 | 2.0% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 24,198 | [5] | 1.4% |
| US Decennial Census[6] 1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8] 1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[10] 2017[11] | |||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 21,129 | 88.54% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 1,623 | 6.8% |
| Native American | 51 | 0.21% |
| Asian | 50 | 0.21% |
| Other/Mixed | 626 | 2.62% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 384 | 1.61% |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 23,863 people, 8,653 households, and 6,207 families residing in the county.
As of the2000 United States census,[13] there were 22,770 people, 8,773 households, and 6,500 families in the county. The population density was 43 inhabitants per square mile (17/km2). There were 9,804 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (6.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.47%White, 6.47%Black orAfrican American, 0.14%Native American, 0.18%Asian, 0.32% fromother races, and 0.42% from two or more races. 0.99% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
In 2000, there were 8,773 households, out of which 33.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.30% weremarried couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.90% were non-families. 23.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.95.
The county population contained 24.20% under the age of 18, 10.60% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,156, and the median income for a family was $36,793. Males had a median income of $29,231 versus $20,900 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $14,956. About 10.10% of families and 14.00% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 15.70% of those under age 18 and 23.60% of those age 65 or over.
Originally a Democratic stronghold, Itawamba County has, since 1984, swung heavily to the Republican party. In the 21st Century it has shifted further to the right in each subsequent election, and in 2024 it was the most Republican county in Mississippi.[14]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 24 | 2.35% | 914 | 89.35% | 85 | 8.31% |
| 1916 | 184 | 11.56% | 1,407 | 88.38% | 1 | 0.06% |
| 1920 | 198 | 16.18% | 1,023 | 83.58% | 3 | 0.25% |
| 1924 | 62 | 6.53% | 888 | 93.47% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1928 | 331 | 27.93% | 854 | 72.07% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 40 | 2.11% | 1,851 | 97.68% | 4 | 0.21% |
| 1936 | 47 | 3.11% | 1,465 | 96.89% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 119 | 6.77% | 1,627 | 92.55% | 12 | 0.68% |
| 1944 | 183 | 11.94% | 1,350 | 88.06% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 50 | 2.88% | 634 | 36.54% | 1,051 | 60.58% |
| 1952 | 556 | 19.91% | 2,236 | 80.09% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 298 | 11.18% | 2,310 | 86.68% | 57 | 2.14% |
| 1960 | 366 | 13.21% | 1,752 | 63.23% | 653 | 23.57% |
| 1964 | 2,140 | 65.50% | 1,127 | 34.50% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 569 | 9.19% | 417 | 6.74% | 5,204 | 84.07% |
| 1972 | 4,419 | 89.20% | 509 | 10.27% | 26 | 0.52% |
| 1976 | 2,153 | 32.11% | 4,480 | 66.82% | 72 | 1.07% |
| 1980 | 2,906 | 37.00% | 4,852 | 61.79% | 95 | 1.21% |
| 1984 | 4,587 | 62.96% | 2,674 | 36.71% | 24 | 0.33% |
| 1988 | 4,535 | 58.95% | 3,143 | 40.86% | 15 | 0.19% |
| 1992 | 4,142 | 47.54% | 3,635 | 41.72% | 936 | 10.74% |
| 1996 | 3,490 | 48.22% | 2,987 | 41.27% | 760 | 10.50% |
| 2000 | 5,424 | 63.33% | 2,994 | 34.96% | 146 | 1.70% |
| 2004 | 6,833 | 70.34% | 2,802 | 28.84% | 79 | 0.81% |
| 2008 | 7,663 | 77.01% | 2,084 | 20.94% | 204 | 2.05% |
| 2012 | 7,393 | 79.34% | 1,706 | 18.31% | 219 | 2.35% |
| 2016 | 8,470 | 86.99% | 1,117 | 11.47% | 150 | 1.54% |
| 2020 | 9,438 | 87.24% | 1,249 | 11.54% | 132 | 1.22% |
| 2024 | 9,523 | 89.66% | 1,027 | 9.67% | 71 | 0.67% |
The school district isItawamba County School District.[16]
Itawamba Community College is in the county.
The County holds an annual Civil Rights march and speaker series in January on/around the celebration of MLK day.MLK Day Celebration The county was the site of the2010 Itawamba County School District prom controversy when a lesbian student, Constance McMillen, fromFulton, had attempted to bring her partner to prom. The matter went to court, with theACLU representing McMillen. On July 20, 2010, the school district settled the case out of court by paying McMillenUS$ 35,000 (equivalent to $41,537 in 2020), paying her attorneys' fees, and agreeing to create a non-discrimination policy that includes sexual orientation.
Geographic data related toItawamba County, Mississippi atOpenStreetMapPlaces adjacent to Itawamba County, Mississippi | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofItawamba County, Mississippi,United States | ||
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