Leake County, Mississippi | |
|---|---|
 Leake County Courthouse in Carthage | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofMississippi | |
| Coordinates:32°45′N89°31′W / 32.75°N 89.52°W /32.75; -89.52 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Mississippi |
| Founded | 1833 |
| Named after | Walter Leake |
| Seat | Carthage |
| Largest city | Carthage |
| Area | |
• Total | 585 sq mi (1,520 km2) |
| • Land | 583 sq mi (1,510 km2) |
| • Water | 2.5 sq mi (6.5 km2) 0.4% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 21,275 |
| • Density | 36.5/sq mi (14.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | www |
Leake County is acounty in the center of theU.S. state ofMississippi. As of the2020 census, the population was 21,275.[1] Itscounty seat isCarthage.[2] The county is named forWalter Leake, theGovernor of Mississippi from 1822 to 1825.[3]
In 2010, thecenter of population of Mississippi was located in Leake County, near the town ofLena.[4]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 585 square miles (1,520 km2), of which 583 square miles (1,510 km2) is land and 2.5 square miles (6.5 km2) (0.4%) is water.[5]
Mississippi Highway 13
Mississippi Highway 16
Mississippi Highway 25
Mississippi Highway 35
Mississippi Highway 43| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 2,162 | — | |
| 1850 | 5,533 | 155.9% | |
| 1860 | 9,324 | 68.5% | |
| 1870 | 8,496 | −8.9% | |
| 1880 | 13,146 | 54.7% | |
| 1890 | 14,803 | 12.6% | |
| 1900 | 17,360 | 17.3% | |
| 1910 | 18,298 | 5.4% | |
| 1920 | 16,973 | −7.2% | |
| 1930 | 21,803 | 28.5% | |
| 1940 | 24,570 | 12.7% | |
| 1950 | 21,610 | −12.0% | |
| 1960 | 18,660 | −13.7% | |
| 1970 | 17,085 | −8.4% | |
| 1980 | 18,790 | 10.0% | |
| 1990 | 18,436 | −1.9% | |
| 2000 | 20,940 | 13.6% | |
| 2010 | 23,805 | 13.7% | |
| 2020 | 21,275 | −10.6% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 21,462 | [6] | 0.9% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9] 1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[11] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 21,275. The median age was 38.5 years. 25.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.4 males age 18 and over.[12][13]
The racial makeup of the county was 47.7%White, 38.7%Black or African American, 6.7%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Asian, <0.1%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 4.2% from some other race, and 2.3% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 5.8% of the population.[13]
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[14]
There were 8,080 households in the county, of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 42.0% were married-couple households, 18.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 33.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[12]
There were 8,979 housing units, of which 10.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.4% were owner-occupied and 25.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.6%.[12]
As of the2010 United States census, there were 23,805 people living in the county. 49.5% wereWhite, 40.6%Black or African American, 6.0%Native American, 0.2%Asian, 2.8% of some other race and 0.8%of two or more races. 4.3% wereHispanic or Latino (of any race).
As of thecensus[15] of 2000, there were 20,940 people, 7,611 households, and 5,563 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 36 people per square mile (14 people/km2). There were 8,585 housing units at an average density of 15 units per square mile (5.8 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 56.14%White, 37.42%Black orAfrican American, 4.56%Native American, 0.15%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 1.14% fromother races, and 0.57% from two or more races. 2.10% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 7,611 households, out of which 34.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.20% weremarried couples living together, 16.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.90% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.13. In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.90% under the age of 18, 10.10% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,055, and the median income for a family was $32,147. Males had a median income of $27,367 versus $18,307 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $13,365. About 18.10% of families and 23.30% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 31.90% of those under age 18 and 23.90% of those age 65 or over.
The county is quite rural, with Carthage the only city and three towns.
TheMississippi Department of Corrections contracted for development of theWalnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility, which opened in 2001 in the town ofWalnut Grove.[16] The facility was operated by the privateManagement and Training Corporation (MTC).[17]
By 2006, the Town of Walnut Grove annexed the land of the prison, resulting in an apparent increase in population, which was chiefly associated with prisoners.[18] MTC was repeatedly cited for problems with poor treatment of prisoners, and abuses within the facility. The state closed it in 2016.[19]
TheLeake County School District is the sole school district of the county.[20] It includesLeake Central High School.
Choctaw Tribal School System has two tribal schools in the county: Red Water Elementary School and Standing Pine Elementary School.[21][22]
East Central Community College is thearea community college, including Carthage Career Advancement Center in Leake County.[citation needed]
Most white students attend private schools, while black and Hispanic children attend the local public schools.
| School | Total students | White students | Black students | Hispanic students | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leake County | 24,000 | 56% | 37% | 2% | 2010 Census |
| Leake Academy (private) | 578 | 571 (99%) | 0 (0%) | 3 (>1%) | [23] |
| Leake Central High School (public) | 562 | 132 (20%) | 373 (66%) | 57 (10%) |
Since 1984, Leake County has supported Republican candidates at the presidential level; however Democrats usually gain at least 40% of the vote. Since then, in only 1984, 2004, and 2024 has the Republican candidate gained over 60% of the county's vote (and the Democrat under 40%).
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 11 | 1.05% | 910 | 86.91% | 126 | 12.03% |
| 1916 | 31 | 2.08% | 1,434 | 96.05% | 28 | 1.88% |
| 1920 | 121 | 9.85% | 1,082 | 88.11% | 25 | 2.04% |
| 1924 | 48 | 3.68% | 1,255 | 96.32% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1928 | 212 | 11.12% | 1,695 | 88.88% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 14 | 0.73% | 1,903 | 98.81% | 9 | 0.47% |
| 1936 | 8 | 0.31% | 2,566 | 99.30% | 10 | 0.39% |
| 1940 | 17 | 0.60% | 2,802 | 99.26% | 4 | 0.14% |
| 1944 | 24 | 0.85% | 2,800 | 99.15% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 12 | 0.46% | 180 | 6.97% | 2,392 | 92.57% |
| 1952 | 603 | 18.44% | 2,667 | 81.56% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 220 | 7.34% | 2,475 | 82.53% | 304 | 10.14% |
| 1960 | 286 | 8.80% | 953 | 29.32% | 2,011 | 61.88% |
| 1964 | 4,343 | 96.23% | 170 | 3.77% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 453 | 7.17% | 1,295 | 20.50% | 4,568 | 72.32% |
| 1972 | 4,217 | 79.13% | 1,053 | 19.76% | 59 | 1.11% |
| 1976 | 2,952 | 45.36% | 3,415 | 52.47% | 141 | 2.17% |
| 1980 | 3,624 | 46.83% | 4,033 | 52.12% | 81 | 1.05% |
| 1984 | 4,663 | 62.04% | 2,845 | 37.85% | 8 | 0.11% |
| 1988 | 4,168 | 59.86% | 2,787 | 40.03% | 8 | 0.11% |
| 1992 | 3,943 | 50.64% | 3,333 | 42.81% | 510 | 6.55% |
| 1996 | 3,017 | 47.60% | 2,902 | 45.79% | 419 | 6.61% |
| 2000 | 4,114 | 59.18% | 2,793 | 40.18% | 45 | 0.65% |
| 2004 | 4,962 | 60.41% | 3,212 | 39.10% | 40 | 0.49% |
| 2008 | 5,148 | 55.01% | 4,151 | 44.35% | 60 | 0.64% |
| 2012 | 4,863 | 54.14% | 4,079 | 45.41% | 41 | 0.46% |
| 2016 | 4,782 | 56.60% | 3,584 | 42.42% | 83 | 0.98% |
| 2020 | 5,228 | 56.83% | 3,897 | 42.36% | 75 | 0.82% |
| 2024 | 5,143 | 61.37% | 3,182 | 37.97% | 55 | 0.66% |
107 Braves Boulevard Carthage, MS 39051
538 Highway 487 East Carthage, MS 39051
32°45′N89°31′W / 32.75°N 89.52°W /32.75; -89.52
Places adjacent to Leake County, Mississippi | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofLeake County, Mississippi,United States | ||
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| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Communities | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| Other | |
