Itawamba County, Mississippi
County in Mississippi, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Itawamba County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 23,863.[1] Its county seat is Fulton.[2] The county is part of the Tupelo, MS Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Itawamba County, Mississippi | |
|---|---|
Itawamba County Courthouse in Fulton | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi | |
| Coordinates: 34°17′N 88°22′W | |
| 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 |
• Estimate (2025) | 24,152  |
| • Density | 44.8/sq mi (17.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | itawamba |
The county was named for Itawamba, an early 19th-century Chickasaw leader.[3] He was prominent during the Indian Removal period of the early 19th century, but died before his people left the area.
Geography
According to the United 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]
Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Tishomingo County - northeast
- Franklin County, Alabama - east
- Marion County, Alabama - southeast
- Monroe County - south
- Lee County - west
- Prentiss County - northwest
National protected area
- Natchez Trace Parkway (part)
- Pharr Mounds (near Tupelo), 85-acre (340,000 m2) complex of earthwork burial mounds from the Middle Woodland period
Demographics
| 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% | |
| 2025 (est.) | 24,152 | [5] | 1.2% |
| US Decennial Census[6] 1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8] 1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[10] 2017[11] | |||
Racial and ethnic composition
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[12] | Pop 1990[13] | Pop 2000[14] | Pop 2010[15] | Pop 2020[16] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 19,109 | 18,514 | 20,942 | 21,490 | 21,129 | 93.13% | 92.49% | 91.97% | 91.83% | 88.54% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,241 | 1,357 | 1,449 | 1,386 | 1,623 | 6.05% | 6.78% | 6.36% | 5.92% | 6.80% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 7 | 18 | 29 | 44 | 51 | 0.03% | 0.09% | 0.13% | 0.19% | 0.21% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 29 | 29 | 41 | 52 | 50 | 0.14% | 0.14% | 0.18% | 0.22% | 0.21% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [17] | x [18] | 0 | 3 | 0 | x | x | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 14 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 37 | 0.07% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.05% | 0.16% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [19] | x [20] | 82 | 115 | 589 | x | x | 0.36% | 0.49% | 2.47% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 118 | 99 | 226 | 300 | 384 | 0.58% | 0.49% | 0.99% | 1.28% | 1.61% |
| Total | 20,518 | 20,017 | 22,770 | 23,401 | 23,863 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, the county had a population of 23,863. The median age was 40.1 years. 22.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.1 males age 18 and over.[21][22]
The racial makeup of the county was 88.9% White, 6.8% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.8% from some other race, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.6% of the population.[22]
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[23]
There were 9,057 households in the county, of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.0% were married-couple households, 18.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[21]
There were 10,456 housing units, of which 13.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.5% were owner-occupied and 23.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 22.3%.[21]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census,[24] 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 or African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.32% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. 0.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino 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% were married 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. The per capita income for the county was $14,956. About 10.10% of families and 14.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.70% of those under age 18 and 23.60% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Politics
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.[25]
| 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 | 70.37% | 2,802 | 28.86% | 75 | 0.77% |
| 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% |
Education
The school district is Itawamba County School District.[28]
Itawamba Community College is in the county.
Civil Rights
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 the 2010 Itawamba County School District prom controversy when a lesbian student, Constance McMillen, from Fulton, had attempted to bring her partner to prom. The matter went to court, with the ACLU representing McMillen. On July 20, 2010, the school district settled the case out of court by paying McMillen US$ 35,000 (equivalent to $41,537 in 2020), paying her attorneys' fees, and agreeing to create a non-discrimination policy that includes sexual orientation.
Notable people
- Brian Dozier, All-Star Major League Baseball second baseman, won 2019 World Series with the Washington Nationals
- Delphia Spencer Hankins, American supercentenarian
- John E. Rankin, sixteen-term Democratic U.S. Congressman (1920–1952)
- Jumpin' Gene Simmons, American songwriter, co-writer of Indian Outlaw (1937–2006)
- Tammy Wynette, American country music artist
- Walter Willams, last living Confederate soldier
