Newton County, Mississippi
County in Mississippi, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Newton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,291.[1] Its county seat is Decatur.[2]
Newton County, Mississippi | |
|---|---|
| |
 Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi | |
| Coordinates: 32°25′N 89°07′W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Mississippi |
| Founded | 1836 |
| Seat | Decatur |
| Largest city | Newton |
| Area | |
• Total | 580 sq mi (1,500 km2) |
| • Land | 578 sq mi (1,500 km2) |
| • Water | 1.5 sq mi (3.9 km2) 0.3% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 21,291 |
• Estimate (2025) | 20,960  |
| • Density | 36.8/sq mi (14.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
| Website | www |
History
The land that would become Newton County was purchased from the Choctaw under the terms of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek. Newton County was split off from the southern part of Neshoba County and organized on February 26, 1836.[3] The county is named for scientist Isaac Newton.[4][5]
The Battle of Newton's Station was fought in the county on April 24, 1863, during Grierson's Raid of the American Civil War. Union troops pulled up railroad tracks and burned the depot at Newton's Station.[6]
In February 1864, General William Tecumseh Sherman crossed the county, burning the county seat at Decatur and was nearly captured during the Meridian Campaign. Sherman stopped during the return trip from Meridian and slept at Boler's Inn in the town of Union.[7]
On October 8, 1908, a Black sharecropper named Shep Jones had a dispute with his white employer regarding his work schedule. The altercation escalated, resulting in the employer's death. In response, a white mob terrorized the local Black community, destroying property, burning a church and meeting lodge near Gardlandville, and threatening families. Unable to locate Jones, the mob targeted and lynched his father-in-law, William Fielder, on October 9. The following day, the mob lynched two other Black men, Dee Dawkins and Frank Johnson, who were associated with Jones. The violence prompted many Black residents to flee Newton County. No one was held accountable for the lynchings or the destruction of property.[8]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 580 square miles (1,500 km2), of which 578 square miles (1,500 km2) is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km2) (0.3%) is water.[9]
Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Neshoba County (north)
- Lauderdale County (east)
- Jasper County (south)
- Scott County (west)
National protected area
- Bienville National Forest (part)
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 2,527 | — | |
| 1850 | 4,465 | 76.7% | |
| 1860 | 9,661 | 116.4% | |
| 1870 | 10,067 | 4.2% | |
| 1880 | 13,436 | 33.5% | |
| 1890 | 16,625 | 23.7% | |
| 1900 | 19,708 | 18.5% | |
| 1910 | 23,085 | 17.1% | |
| 1920 | 20,727 | −10.2% | |
| 1930 | 22,910 | 10.5% | |
| 1940 | 24,249 | 5.8% | |
| 1950 | 22,681 | −6.5% | |
| 1960 | 19,517 | −14.0% | |
| 1970 | 18,983 | −2.7% | |
| 1980 | 19,944 | 5.1% | |
| 1990 | 20,291 | 1.7% | |
| 2000 | 21,838 | 7.6% | |
| 2010 | 21,720 | −0.5% | |
| 2020 | 21,291 | −2.0% | |
| 2025 (est.) | 20,960 | [10] | −1.6% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13] 1990-2000[14] 2010-2013[15] | |||
Racial and ethnic composition
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[16] | Pop 1990[17] | Pop 2000[18] | Pop 2010[19] | Pop 2020[20] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 13,935 | 13,643 | 14,095 | 13,599 | 12,796 | 69.87% | 67.24% | 64.54% | 62.61% | 60.10% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 5,356 | 5,826 | 6,617 | 6,536 | 6,447 | 26.86% | 28.71% | 30.30% | 30.09% | 30.28% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 491 | 723 | 796 | 1,072 | 1,169 | 2.46% | 3.56% | 3.65% | 4.94% | 5.49% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 7 | 6 | 39 | 51 | 77 | 0.04% | 0.03% | 0.18% | 0.23% | 0.36% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [21] | x [22] | 0 | 0 | 0 | x | x | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 0 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 29 | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.04% | 0.04% | 0.14% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [23] | x [24] | 84 | 166 | 444 | x | x | 0.38% | 0.76% | 2.09% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 155 | 85 | 198 | 287 | 329 | 0.78% | 0.42% | 0.91% | 1.32% | 1.55% |
| Total | 19,944 | 20,291 | 21,838 | 21,720 | 21,291 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 21,291. The median age was 39.1 years. 24.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 90.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 87.9 males age 18 and over.[25][26]
The racial makeup of the county was 60.4% White, 30.4% Black or African American, 5.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.8% from some other race, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.5% of the population.[26]
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[27]
There were 8,024 households in the county, of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.6% were married-couple households, 18.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[25]
There were 9,073 housing units, of which 11.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.2% were owner-occupied and 22.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.6%.[25]
2000 census
As of the census[28] of 2000, there were 21,838 people, 8,221 households, and 6,001 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile (15 people/km2). There were 9,259 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 65.01% white, 30.37% black or African American, 3.68% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.33% from other races, and 0.44% from two or more races. 0.91% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 8,221 households, out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.00% were married couples living together, 16.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.00% were non-families. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.20% under the age of 18, 11.20% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 92.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,735, and the median income for a family was $34,606. Males had a median income of $27,820 versus $20,757 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,008. About 16.40% of families and 19.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.30% of those under age 18 and 21.70% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
City
Towns
- Chunky
- Decatur (county seat)
- Hickory
- Lake (mostly in Scott County)
- Union (partly in Neshoba County)
Census-designated place
Unincorporated communities
Ghost towns
Politics
Newton County is a longtime Republican stronghold, having not supported a Democratic presidential candidate since 1956.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 6 | 0.47% | 1,197 | 94.62% | 62 | 4.90% |
| 1916 | 19 | 1.34% | 1,341 | 94.70% | 56 | 3.95% |
| 1920 | 108 | 7.73% | 1,208 | 86.41% | 82 | 5.87% |
| 1924 | 72 | 3.95% | 1,657 | 90.94% | 93 | 5.10% |
| 1928 | 368 | 15.07% | 2,074 | 84.93% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 56 | 2.41% | 2,253 | 97.11% | 11 | 0.47% |
| 1936 | 39 | 1.46% | 2,624 | 98.42% | 3 | 0.11% |
| 1940 | 41 | 1.61% | 2,495 | 98.27% | 3 | 0.12% |
| 1944 | 56 | 2.18% | 2,516 | 97.82% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 39 | 1.47% | 169 | 6.38% | 2,442 | 92.15% |
| 1952 | 851 | 25.70% | 2,460 | 74.30% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 360 | 11.52% | 2,359 | 75.46% | 407 | 13.02% |
| 1960 | 508 | 15.05% | 912 | 27.01% | 1,956 | 57.94% |
| 1964 | 4,735 | 95.21% | 238 | 4.79% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 542 | 7.85% | 799 | 11.58% | 5,561 | 80.57% |
| 1972 | 5,585 | 88.05% | 597 | 9.41% | 161 | 2.54% |
| 1976 | 3,813 | 57.00% | 2,741 | 40.97% | 136 | 2.03% |
| 1980 | 4,317 | 54.36% | 3,455 | 43.51% | 169 | 2.13% |
| 1984 | 5,911 | 73.23% | 2,127 | 26.35% | 34 | 0.42% |
| 1988 | 5,658 | 70.70% | 2,332 | 29.14% | 13 | 0.16% |
| 1992 | 5,128 | 65.69% | 2,146 | 27.49% | 532 | 6.82% |
| 1996 | 4,223 | 61.30% | 2,163 | 31.40% | 503 | 7.30% |
| 2000 | 5,540 | 71.59% | 2,147 | 27.75% | 51 | 0.66% |
| 2004 | 6,165 | 72.64% | 2,280 | 26.86% | 42 | 0.49% |
| 2008 | 6,579 | 66.76% | 3,218 | 32.65% | 58 | 0.59% |
| 2012 | 6,394 | 65.40% | 3,319 | 33.95% | 64 | 0.65% |
| 2016 | 6,548 | 69.38% | 2,756 | 29.20% | 134 | 1.42% |
| 2020 | 6,997 | 68.71% | 3,075 | 30.20% | 111 | 1.09% |
| 2024 | 6,641 | 71.23% | 2,603 | 27.92% | 79 | 0.85% |
Education
School districts include:[31]
Conehatta Elementary School of the Choctaw Tribal School System is in the community.[32]
Newton County Agricultural High School started operations in 1914. It became a part of the community college after that institution formed in 1928. In 1958 the students were moved to the Decatur School.[33]
East Central Community College (formerly East Central Junior College) covers Newton County.[34] Newton County was part of the college territory since fall 1928.[33]
