Pearl River County, Mississippi

Major highways

• Interstate 59
• U.S. Highway 11
• Mississippi Highway 13
• Mississippi Highway 26
• Mississippi Highway 43
• Mississippi Highway 53

Adjacent counties and parishes

• Lamar County (north)
• Forrest County (northeast)
• Stone County (east)
• Hancock County (south)
• St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana (southwest)
• Washington Parish, Louisiana (west)
• Marion County (northwest)

National protected areas

• Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge (part)
• De Soto National Forest (part)

Newspaper

Picayune's local newspaper is the Picayune Item.^[12]

Radio

The local radio station is WRJW 1320-AM.^[13]

Television and Radio stations of New Orleans and Biloxi/Gulfport listening areas are part of Picayune area.

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 56,145. The median age was 41.6 years. 22.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.6 males age 18 and over.^[30][31]

The racial makeup of the county was 79.9% White, 12.0% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.2% from some other race, and 5.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.1% of the population.^[31]

29.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 71.0% lived in rural areas.^[32]

There were 21,703 households in the county, of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.3% were married-couple households, 18.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[30]

There were 24,641 housing units, of which 11.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.8% were owner-occupied and 24.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.9%.^[30]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census Pearl River County had a population of 55,834. The ethnic and racial make-up of the population was 82.2% non-Hispanic white, 12.3% African-American, 0.6% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.1% non-Hispanic from some other race, 1.7% from two or more races (0.5% reporting being white and black) and 2.9% Hispanic or Latino.^{[33][failed verification]}

2000 census

As of the census^{[34][failed verification]} of 2000, there were 48,621 people, 18,078 households, and 13,576 families residing in the county. The population density was 60 people per square mile (23 people/km²). There were 20,610 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (9.7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 85.55% White, 12.18% Black or African American, 0.50% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. 1.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 18,078 households, out of which 34.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.30% were married couples living together, 12.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.90% were non-families. 21.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.00% 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 3.08.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.00% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 27.10% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,912, and the median income for a family was $35,924. Males had a median income of $30,370 versus $21,519 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,160. About 15.50% of families and 18.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.60% of those under age 18 and 12.50% of those age 65 or over.

Cities

• Lumberton (mostly in Lamar County)
• Picayune
• Poplarville (county seat)

Census-designated places

• Hide-A-Way Lake
• Nicholson

Other unincorporated communities

• Caesar
• Carriere
• McNeill