Choctaw County, Mississippi

Choctaw County, Mississippi
Location in the U.S. state of Mississippi
Mississippi's location in the U.S.
Founded	1833
Named for	Choctaw people
Seat	Ackerman
Largest town	Ackerman
Area
• Total	420 sq mi (1,088 km2)
• Land	418 sq mi (1,083 km2)
• Water	1.7 sq mi (4 km2), 0.4%
Population
• (2010)	8,547
• Density	20/sq mi (8/km²)
Congressional district	1st
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5

Choctaw County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2010 census, the population was 8,547. Its county seat is Ackerman. The county is named after the Choctaw tribe of Native Americans who long occupied this territory as their homeland.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 420 square miles (1,100 km²), of which 418 square miles (1,080 km²) is land and 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²) (0.4%) is water. The Big Black River forms the county's northern border.

Adjacent counties

• Webster County, Mississippi - north
• Oktibbeha County, Mississippi - east
• Winston County, Mississippi - southeast
• Attala County, Mississippi - southwest
• Montgomery County, Mississippi - west

National protected areas

• Natchez Trace Parkway (part)
• Tombigbee National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1840	6,010		—
1850	11,402		89.7%
1860	15,722		37.9%
1870	16,988		8.1%
1880	9,036		−46.8%
1890	10,847		20.0%
1900	13,036		20.2%
1910	14,357		10.1%
1920	12,491		−13.0%
1930	12,339		−1.2%
1940	13,548		9.8%
1950	11,009		−18.7%
1960	8,423		−23.5%
1970	8,440		0.2%
1980	8,996		6.6%
1990	9,071		0.8%
2000	9,758		7.6%
2010	8,543		−12.5%
Est. 2014	8,294		−2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 8,543 people residing in the county. 68.1% were White, 30.2% African American, 0.3% U.S. Census, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from some other race and 1.1% of two or more races. 1.4% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of the census of 2000, there were 9,758 people, 3,686 households, and 2,668 families residing in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile (9/km²). There were 4,249 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 68.03% White, 30.68% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.42% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. 0.81% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,686 households out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.30% were married couples living together, 14.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.80% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 24.90% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,020, and the median income for a family was $31,095. Males had a median income of $26,966 versus $17,798 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,474. About 17.70% of families and 24.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.80% of those under age 18 and 21.30% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Choctaw County School District operates public schools. Ackerman High School and the Weir Attendance Center provide secondary school education.

French Camp Academy, which provides in-house private education in grades 7 through 12, is located in French Camp.

Colleges and universities

Colleges and universities within a 60-mile (97 km) radius of the center of the county include:

• East Mississippi Community College (campuses in Columbus, Mayhew, and Scooba)
• Holmes Community College (campuses in Goodman and Grenada)
• Mississippi State University (Starkville)
• Mississippi University for Women (Columbus)

Communities

Towns

• Ackerman (county seat)
• French Camp
• Mathiston (mostly in Webster County)
• Weir

=Unincorporated communities

• Bywy
• Chester
• Reform

Ghost towns

• Bankston
• Pigeon Roost

Notable people

• Dennis Johnson Fullback for Mississippi State University who played for the New York Giants and Buffalo Bills in the NFL.
• Kenneth Johnson, NFL defensive back for the Green Bay Packers
• Tony Kimbrough Former professional football quarterback
• Roy Oswalt, a major league pitcher for the Colorado Rockies, and his wife Nicole live in Weir.
• Hoyt Ming, old-time fiddler.
• James Blackwood, American Gospel singer and one of the founding members of legendary Southern Gospel quartet The Blackwood Brothers.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Choctaw County, Mississippi

External links

• Choctaw County Courthouse Pictures