Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi

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Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi
Jefferson Davis County courthouse in Prentiss
Location in the state of Mississippi
Mississippi's location in the U.S.
Founded	1906
Named for	Jefferson Davis
Seat	Prentiss
Largest town	Prentiss
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	409 sq mi (1,059 km²) 408 sq mi (1,057 km²) 0.7 sq mi (2 km²), 0.2
Population  - (2020)  - Density	11,321
Congressional district	3rd
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5

Jefferson Davis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,321. Its county seat is Prentiss. The county is named after Mississippi Senator and Confederate President Jefferson Davis. The county was carved out of Covington and Lawrence counties in March 1906. Governor James K. Vardaman signed the bill creating the county on May 9, 1906.

History

The genesis of the county occurred on March 31, 1906, when a Mississippi state legislative act authorized the new country's boundaries. The residents of western Covington County and eastern Lawrence County had frequently complained of the rivers and streams impeding the route to their respective county seats. Jefferson Davis County was the state's 77th county.

A 1906 special referendum determined that the county seat would be Prentiss, named for either famed Mississippi lawmaker and orator Seargent Smith Prentiss, or wealthy landowner Prentiss Webb Berry. The settlement was originally named Blountville after early settler William Blount.

In 1933, the county was the first in Mississippi to issue a prohibition on alcohol after the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Round dancing in the community hall was banned in 1938.

In 1935, notorious bank robber Raymond Hamilton, known to hide out in the county's wilderness, was involved in a hostage situation after robbing Prentiss' Bank of Blountville, but escaped in Memphis.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 409 square miles (1,060 km²), of which 408 square miles (1,060 km²) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) (0.2%) is water.

Major highways

• U.S. Route 84
• Mississippi Highway 13
• Mississippi Highway 35
• Mississippi Highway 42
• Mississippi Highway 43

Adjacent counties

• Simpson County (north)
• Covington County (east)
• Lamar County (southeast)
• Marion County (south)
• Lawrence County (west)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1910	12,860		—
1920	12,755		−0.8%
1930	14,281		12.0%
1940	15,869		11.1%
1950	15,500		−2.3%
1960	13,540		−12.6%
1970	12,936		−4.5%
1980	13,846		7.0%
1990	14,051		1.5%
2000	13,962		−0.6%
2010	12,487		−10.6%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

2020 census

Jefferson Davis County racial composition

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	4,330	38.25%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	6,622	58.49%
Native American	8	0.07%
Asian	21	0.19%
Other/Mixed	239	2.11%
Hispanic or Latino	101	0.89%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 11,321 people, 4,713 households, and 3,003 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 12,487 people living in the county. 59.9% were Black or African American, 38.7% White, 0.3% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.3% of some other race and 0.7% of two or more races. 0.8% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,962 people, 5,177 households, and 3,768 families living in the county. The population density was 34 people per square mile (13/km²). There were 5,891 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 57.38% Black or African American, 41.66% White, 0.14% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. 0.77% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,177 households, out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 21.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.2% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.4% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $21,834, and the median income for a family was $27,594. Males had a median income of $23,942 versus $16,510 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,974. About 23.2% of families and 28.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.7% of those under age 18 and 24.5% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Towns

• Bassfield
• Prentiss (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

• Carson
• Oak Vale (partly in Lawrence County)

Ghost town

• Mount Carmel

Politics

Jefferson Davis County is heavily Democratic. It has only voted for the Republican candidate for president three times since 1912 (although long ago it also voted for third-party segregationist candidates three times). Prior to the 1960s, its Democratic lean was due to its location in the "Solid South". At the statewide level, Jefferson Davis County has only voted for the Republican candidate for governor once since Reconstruction: for Kirk Fordice in 1991.

United States presidential election results for Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	2,534	40.79%	3,599	57.93%	80	1.29%
2016	2,466	39.54%	3,720	59.64%	51	0.82%
2012	2,507	36.52%	4,267	62.16%	90	1.31%
2008	2,871	38.96%	4,454	60.43%	45	0.61%
2004	2,668	46.28%	2,959	51.33%	138	2.39%
2000	2,437	45.83%	2,835	53.32%	45	0.85%
1996	1,890	38.84%	2,663	54.73%	313	6.43%
1992	2,228	39.55%	2,991	53.10%	414	7.35%
1988	2,745	47.92%	2,948	51.47%	35	0.61%
1984	2,884	51.81%	2,644	47.50%	38	0.68%
1980	2,280	36.85%	3,831	61.92%	76	1.23%
1976	1,868	39.76%	2,747	58.47%	83	1.77%
1972	2,830	72.83%	1,005	25.86%	51	1.31%
1968	297	6.79%	1,465	33.48%	2,614	59.73%
1964	2,351	90.91%	235	9.09%	0	0.00%
1960	225	13.06%	510	29.60%	988	57.34%
1956	156	10.92%	1,049	73.41%	224	15.68%
1952	473	22.53%	1,626	77.47%	0	0.00%
1948	51	3.30%	41	2.66%	1,452	94.04%
1944	88	6.03%	1,372	93.97%	0	0.00%
1940	38	2.86%	1,289	96.92%	3	0.23%
1936	67	4.81%	1,325	95.05%	2	0.14%
1932	30	3.09%	940	96.71%	2	0.21%
1928	163	16.00%	856	84.00%	0	0.00%
1924	88	10.73%	732	89.27%	0	0.00%
1920	179	26.76%	485	72.50%	5	0.75%
1916	45	6.59%	634	92.83%	4	0.59%
1912	43	6.63%	542	83.51%	64	9.86%

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi

External links

• Jefferson Davis County Website
• Jefferson Davis County Courthouse Pictures
• Jefferson Davis County Economic Development District Website