Greene County, Mississippi

County in Mississippi, United States

County in Mississippi

Greene County

County

Leaksville Junior High School

Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi

Mississippi's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 31°13′N 88°38′W﻿ / ﻿31.22°N 88.64°W﻿ / 31.22; -88.64
Country|  United States
State|  Mississippi
Founded| 1811
Named after| Nathanael Greene
Seat| Leakesville
Largest town| Leakesville
Area

• Total

| 719 sq mi (1,860 km2)
• Land| 713 sq mi (1,850 km2)
• Water| 5.9 sq mi (15 km2)  0.8%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 13,530
• Density| 19/sq mi (7.3/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 4th
Website| www.greenecountyms.gov

Greene County is a county located on the southeast border of the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,530.[1] Its county seat is Leakesville.[2] Established in 1811, the county was named for General Nathanael Greene of the American Revolutionary War.[3]

## History

[edit]

Historically this area of the state was occupied by the Choctaw people, who constituted the largest tribe. French, Spanish and English colonists traded with them in the early colonial years. in 1830, President Andrew Jackson gained passage of the Indian Removal Act by Congress, and proceeded to force the Choctaw and other of the Five Civilized Tribes out of the Southeast to lands west of the Mississippi River. The land was sold to European-American settlers.

County boundaries went through numerous changes as population increased and new counties were created. Along with neighboring Jones and Perry counties, Greene is characterized by its sandy soil and Piney Woods. These characteristics limited the productivity of farming.[4]

The county economy originally depended on subsistence farmers who ran herds of cattle and hogs, which were allowed to roam freely in the pine forests and bush. Together with the game they hunted, residents sold the meat animals to markets in Mobile, Alabama, the nearest commercial center.[5] While some farmers tried to cultivate cotton because of the high prices when the market was strong, most in this area had small farms and the owners held few enslaved African Americans. The soil did not support very successful cotton crops; in 1860 only 16 of the 213 farmers in this county raised cotton.[4]

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 719 square miles (1,860 km2), of which 713 square miles (1,850 km2) is land and 5.9 square miles (15 km2) (0.8%) is water.[6]

### Major highways

[edit]

* U.S. Highway 45
* U.S. Highway 98
* Mississippi Highway 42
* Mississippi Highway 57
* Mississippi Highway 63

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Wayne County (north)
* Washington County, Alabama (northeast)
* Mobile County, Alabama (southeast)
* George County (south)
* Perry County (west)

### National protected area

[edit]

* De Soto National Forest (part)

## Demographics

[edit]

The rural county had strong declines in population from 1940 to 1960, a period when many African Americans left for the West Coast in the second wave of the Great Migration. The buildup of defense industries in California and other states before and during World War II attracted many migrants for work opportunities.

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1820| 1,345| | —
1830| 1,854| | 37.8%
1840| 1,636| | −11.8%
1850| 2,018| | 23.3%
1860| 2,232| | 10.6%
1870| 2,038| | −8.7%
1880| 3,194| | 56.7%
1890| 3,906| | 22.3%
1900| 6,795| | 74.0%
1910| 6,050| | −11.0%
1920| 10,430| | 72.4%
1930| 10,644| | 2.1%
1940| 9,512| | −10.6%
1950| 8,215| | −13.6%
1960| 8,366| | 1.8%
1970| 8,545| | 2.1%
1980| 9,827| | 15.0%
1990| 10,220| | 4.0%
2000| 13,299| | 30.1%
2010| 14,400| | 8.3%
2020| 13,530| | −6.0%
2023 (est.)| 13,601| [7]| 0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2013[12]

### 2000 census

[edit]

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 13,299 people, 4,148 households, and 3,152 families residing in the county. The population density was 19 people per square mile (7.3 people/km2). There were 4,947 housing units at an average density of 7 units per square mile (2.7 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 72.79% White, 26.18% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 0.38% from two or more races. 0.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,148 households, out of which 37.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.20% were married couples living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.00% were non-families. 22.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.10% under the age of 18, 13.10% from 18 to 24, 32.10% from 25 to 44, 20.60% from 45 to 64, and 10.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 130.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 141.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,336, and the median income for a family was $33,037. Males had a median income of $30,189 versus $17,935 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,868. About 16.50% of families and 19.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.30% of those under age 18 and 21.10% of those age 65 or over.

### 2015

[edit]

As of 2015[update] the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Greene County, Mississippi are:

* African - 26.18%
* English - 18.9%
* American - 17.6%
* Irish - 7.9%
* German - 4.9%
* Scots-Irish - 4.0%
* Scottish - 3.4%
* French (except Basque) - 1.5%
* Dutch - 1.1%
* Italian - 0.7%
* Welsh - 0.4%
* French-Canadian - 0.1%
* Russian - 0.1%
* Norwegian - 0.1%[14]

### 2020 census

[edit]

Greene County racial composition[15] Race  | Num.  | Perc.

|
|

White (non-Hispanic)  | 9,809  | 72.5%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)  | 3,143  | 23.23%
Native American | 60  | 0.44%
Asian | 21  | 0.16%
Pacific Islander | 3  | 0.02%
Other/Mixed | 323  | 2.39%
Hispanic or Latino | 171  | 1.26%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 13,530 people, 3,925 households, and 2,624 families residing in the county.

## Government and infrastructure

[edit]

The Mississippi Department of Corrections South Mississippi Correctional Institution is located in an unincorporated area of Greene County;[16] it has a Leakesville postal address.[17][18] It opened in 1990. In the early 21st century, it has an inmate population of more than 3,000 men, which has added markedly to the total population of the county. Its inmates constitute approximately 21 percent of the state's total prisoners. Numerous residents of the rural county are employed at the prison.

Greene County has, since the 1970s, been a solid Republican stronghold. The last Democratic presidential candidate to carry the county was Jimmy Carter in 1976.

United States presidential election results for Greene County, Mississippi[19] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 4,776  | 84.55% | 835  | 14.78%  | 38  | 0.67%
2020 | 4,794  | 82.48% | 966  | 16.62%  | 52  | 0.89%
2016 | 4,335  | 80.74% | 974  | 18.14%  | 60  | 1.12%
2012 | 4,531  | 76.51% | 1,325  | 22.37%  | 66  | 1.11%
2008 | 4,361  | 75.33% | 1,366  | 23.60%  | 62  | 1.07%
2004 | 3,850  | 72.66% | 1,421  | 26.82%  | 28  | 0.53%
2000 | 3,082  | 69.48% | 1,317  | 29.69%  | 37  | 0.83%
1996 | 1,947  | 53.71% | 1,347  | 37.16%  | 331  | 9.13%
1992 | 2,406  | 51.90% | 1,664  | 35.89%  | 566  | 12.21%
1988 | 2,837  | 57.08% | 1,637  | 32.94%  | 496  | 9.98%
1984 | 2,744  | 67.55% | 1,297  | 31.93%  | 21  | 0.52%
1980 | 1,772  | 50.04% | 1,740  | 49.14%  | 29  | 0.82%
1976 | 1,538  | 40.80%  | 2,127  | 56.42% | 105  | 2.79%
1972 | 2,884  | 83.52% | 513  | 14.86%  | 56  | 1.62%
1968 | 132  | 3.97%  | 449  | 13.50%  | 2,744  | 82.53%
1964 | 1,845  | 89.52% | 216  | 10.48%  | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 247  | 15.65%  | 550  | 34.85%  | 781  | 49.49%
1956 | 351  | 28.56%  | 734  | 59.72% | 144  | 11.72%
1952 | 506  | 28.86%  | 1,247  | 71.14% | 0  | 0.00%
1948 | 14  | 1.38%  | 118  | 11.59%  | 886  | 87.03%
1944 | 109  | 10.73%  | 907  | 89.27% | 0  | 0.00%
1940 | 66  | 6.65%  | 926  | 93.35% | 0  | 0.00%
1936 | 46  | 5.23%  | 830  | 94.43% | 3  | 0.34%
1932 | 29  | 3.42%  | 818  | 96.46% | 1  | 0.12%
1928 | 342  | 36.58%  | 593  | 63.42% | 0  | 0.00%
1924 | 31  | 6.37%  | 456  | 93.63% | 0  | 0.00%
1920 | 24  | 6.59%  | 337  | 92.58% | 3  | 0.82%
1916 | 32  | 7.36%  | 399  | 91.72% | 4  | 0.92%
1912 | 13  | 4.18%  | 268  | 86.17% | 30  | 9.65%

## Communities

[edit]

### Towns

[edit]

* Leakesville (county seat)
* McLain
* State Line (partly in Wayne County)

### Census-designated places

[edit]

* Leaf

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Avera
* Neely
* Piave
* Sand Hill
* Vernal

## Education

[edit]

Greene County School District is the only school district.[20]

The Greene County School District includes: Greene County High School, Greene County Vocational-Technical School, Leakesville Elementary School, Leakesville Junior High School, McLain Attendance Center, and Sand Hill Attendance Center.[21]

The county is in the zone for Jones College.[22]

## See also

[edit]

* Mississippi portal

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Greene County, Mississippi

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Greene County, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 143.
4. ^ a b Ball, Brooks (August 4, 2017). "History of Greene County – Part 4 (the Civil War years )". Greene County Herald. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
5. ^ Ball, Brooks (August 4, 2017). "THE HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY – Part 1". Greene County Herald. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
7. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
12. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
14. ^ "American FactFinder - Results". factfinder.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
15. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
16. ^ "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Greene County, MS" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. p. 4 (PDF p. 5/9). Retrieved August 12, 2022. "South Mississippi Correctional Instn"
17. ^ "State Prisons Archived 2002-12-06 at the Wayback Machine." Mississippi Department of Corrections. Retrieved on May 21, 2010.
18. ^ "MDOC QUICK REFERENCE" (Archive). Mississippi Department of Corrections. Retrieved on May 21, 2010.
19. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
20. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Greene County, MS" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 1, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2022. \- Text list
21. ^ "Greene County School District". www.greene.k12.ms.us. Archived from the original on March 3, 2018. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
22. ^ "Profile". Jones College. Retrieved September 27, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Greene County, Mississippi at Wikimedia Commons
* Mississippi Courthouses – Greene County

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Greene County, Mississippi

|  | Wayne County | Washington County, Alabama

|
|

|  |
Perry County |

Greene County, Mississippi

|  |
| George County | Mobile County, Alabama

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Greene County, Mississippi, United States

County seat: Leakesville

Cities|

* Leakesville
* McLain
* State Line‡

Map of Mississippi highlighting Greene County

CDP|

* Leaf

Other
communities|

* Avera
* Neely
* Piave
* Sand Hill
* Vernal

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

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31°13′N 88°38′W﻿ / ﻿31.22°N 88.64°W﻿ / 31.22; -88.64
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