Monroe County, Mississippi

County in Mississippi, United States

County in Mississippi

Monroe County

County

Former Monroe County Courthouse in Aberdeen.

Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi

Mississippi's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 33°53′N 88°29′W﻿ / ﻿33.89°N 88.49°W﻿ / 33.89; -88.49
Country|  United States
State|  Mississippi
Founded| 1821
Named after| James Monroe
Seat| Aberdeen
Largest city| Amory
Area

• Total

| 772 sq mi (2,000 km2)
• Land| 765 sq mi (1,980 km2)
• Water| 7.0 sq mi (18 km2)  0.9%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 34,180

• Estimate

(2023)

| 33,609
• Density| 44/sq mi (17/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 1st
Website| www.monroems.com

Monroe County is a county on the northeast border of the U.S. state of Mississippi next to Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 34,180.[1] Its county seat is Aberdeen.[2]

## History

[edit]

The county is named in honor of James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States.[3] Part of the county east of the Tombigbee River originally made-up part of the Alabama Territory, belonging to Marion County, until new lines of demarcation put it in the State of Mississippi in 1821.[4]

In 1889, an African-American man, Keith Bowen was lynched by a mob in the Lebanon community six miles south of Aberdeen after he was found in a white girl's bedroom at 3:00 AM."[5]

In 1922, William Baker, an 18-year-old African-American man was lynched in Monroe County by a white mob.[6]

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 772 square miles (2,000 km2), of which 765 square miles (1,980 km2) is land and 7.0 square miles (18 km2) (0.9%) is water.[7]

In 1922, the Commissioner of Agriculture for the county published a report in a local newspaper which described in some detail the soil conditions and agriculture of the county.[8] He described the areas as the Black Lands and the soil as black lime, a "stiff" soil, derived from the Selma chalk formation and extremely rich in potassium and phosphorus.[8]

### Flora

[edit]

Sweet clover is an indigenous wild ground cover in the county.[8]

### Major highways

[edit]

* U.S. Highway 45
* U.S. Highway 278
* Mississippi Highway 6
* Mississippi Highway 8
* Mississippi Highway 25
* Mississippi Highway 145

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Lowndes County (south)
* Clay County (southwest)
* Chickasaw County (west)
* Lee County (northwest)
* Itawamba County (north)
* Lamar County, Alabama (east)
* Marion County, Alabama (northeast)

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1820| 2,721| | —
1830| 3,861| | 41.9%
1840| 9,250| | 139.6%
1850| 21,172| | 128.9%
1860| 21,283| | 0.5%
1870| 22,631| | 6.3%
1880| 28,553| | 26.2%
1890| 30,730| | 7.6%
1900| 31,216| | 1.6%
1910| 35,178| | 12.7%
1920| 32,613| | −7.3%
1930| 36,141| | 10.8%
1940| 37,648| | 4.2%
1950| 36,543| | −2.9%
1960| 33,953| | −7.1%
1970| 34,043| | 0.3%
1980| 36,404| | 6.9%
1990| 36,582| | 0.5%
2000| 38,014| | 3.9%
2010| 36,989| | −2.7%
2020| 34,180| | −7.6%
2023 (est.)| 33,609| [9]| −1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010–2020[14]

### 2020 census

[edit]

Monroe County Racial Composition[15] Race  | Num.  | Perc.

|
|

White | 22,487  | 65.79%
Black or African American | 10,311  | 30.17%
Native American | 50  | 0.15%
Asian | 67  | 0.2%
Pacific Islander | 3  | 0.01%
Other/Mixed | 789  | 2.31%
Hispanic or Latino | 473  | 1.38%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 34,180 people, 13,966 households, and 9,122 families residing in the county.

### 2000 census

[edit]

As of the census[16] of 2000, there were 38,014 people, 14,603 households, and 10,660 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile (19 people/km2). There were 16,236 housing units at an average density of 21 units per square mile (8.1 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 68.37% White, 30.77% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races, and 0.47% from two or more races. 0.69% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 14,603 households, out of which 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.00% were married couples living together, 17.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.00% were non-families. 24.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.80% 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 3.07.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.20% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 89.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,307, and the median income for a family was $36,749. Males had a median income of $30,232 versus $20,411 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,072. About 13.60% of families and 17.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.30% of those under age 18 and 21.70% of those age 65 or over.

## Economy

[edit]

As of 1922,[update] both the largest creamery and the largest hog-feeding plant "in the South" were located in the county.[8]

As of 1922,[update] corn was the most important grain crop grown in the county.[8] Corn was typically planted after the planting and harvest of a crop of clover or oats.[8] At that time, oat crops typically yielded forty to sixty bushels per acre.[8] Other crops grown, either for harvest or pasture, included wheat, rye, barley, rape, cotton, Japan clover.[8] Monroe had the largest acreage devoted to alfalfa production and exported more alfalfa hay than any other county in the state.[8]

As of 2021, US Silica operates a bentonite mine located several miles south of Aberdeen, near the community of Darracott, where bentonite is extracted before being refined into petrochemicals and animal feed.[17]

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Aberdeen (county seat)
* Amory
* Nettleton (partly in Lee County)

### Towns

[edit]

* Hatley
* Smithville

### Village

[edit]

* Gattman

### Census-designated places

[edit]

* Hamilton

### Other unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Athens
* Becker
* Bigbee
* Binford
* Bristow
* Central Grove
* Darracott
* Flinn
* Gibson
* Greenwood Springs
* Lackey
* Mormon Springs
* Muldon
* Parham
* Prairie
* Quincy
* Riggins
* Sipsey Fork
* Splunge
* Strong
* Tranquil
* Westville
* Wise Gap
* Wren

### Ghost towns

[edit]

* Bolivar
* Camargo
* Cotton Gin Port

## Politics

[edit]

United States presidential election results for Monroe County, Mississippi[18] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 10,861  | 67.59% | 5,090  | 31.68%  | 118  | 0.73%
2020 | 11,177  | 64.76% | 5,874  | 34.03%  | 208  | 1.21%
2016 | 10,167  | 64.01% | 5,524  | 34.78%  | 193  | 1.22%
2012 | 9,723  | 57.47% | 7,056  | 41.71%  | 139  | 0.82%
2008 | 10,184  | 58.21% | 7,169  | 40.98%  | 143  | 0.82%
2004 | 9,308  | 59.54% | 6,237  | 39.90%  | 87  | 0.56%
2000 | 7,397  | 55.37% | 5,783  | 43.29%  | 180  | 1.35%
1996 | 5,206  | 45.97% | 5,184  | 45.78%  | 934  | 8.25%
1992 | 5,994  | 49.03% | 4,933  | 40.36%  | 1,297  | 10.61%
1988 | 6,447  | 57.70% | 4,669  | 41.79%  | 57  | 0.51%
1984 | 7,387  | 62.28% | 4,437  | 37.41%  | 36  | 0.30%
1980 | 4,793  | 39.16%  | 6,998  | 57.18% | 448  | 3.66%
1976 | 4,737  | 42.17%  | 6,097  | 54.27% | 400  | 3.56%
1972 | 7,273  | 84.10% | 1,279  | 14.79%  | 96  | 1.11%
1968 | 1,167  | 11.08%  | 1,506  | 14.30%  | 7,856  | 74.61%
1964 | 5,627  | 85.10% | 985  | 14.90%  | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 1,400  | 28.81%  | 1,901  | 39.12% | 1,559  | 32.08%
1956 | 705  | 15.25%  | 3,630  | 78.50% | 289  | 6.25%
1952 | 1,417  | 28.75%  | 3,512  | 71.25% | 0  | 0.00%
1948 | 54  | 1.82%  | 624  | 21.09%  | 2,281  | 77.09%
1944 | 159  | 4.87%  | 3,104  | 95.13% | 0  | 0.00%
1940 | 94  | 2.80%  | 3,263  | 97.11% | 3  | 0.09%
1936 | 55  | 1.69%  | 3,199  | 98.22% | 3  | 0.09%
1932 | 82  | 2.32%  | 3,448  | 97.59% | 3  | 0.08%
1928 | 376  | 11.03%  | 3,033  | 88.97% | 0  | 0.00%
1924 | 121  | 4.88%  | 2,326  | 93.83% | 32  | 1.29%
1920 | 139  | 6.83%  | 1,881  | 92.48% | 14  | 0.69%
1916 | 82  | 4.60%  | 1,684  | 94.55% | 15  | 0.84%
1912 | 25  | 1.74%  | 1,377  | 95.76% | 36  | 2.50%

## See also

[edit]

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Monroe County, Mississippi
* Camp Seminole, Pushmataha Area Council

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Monroe County, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 212.
4. ^ John M. Allman III (ed.), "An Abbreviated History of Marion County, Ala.", The Marion County Historical & Genealogical Societies, Alabama Tracks vol. XI #4 1992. See online at: "Abbreviated History of Marion County". Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
5. ^ "Lynched. Strung up for attempting an assault upon a young woman". Indiana Progress. p. 6.
6. ^ "Negro Hanged by Citizens". Okolona Messenger. Okolona, Chickasaw, Mississippi: Abe Steinberger & Sons. March 9, 1922. pp. 1–8\. ISSN 2469-7559. OCLC 16103582. Retrieved February 17, 2022.1-8&rft.date=1922-03-09&rft_id=info:oclcnum/16103582&rft.issn=2469-7559&rft_id=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87065462/1922-03-09/ed-1/seq-1/#&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Monroe+County,+Mississippi" class="Z3988">
7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
8. ^ a b c d e f g h i Holmes, G.M. (August 11, 1922). "Types of soils and crops of Monroe County, Miss". The Aberdeen Examiner. Vol. 57, no. 8\. Aberdeen, Mississippi: The Examiner Printing Company. p. 1 - via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
12. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
13. ^ "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 6, 2014.
14. ^ "2020 Population and Housing State Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
15. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
16. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
17. ^ US Silica Annual Year End Fiscal Report for 2020
18. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 5, 2018.

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Monroe County, Mississippi

| Lee County | Itawamba County |

|
|

|  |
Chickasaw County |

Monroe County, Mississippi

| Lamar County, Alabama
|  |
Clay County | Lowndes County |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Monroe County, Mississippi, United States

County seat: Aberdeen

Cities|

* Aberdeen
* Amory
* Nettleton‡

Map of Mississippi highlighting Monroe County

Towns|

* Hatley
* Smithville

Village|

* Gattman

CDPs|

* Hamilton
* New Hamilton

Other
communities|

* Athens
* Becker
* Bigbee
* Binford
* Bristow
* Central Grove
* Darracott
* Flinn
* Gibson
* Greenwood Springs
* Lackey
* Mormon Springs
* Muldon
* Parham
* Prairie
* Quincy
* Riggins
* Sipsey Fork
* Splunge
* Strong
* Tranquil
* Westville
* Wise Gap
* Wren

Ghost towns|

* Bolivar
* Camargo
* Cotton Gin Port

Footnotes|

‡This town also has portions in adjacent county or counties

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33°53′N 88°29′W﻿ / ﻿33.89°N 88.49°W﻿ / 33.89; -88.49

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