Lee County, Mississippi

Infobox U.S. County
county = Lee County
state = Mississippi




map size = 150
founded = 1866
seat = Tupelo | largest city = Tupelo | area_total_sq_mi =453
area_land_sq_mi =450
area_water_sq_mi =4
area percentage = 0.78%
census yr = 2007
pop = 80,349
density_km2 =65
web =
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Lee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of 2000, the population was 75,755 (though a 2007 population estimate placed the population at 80,349). The county seat is TupeloGR|6. It is the largest county in the Tupelo Micropolitan Statistical Area. Lee County is named for General Robert E. Lee.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 453 square miles (1,174 km²), of which, 450 square miles (1,164 km²) of it is land and 4 square miles (9 km²) of it (0.78%) is water.

Major highways

*
*
*
*Natchez Trace Parkway

Adjacent counties

*Prentiss County (north)
*Itawamba County (east)
*Monroe County (southeast)
*Chickasaw County (southwest)
*Pontotoc County (west)
*Union County (northwest)

National protected areas

* Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site
* Natchez Trace Parkway (part)
* Tupelo National Battlefield

History

On September 20, 1816, General Andrew Jackson, David Meriwether, and the Chickasaw Nation signed the Treaty of Chickasaw Council House in Lee County.

Lee County was formed on October 26, 1866 from sections of Itawamba County and Pontotoc County. It was named after Robert Edward Lee, an Army colonel and the most successful general of the CSA military.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1870= 15955
1880= 20470
1890= 20040
1900= 21956
1910= 28894
1920= 29618
1930= 35313
1940= 38838
1950= 38237
1960= 40589
1970= 46148
1980= 57061
1990= 65581
2000= 75755
estyear=2007
estimate=80349
footnote= [http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ms190090.txt MS Counties 1900-1990] As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 75,755 people, 29,200 households, and 20,819 families residing in the county. The population density was 168 people per square mile (65/km²). There were 31,887 housing units at an average density of 71 per square mile (27/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 73.66% White, 24.51% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. 1.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 29,200 households out of which 36.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.60% were married couples living together, 14.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.70% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 21.80% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 92.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,165, and the median income for a family was $43,149. Males had a median income of $31,039 versus $22,235 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,956. About 10.50% of families and 13.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.90% of those under age 18 and 15.50% of those age 65 or over.

Lee County has the fourth highest per capita income in the State of Mississippi.

Communities

*Cities
**Baldwyn (partly in Prentiss County)
**Tupelo
**Verona

*Towns
**Guntown
**Nettleton (partly in Monroe County)
**Plantersville
**Saltillo
**Shannon
**Sherman (mostly in Pontotoc County, small portion in Union County)

*Unincorporated places
**Mooreville

References