Holmes County, Mississippi

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




map size = 150
founded = 1833
seat = Lexington | largest city wl = Durant | area_total_sq_mi =764
area_land_sq_mi =756
area_water_sq_mi =8
area percentage = 1.07%
census yr = 2000
pop = 21609
density_km2 =11
web =
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Holmes County is a county located in the Mississippi Delta region of the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of 2000, the population was 21,609. It is named in honor of David Holmes, the first governor of the state of Mississippi. Its county seat is LexingtonGR|6.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 764 square miles (1,979 km²), of which, 756 square miles (1,958 km²) of it is land and 8 square miles (21 km²) of it (1.07%) is water.

Holmes County State Park is located here.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

*Carroll County (north)
*Attala County (east)
*Yazoo County (south)
*Humphreys County (west)
*Leflore County (northwest)

Demographics

USCensusPop
1840= 9452
1850= 13928
1860= 17791
1870= 19370
1880= 27164
1890= 30970
1900= 36828
1910= 39088
1920= 34513
1930= 38534
1940= 39710
1950= 33301
1960= 27096
1970= 23120
1980= 22970
1990= 21604
2000= 21609
estyear=2007
estimate=20461
footnote= [http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ms190090.txt MS Counties 1900-1990] As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 21,609 people, 7,314 households, and 5,229 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile (11/km²). There were 8,439 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 20.47% White, 78.66% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.07% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races. 0.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,314 households out of which 36.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.90% were married couples living together, 31.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.50% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.48.

In the county the population was spread out with 32.10% under the age of 18, 12.40% from 18 to 24, 24.80% from 25 to 44, 18.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 87.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $17,235, and the median income for a family was $21,757. Males had a median income of $23,720 versus $17,883 for females. The per capita income for the county was $10,683. About 35.90% of families and 41.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 52.30% of those under age 18 and 36.40% of those age 65 or over.

Holmes County has the third lowest per capita income in Mississippi and the 41st lowest in the United States.

Communities

*Cities
**Durant
**Lexington

*Towns
**Cruger
**Goodman
**Pickens
**Tchula
**West

*Unincorporated places
**Acona
**Coxburg
**Ebenezer
**Thornton

Education

*Colleges
**Holmes Community College (Goodman)

*Public School Districts
**Durant Public School District
**Holmes County School District (Lexington)

*Private Schools
**Central Holmes Christian School (Lexington)
**East Holmes Academy (West)

Miscellaneous

The local 4-H club had its beginnings at the "Little Red Scoolhouse" located on Mississippi Highway 17. Fact|date=July 2007

The county newspaper is the Holmes County Herald.

ee also

* USS "Holmes County" (LST-836)

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmore_James

External links

* [http://www.holmescountyherald.com/ Holmes County Herald]
* [http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/fsowhome.html Library of Congress - The Farm Security Administration - Office of War Information Photograph Collection] - Photos of life in 1930s-era Holmes County