West Point, Mississippi

Infobox Settlement
official_name = West Point, Mississippi
settlement_type = City
nickname =
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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of West Point, Mississippi


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Mississippi
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Clay
government_footnotes =
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unit_pref = Imperial
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area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 54.6
area_land_km2 = 53.9
area_water_km2 = 0.7
area_total_sq_mi = 21.1
area_land_sq_mi = 20.8
area_water_sq_mi = 0.3

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 12145
population_density_km2 = 225.3
population_density_sq_mi = 583.5

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 68
elevation_ft = 223
latd = 33 |latm = 36 |lats = 22 |latNS = N
longd = 88 |longm = 39 |longs = 9 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 39773
area_code = 662
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 28-79120
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0679519
website =
footnotes =

West Point is a city in Clay County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 12,145 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Clay CountyGR|6 and the principal city of the West Point Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of the larger Columbus-West Point Combined Statistical Area.

Geography

West Point is located at coor dms|33|36|22|N|88|39|9|W|city (33.606155, -88.652369).GR|1

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 21.1 square miles (54.6 km²), of which, 20.8 square miles (53.9 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.7 km²) of it (1.28%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 12,145 people, 4,567 households, and 3,219 families residing in the city. The population density was 583.5 people per square mile (225.3/km²). There were 4,897 housing units at an average density of 235.3/sq mi (90.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 42.91% White, 56.18% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 0.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.99% of the population.

There were 4,567 households out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.9% were married couples living together, 25.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 27.4% 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 2.57 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 82.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,404, and the median income for a family was $32,943. Males had a median income of $30,902 versus $20,255 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,063. About 21.5% of families and 25.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.9% of those under age 18 and 21.8% of those age 65 or over.

Large businesses in West Point include Southern Ionics, Babcock and Wilcox, and Mossy Oak Camouflage Company.

Old Waverly, located outside of West Point and recognized as one of Mississippi's top golf courses, hosted the 1999 U.S. Women's Open, which was won by Juli Inkster.

Waverley Plantation Mansion, just eight miles east of West Point is a National Historic Landmark. Its four story cantilevered stairhall and cupola is considered unique in the United States. The mansion is open daily for tours from 9am and closes promptly at 5pm. Admission fee charged.

Each Labor Day weekend the town of West Point hosts the Prairie Arts Festival, which showcases area artwork as well as a day-long event of flea market shopping.

West Point is the home of three high schools: West Point High School, the town's lone public high school, offers a diverse classroom environment and is the largest of the three. Oak Hill Academy and Hebron Christian School are tuition based private schools.

Notable residents

Notable residents of West Point include John Bryan, Jr., who was chairman of Sara Lee Corporation, and David Halberstam, a Pulitzer prize winning journalist whose first post-collegiate job was for West Point's "Daily Times Leader".

Toxey Haas, founder of Mossy Oak Camouflage Company, one of the largest camouflage brands in the United States, also calls West Point home.

West Point is also the home of Tony Marshall, author of the book "The Drunken Hamster Electric Boogaloo".

Lenore Prather, the first woman chief justice in Mississippi's history, also has close ties to West Point.

West Point was also the birthplace of blues musician "Howlin' Wolf" Chester Burnett (1910-1976). Burnett was born in the area of West Point now known as White Station.

In a bit of irony, Arthur O'Neal, a native of West Point and graduate of West Point High School, holds or once held many school and league baseball records for West Point (United States Military Academy, New York). He is considered one of the greatest baseball players in Army's history. http://www.luckyone7s.com/patriotleague_recordbook.pdf

References

External links