Lamar County, Mississippi
|
|
Lamar County is a county located in the state of Mississippi. As of 2000, the population is 39,070. Its county seat is Purvis6.
Named for the post-Civil War Mississippi statesman Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar, the county was carved out of Marion County to the west in 1904. It remained largely a rural county until the last decades of the 20th Century, when retail and residential growth of nearby Hattiesburg (in Forrest County, to the east) spilled over the county lines.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,296 km² (500 mi²). 1,287 km² (497 mi²) of it is land and 9 km² (3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.68% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 39,070 people, 14,396 households, and 10,725 families residing in the county. The population density is 30/km² (79/mi²). There are 15,433 housing units at an average density of 12/km² (31/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 85.34% White, 12.90% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. 1.09% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 14,396 households out of which 38.40% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.60% are married couples living together, 11.50% have a female householder with no husband present, and 25.50% are non-families. 20.40% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.10% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.68 and the average family size is 3.11.
In the county the population is spread out with 28.00% under the age of 18, 10.90% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 21.00% from 45 to 64, and 9.70% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 33 years. For every 100 females there are 93.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county is $37,628, and the median income for a family is $44,611. Males have a median income of $32,791 versus $22,260 for females. The per capita income for the county is $18,849. 13.30% of the population and 9.70% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 15.30% of those under the age of 18 and 17.00% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Cities and towns
