Pearl, Mississippi
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Pearl is a city located in Rankin County, Mississippi. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 21,961.
On October 1, 1997, 16-year old Luke Woodham stabbed his mother to death. He then took a rifle to his school, Pearl High School. He shot and killed his ex-girlfriend and another student while maiming another seven. Six other boys were later arrested for conspiring with Luke in the school shooting, although all save one were cleared of all charges. The assistant principal of Pearl High, Joel Myrick, pulled a gun from his pickup truck, intercepted Woodham and held him until police arrived.
Today, Pearl is a growing community across the Pearl River from Jackson. It is Mississippi's 13th largest city. Pearl has a new AA Baseball team, named the Mississippi Braves, with their first game set for April 2005. Pearl is also opening a new Bass Pro Shop off of I-20, next to the baseball stadum Trustmark Park. It will sit next to a 17 acre (69,000 m²) lake. The development will have a new hotel and new shops set around a river walk.
Geography
Pearl is located at 32°16'19" North, 90°6'19" West (32.271979, -90.105266)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 57.1 km² (22.0 mi²). 56.5 km² (21.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.00% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 21,961 people, 8,608 households, and 6,025 families residing in the city. The population density is 388.4/km² (1,005.9/mi²). There are 9,128 housing units at an average density of 161.4/km² (418.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 81.18% White, 16.24% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.79% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.78% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. 2.03% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 8,608 households out of which 34.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% are married couples living together, 15.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% are non-families. 25.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.55 and the average family size is 3.05.
In the city the population is spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 females there are 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 86.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $37,617, and the median income for a family is $42,013. Males have a median income of $30,860 versus $24,610 for females. The per capita income for the city is $17,136. 12.2% of the population and 9.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 17.3% of those under the age of 18 and 12.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.