Yazoo County, Mississippi
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Yazoo County is a county located in the state of Mississippi. As of 2000, the population is 28,149. Farming and lumber are the predominant industries of Yazoo county.
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Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,419 km² (934 mi²). 2,381 km² (919 mi²) of it is land and 38 km² (15 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.57% water.
History
The area which is now Yazoo County was acquired by the State of Mississippi from the Choctaw Indians in 1820. Yazoo County was established on January 21, 1823. It was the 19th county established in the State of Mississippi, and remains the largest in area. The first county seat was at Beattie's Bluff, Mississippi. In 1829 the county seat was moved to Benton. In 1849 the county seat was moved once again, to Yazoo City where it remains.
Yazoo County was a battlefield in 1863 and 1864 during the American Civil War.
The famous railroad disaster which killed engineer Casey Jones took place in Yazoo County, just north of Vaughan, Mississippi, in 1900.
The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 did much damage in Yazoo County.
Comedian Jerry Clower was a native of Yazoo City, who immortalized the fictitious Ledbetter family (based on his memories of real people) with his comedy sketches. His humor was always gentle, upbeat, and deeply based on his Christian faith. See: http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/english/ms-writers/dir/clower_jerry/
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 28,149 people, 9,178 households, and 6,644 families residing in the county. The population density is 12/km² (31/mi²). There are 10,015 housing units at an average density of 4/km² (11/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 44.74% White, 53.96% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races. 4.38% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
35.60% of the 9,178 households have children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.20% are married couples living together, 23.70% have a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% are non-families. 24.50% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.70% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.81 and the average family size is 3.35.
In the county the population is spread out with 28.50% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 20.10% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 females there are 103.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 103.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county is $24,795, and the median income for a family is $29,395. Males have a median income of $28,553 versus $19,797 for females. The per capita income for the county is $12,062. 31.90% of the population and 25.40% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 42.90% of those under the age of 18 and 22.50% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Cities and towns
- Bentonia
- Eden
- Satartia
- Vaughan
- Yazoo City (county seat)
External links
- Yazoo County Mississippi (http://www.rootsweb.com/~msyazoo/) on RootsWeb.com
- Yazoo County Convention and Visitors Bureau (http://www.yazoo.org/)
