West Point, Mississippi

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 County 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 33.60611°N, -88.6525°W (33.606155, -88.652369).

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

Demographics


As of the census 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 per square mile (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.

Payne Field was an advanced Aviation School operated from May 1918 to March 1920. About 1,500 pilots were trained there. It is recoginzed as the first airfield in the state of Mississippi.

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.

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.

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

Tyrone Bell, a former NFL player, was born in West Point.

Education
Public education in the city of West Point is provided by the West Point School District.

Oak Hill Academy is private K-12 school

Hebron Christian School is private K-12 school nearby in Clay County