Familypedia
Register
Advertisement
This article is based on the corresponding article in another wiki. For Familypedia purposes, it requires significantly more historical detail on phases of this location's development. The ideal article for a place will give the reader a feel for what it was like to live at that location at the time their relatives were alive there. Also desirable are links to organizations that may be repositories of genealogical information..
Please help to improve this page yourself if you can.


Coahoma County, Mississippi
WROX Building ~ Clarksdale, MS
Original WROX (AM) building in Clarksdale.
Map of Mississippi highlighting Coahoma County
Location in the state of Mississippi
Map of the U.S
Mississippi's location in the U.S.
Founded February 9, 1836
Seat Clarksdale
Largest city Clarksdale
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

583 sq mi (1,510 km²)
552 sq mi (1,430 km²)
31 sq mi (80 km²), 5.3
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

21,390
Congressional district 2nd
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website http://www.coahomacounty.net/
Cahoma County MS 001

Coahoma County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,390.[1] Its county seat is Clarksdale.[2]

The Clarksdale, MS Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Coahoma County. It is located in the Mississippi Delta region of Mississippi.

History[]

Coahoma County was established February 9, 1836, and is located in the northwestern part of the state in the fertile Yazoo Delta region. The name "Coahoma" is a Choctaw word meaning "red panther."[3] The act creating the county defined its limits as follows:

Beginning at the point where the line between townships 24 and 25 of the surveys of the late Choctaw cession intersects the Mississippi River, and running thence up the said river to the point where the dividing line between the Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes of Indians intersects the same; thence with the dividing line to the point where the line between ranges two and three of the survey of the said Choctaw cession intersects the same; thence with said range line, to the line between townships 24 and 25 aforesaid, and thence with the said township line to the beginning.[4]

In the early days of the county, before the construction of railways or extensive roadways inland, the Mississippi River was the primary transportation route, and the first three county seats were each located on the river. In 1836, Port Royal was designated as the first county seat.[5] In 1841, high waters on the Mississippi River flooded Port Royal, and in 1842 the county seat was moved to the town of Delta.[6] High waters on the Mississippi also flooded Delta, and in 1850 the county seat was moved to Friars Point,[6] which had a population of about 1,000 in 1920, and received its name in honor of Robert Friar, an early settler. As nearby Clarksdale grew in population and influence, it challenged Friars Point's hold on the county government, and in 1892, Coahoma County was divided into two jurisdictions, one going to Friars Point and the other to Clarksdale. In 1930, the county seat was given exclusively to Clarksdale,[7] which had a population of 7,500 in 1920. Clarksdale is now the largest and most important city in the county, and was named for John Clark, a brother-in-law of Governor James L. Alcorn, whose home, Eagle's Nest, was in this county.

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 583 square miles (1,510 km2), of which 552 square miles (1,430 km2) is land and 31 square miles (80 km2) (5.3%) is water.[8]

Major highways[]

  • I-69 (Future) Future Interstate 69
  • US 49 U.S. Highway 49
  • US 61 U.S. Highway 61
  • US 278 U.S. Highway 278
  • Circle sign 1 Mississippi Highway 1
  • Circle sign 6 Mississippi Highway 6

Adjacent counties[]

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1840 1,290
1850 2,780 115.5%
1860 6,606 137.6%
1870 7,144 8.1%
1880 13,568 89.9%
1890 18,342 35.2%
1900 26,293 43.3%
1910 34,217 30.1%
1920 41,511 21.3%
1930 46,327 11.6%
1940 48,333 4.3%
1950 49,361 2.1%
1960 46,212 −6.4%
1970 40,447 −12.5%
1980 36,918 −8.7%
1990 31,665 −14.2%
2000 30,622 −3.3%
2010 26,151 −14.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010–2020[1]

2020 census[]

Coahoma County Racial Composition[13]
Race Num. Perc.
White 4,285 20.03%
Black or African American 16,209 75.78%
Native American 26 0.12%
Asian 112 0.52%
Other/Mixed 408 1.91%
Hispanic or Latino 350 1.64%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 21,390 people, 8,782 households, and 5,637 families residing in the county.

2010 census[]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 26,151 people living in the county. 75.5% were Black or African American, 22.9% White, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Native American, 0.5% of some other race and 0.5% of two or more races. 1.1% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census[]

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 30,622 people, 10,553 households, and 7,482 families living in the county. The population density was 55 people per square mile (21/km2). There were 11,490 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile (8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 65.21% Black or African American, 27.28% White, 6.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino, 0.47% Asian, 0.09% Native American, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. of any race.

There were 10,553 households, out of which 36.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.20% were married couples living together, 28.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.10% were non-families. 26.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.42.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 33.00% under the age of 18, 10.30% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 19.10% from 45 to 64, and 12.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 84.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $22,338, and the median income for a family was $26,640. Males had a median income of $26,841 versus $19,611 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,558. About 29.80% of families and 35.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.90% of those under age 18 and 31.50% of those age 65 or over.


Education[]

  • Colleges
    • Coahoma Community College (Clarksdale)

Coahoma County was previously in the service area of the Mississippi Delta Community College (MDCC). As a result of the 1995 Mississippi Legislature session, Coahoma County is no longer in the MDCC service area.[15]

  • Public School Districts
    • Clarksdale Municipal School District - Its high school is Clarksdale High School
    • Coahoma County School District - Its high school is Coahoma County Junior-Senior High School
  • Private Schools
    • Lee Academy (Clarksdale)

Communities[]

Cities[]

Towns[]

  • Coahoma
  • Friars Point
  • Jonestown
  • Lula
  • Lyon

Census-designated places[]

  • Bobo
  • Dublin
  • Farrell
  • Rena Lara

Unincorporated communities[]

  • Burke Landing
  • Claremont
  • Clover Hill
  • Hillhouse
  • Hopson
  • Humber
  • Lu-Rand
  • Mattson
  • Moon Lake (community)
  • Rich
  • Roseacres
  • Roundaway
  • Rudyard
  • Sherard
  • Stovall
  • Sunflower Landing

Ghost towns[]

  • Delta
  • Ingram (also in Quitman County)
  • Port Royal
  • Wildwood

Notable people[]

  • James L. Alcorn, United States Senator from Mississippi, owned and died at "Eagle Nest" in Coahoma County[16]
  • Thomas Harris, author of Hannibal Lecter novels; he was born in Jackson, Tennessee, but raised in Rich, Mississippi, an unincorporated community in Coahoma County.
  • John Lee Hooker (1917–2001), blues musician born in 1917 in Coahoma County into a sharecropper and Baptist preacher family.
  • Maud Jeffries (1869 – 1946), actress, born in Lula, Mississippi, married a wealthy Australian grazier, and settled in Australia.
  • Ransom A. Myers (b. Lula, Mississippi, 1952 – d. Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2007) was a renowned Canada-based marine biologist, conservationist and scholar at Dalhousie University who published a seminal study on overfishing.
  • Nate Dogg spent his childhood in Clarksdale.
  • Rick Ross the rapper was born in Coahoma County in 1976. Soon moved to Miami-Dade County, Florida.
  • Frederick Bruce Thomas (1872-1928), prominent entrepreneur and multi-millionaire in Moscow and Constantinople.
  • Ike Turner, musician, was born in Clarksdale
  • Tennessee Williams, playwright, spent much of his childhood in Clarksdale and Coahoma County. A Tennessee Williams Festival is held annually in Clarksdale.
  • Blac Elvis was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Award-winning music producer/songwriter.
  • Son House, blues singer and guitarist, (b. 1902 – d. 1988), was born at Lyon in Coahoma County, Mississippi.
  • Conway Twitty, country singer, (b. 1933 - d. 1993), was born in Friars Point, Mississippi.[17]

Politics[]

United States presidential election results for Coahoma County, Mississippi[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 2,375 27.94% 6,020 70.82% 106 1.25%
2016 2,426 27.22% 6,378 71.57% 108 1.21%
2012 2,712 25.71% 7,792 73.86% 45 0.43%
2008 2,917 27.60% 7,597 71.89% 54 0.51%
2004 3,676 34.65% 6,805 64.15% 127 1.20%
2000 3,695 38.68% 5,662 59.27% 196 2.05%
1996 3,441 35.80% 5,776 60.10% 394 4.10%
1992 4,120 36.85% 6,409 57.33% 651 5.82%
1988 4,939 43.79% 6,139 54.43% 200 1.77%
1984 5,759 44.96% 6,839 53.39% 212 1.65%
1980 4,592 38.22% 7,030 58.51% 393 3.27%
1976 4,269 38.41% 6,412 57.70% 432 3.89%
1972 6,602 61.56% 3,708 34.57% 415 3.87%
1968 1,875 17.20% 5,352 49.11% 3,671 33.69%
1964 4,172 81.23% 964 18.77% 0 0.00%
1960 1,096 28.34% 1,386 35.84% 1,385 35.82%
1956 1,082 32.80% 1,677 50.83% 540 16.37%
1952 1,619 43.36% 2,115 56.64% 0 0.00%
1948 113 4.87% 246 10.61% 1,960 84.52%
1944 191 7.39% 2,392 92.61% 0 0.00%
1940 137 5.32% 2,440 94.68% 0 0.00%
1936 49 2.32% 2,059 97.68% 0 0.00%
1932 62 3.57% 1,672 96.26% 3 0.17%
1928 223 11.14% 1,778 88.86% 0 0.00%
1924 121 8.16% 1,362 91.84% 0 0.00%
1920 61 6.40% 882 92.55% 10 1.05%
1916 21 2.91% 697 96.67% 3 0.42%
1912 16 3.64% 396 90.00% 28 6.36%



See also[]

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Coahoma County, Mississippi

References[]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/28/28027.html. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  3. ^ Baca, Keith A. (2007). Native American Place Names in Mississippi. University Press of Mississippi. p. 29. ISBN 978-1-60473-483-6. https://epdf.pub/native-american-place-names-in-mississippi.html. 
  4. ^ Rowland, Dunbar (1907). Mississippi: Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form. 1. Southern Historical Publishing Association. p. 450. https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/548960-redirection. 
  5. ^ Sansing, David G.; Jones, Walker W.; Bush, Jason R. (April 2004). "Unequal Justice: An Unintended Consequence in Mississippi Counties with Two Judicial Districts". Mississippi Law Journal. http://mississippilawjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Supra-79-Essay-Sansing.pdf. 
  6. ^ a b Kerstine, Margery (January 7, 2011). "Cotton-Family-Religion: Jewish Life in Coahoma County Mississippi, Delta History from 1836 to 1941, Prologue: 1721 to 1867". Margery Kerstine. http://www.margk.com/prologue.htm. 
  7. ^ Nelson, Lawrence J. (1999). King Cotton's Advocate: Oscar G. Johnston and the New Deal. University of Tennessee Press. ISBN 9781572330252. https://books.google.com/books?id=-NfyYgEb1_YC&pg=PR4. 
  8. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_28.txt. 
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ms190090.txt. 
  12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. 
  13. ^ "Explore Census Data". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US28027&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2. 
  14. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  15. ^ "The History of MDCC Archived 2010-06-27 at the Wayback Machine." Mississippi Delta Community College. Retrieved on October 18, 2010.
  16. ^ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896. Marquis Who's Who. 1967. 
  17. ^ "View Marker Local Map Conway Twitty Conway Twitty - Friars Point". http://www.mscountrymusictrail.org/markers/conway-twitty. 
  18. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 

External links[]

Coordinates: 34°14′N 90°36′W / 34.23, -90.60


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Coahoma County, Mississippi. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
Advertisement