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Jefferson County, Mississippi facts for kids

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Jefferson County
Historic Christ Church, Church Hill, Mississippi.
Historic Christ Church, Church Hill, Mississippi.
Map of Mississippi highlighting Jefferson County
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Map of the United States highlighting Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Mississippi
Founded 1799
Named for Thomas Jefferson
Seat Fayette
Largest city Fayette
Area
 • Total 527 sq mi (1,360 km2)
 • Land 520 sq mi (1,300 km2)
 • Water 7.3 sq mi (19 km2)  1.4%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 7,726
 • Estimate 
(2018)
7,106
 • Density 14.660/sq mi (5.660/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 2nd

Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi; its western border is formed by the Mississippi River. As of the 2010 census, the population was 7,726, making it the third-least populous county in Mississippi. Its county seat is Fayette. The county is named for U.S. President Thomas Jefferson.

Originally developed as cotton plantations in the antebellum era, the rural county has struggled with a declining economy and reduced population since the mechanization of agriculture and urbanization of other areas. In 2018 its estimated population of 7,106 was roughly one-third of the population peak in 1900. Within the United States, in 2009 rural Jefferson County had the highest percentage of African-Americans of any county. It was the fourth-poorest county in the nation.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 527 square miles (1,360 km2), of which 520 square miles (1,300 km2) is land and 7.3 square miles (19 km2) (1.4%) is water.

Major highways

  • US 61.svg U.S. Highway 61
  • Circle sign 28.svg Mississippi Highway 28
  • Circle sign 33.svg Mississippi Highway 33

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

  • Homochitto National Forest (part)
  • Natchez Trace Parkway (part)

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1800 2,940
1810 4,001 36.1%
1820 6,822 70.5%
1830 9,755 43.0%
1840 11,650 19.4%
1850 13,193 13.2%
1860 15,349 16.3%
1870 13,848 −9.8%
1880 17,314 25.0%
1890 18,947 9.4%
1900 21,292 12.4%
1910 18,221 −14.4%
1920 15,946 −12.5%
1930 14,291 −10.4%
1940 13,969 −2.3%
1950 11,306 −19.1%
1960 10,142 −10.3%
1970 9,295 −8.4%
1980 9,181 −1.2%
1990 8,653 −5.8%
2000 9,740 12.6%
2010 7,726 −20.7%
2018 (est.) 7,106 −8.0%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2013

2020 census

Jefferson County Racial Composition
Race Num. Perc.
White 891 12.27%
Black or African American 6,138 84.55%
Native American 10 0.14%
Asian 14 0.19%
Pacific Islander 5 0.07%
Other/Mixed 128 1.76%
Hispanic or Latino 74 1.02%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 7,260 people, 2,448 households, and 1,488 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 7,726 people living in the county. 85.7% were Black or African American, 13.7% White, 0.2% Native American and 0.3% of two or more races. 0.4% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

Communities

City

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns or defunct

Education

Jefferson County School District operates public schools.

Notable people

  • Abijah Hunt, merchant who lived in Old Greenville during the Territorial Period, and owned a chain of stores and public cotton gins along the Natchez Trace
  • David Hunt, Antebellum planter who lived on Woodlawn Plantation in Jefferson County, and became one of 12 planter millionaires in the Natchez District before the American Civil War.
  • Zachary Taylor, U.S. president, planter, and soldier who often stayed on his plantation, Cypress Grove in Jefferson County, between 1840 and 1848.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Jefferson (Misisipi) para niños

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