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Sharkey County, Mississippi facts for kids

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Sharkey County
Sharkey County courthouse in Rolling Fork
Sharkey County courthouse in Rolling Fork
Map of Mississippi highlighting Sharkey 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 1876
Named for William L. Sharkey
Seat Rolling Fork
Largest city Rolling Fork
Area
 • Total 435 sq mi (1,130 km2)
 • Land 432 sq mi (1,120 km2)
 • Water 3.4 sq mi (9 km2)  0.8%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 4,916
 • Estimate 
(2019)
4,321
 • Density 11.301/sq mi (4.363/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 2nd

Sharkey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. Part of the western border is formed by the Yazoo River. According to the 2010 census, the population was 4,916, making it the second-least populous county in Mississippi. Its county seat is Rolling Fork. The county is named after William L. Sharkey, the provisional Governor of Mississippi in 1865.

Sharkey County is located in the Mississippi Delta region.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 435 square miles (1,130 km2), of which 432 square miles (1,120 km2) is land and 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2) (0.8%) is water.

Major highways

  • US 61.svg U.S. Route 61
  • Circle sign 14.svg Mississippi Highway 14
  • Circle sign 16.svg Mississippi Highway 16

Adjacent counties

National protected area

  • Delta National Forest
  • Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 6,306
1890 8,382 32.9%
1900 12,178 45.3%
1910 15,694 28.9%
1920 14,190 −9.6%
1930 13,877 −2.2%
1940 15,433 11.2%
1950 12,903 −16.4%
1960 10,738 −16.8%
1970 8,937 −16.8%
1980 7,964 −10.9%
1990 7,066 −11.3%
2000 6,580 −6.9%
2010 4,916 −25.3%
2018 (est.) 4,377 −11.0%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2013

2020 census

Sharkey County Racial Composition
Race Num. Perc.
White 962 25.32%
Black or African American 2,671 70.29%
Asian 14 0.37%
Pacific Islander 3 0.08%
Other/Mixed 89 2.34%
Hispanic or Latino 61 1.61%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 3,800 people, 1,751 households, and 1,046 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 4,916 people living in the county. 71.0% were Black or African American, 27.9% White, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native American, 0.4% of some other race and 0.4% or two or more races. 0.8% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

Communities

Sharkey County, Miss. June 1, 1965. Sunflower River Ferry is used by Ed Blake and Austin McMurchy on a field trip in the delta
Crossing the Sunflower River by ferry southeast of Rolling Fork, 1965

City

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Education

  • Public School Districts
    • South Delta School District, which operates South Delta High School
  • Private Schools
    • Sharkey-Issaquena Academy (Rolling Fork)

See also

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

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