Walnut Grove, Mississippi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Walnut Grove, Mississippi
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Location of Walnut Grove, Mississippi
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 Walnut Grove, Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Leake |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.62 sq mi (4.19 km2) |
| • Land | 1.62 sq mi (4.19 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 361 ft (110 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 1,911 |
| • Estimate
(2019)
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1,673 |
| • Density | 1,035.27/sq mi (399.75/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
39189
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| Area code(s) | 601 |
| FIPS code | 28-77520 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0679299 |
Walnut Grove is a town in Leake County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 1,911 at the 2010 census, an increase from 488 at the 2000 census. The growth was due to the town's annexation of the Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility, which had been privately owned and operated since 2001 under a contract with the state Department of Corrections. By 2011 it was the largest juvenile facility in the nation. Because of repeated problems at the troubled facility, the state closed it in 2016 and transferred the juvenile prisoners to other facilities.
Golden Memorial State Park is located east of the town.
History
Walnut Grove began as a European-American settlement in a nearby location, now referred to as "Old Walnut Grove". This area was developed as cotton plantations in the antebellum era. The town was incorporated in 1884. A post office was established in 1854, and in the early 1900s, electricity and street lights were installed.
The Jackson and Eastern Railway was completed to Walnut Grove in 1923, and then extended to nearby Tuscola, Mississippi in 1925.
The town was surveyed at its present location in 1923. Two canals were built near Walnut Grove in the late 1920s to improve transportation. Walnut Grove received a telephone franchise in 1927, and was connected to the Forest exchange.
In 1962, a sewage and water system was installed, and in 1966, natural gas was installed. In 1970, the town organized and trained a volunteer fire department, though the first fire truck was not purchased until 1974.
In 1981, William Grady Sims was elected as mayor of Walnut Grove and was repeatedly re-elected, serving until 2012. He was one of the longest-serving mayors in the state. By 2006 the town annexed the property of the Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility, which had been constructed nearby in the county in 2001, adding to its area and population. In 2009 Sims was appointed as warden by the company that owned the prison. The prison made payments to the city in lieu of taxes that constituted 15% of the city's budget in 2011. State expansion of the prison population made it the largest youth facility in the nation.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all land.
Cityscape
The community's town hall, post office, and library are not in the central part of Walnut Grove.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 166 | — | |
| 1900 | 207 | 24.7% | |
| 1910 | 199 | −3.9% | |
| 1930 | 753 | — | |
| 1940 | 653 | −13.3% | |
| 1950 | 517 | −20.8% | |
| 1960 | 433 | −16.2% | |
| 1970 | 398 | −8.1% | |
| 1980 | 439 | 10.3% | |
| 1990 | 389 | −11.4% | |
| 2000 | 488 | 25.4% | |
| 2010 | 1,911 | 291.6% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 1,673 | −12.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
As of the census of 2000, there were 488 people, 215 households, and 127 families residing in the town. The population density was 610.2 people per square mile (235.5/km2). There were 239 housing units at an average density of 298.9 per square mile (115.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 57.38% White, 40.78% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.20% Pacific Islander, and 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.41% of the population.
There were 215 households, out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.3% were married couples living together, 20.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.5% were non-families. 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.1% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $21,719, and the median income for a family was $27,981. Males had a median income of $21,667 versus $26,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $11,851. About 25.2% of families and 29.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 47.1% of those under age 18 and 15.1% of those age 65 or over.
The 2006 population estimate had 1,424 residents; this dramatic increase is due to the annexation of the Walnut Grove Correctional Facility and its inmate population. The continued growth through estimates for 2016 largely represented additional inmate population.
Economy
Marco Apparel, a clothing manufacturer, opened in Walnut Grove in 1984. In 2001, it laid off more than 100 employees. The city was struggling to survive.
In 2001, the privately owned Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility was opened in unincorporated county land after being constructed for private operation under contract with the state; it was designed for youth offenders of 18 and under in age. Originally it was considered a model facility. But the state kept raising the age of offenders who were incarcerated there, and some prisoners aged there, so the population included young men in their 20s as well as much younger youths.
From 2003 to 2010, the prison was operated by Cornell Companies, which merged that year with GEO Group. The town annexed the prison property before 2006, thereby markedly increasing its population. The prisoners outnumbered town residents by a two to one ratio. In addition to hiring town residents as guards and staff, the prison paid the city substantial amounts in lieu of taxes, with payments making up 15% of the city's annual budget in 2011. The facility was subject of many state and federal investigations and was closed in September 2016.
Education
The town is served by the Leake County School District:
- Leake County Elementary (K-6)
- Leake County High School (7-12)
Notable people
- Homer Casteel, lieutenant governor of Mississippi 1920 to 1924
- Sue Gunter, Olympic silver medalist and member of the Basketball Hall of Fame; former coach of the LSU Lady Tigers
- Ken Lewis, former CEO, President, and Chairman of the Bank of America
- Luther Riley, college basketball coach; grew up in Walnut Grove
See also
In Spanish: Walnut Grove (Misisipi) para niños
