Attala County (/ˈætələ/ AT-əl-ə) is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,889.[1] Its county seat is Kosciusko.[2] Attala County is named for Atala, a fictional Native American heroine from an early-19th-century novel of the same name by François-René de Chateaubriand.[3]
Attala County | |
|---|---|
 Attala County courthouse in Kosciusko | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi | |
 Mississippi's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 33°05′N 89°35′W / 33.09°N 89.58°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Mississippi |
| Founded | 1833 |
| Seat | Kosciusko |
| Largest city | Kosciusko |
| Area | |
| • Total | 737 sq mi (1,910 km2) |
| • Land | 735 sq mi (1,900 km2) |
| • Water | 1.7 sq mi (4 km2) 0.2% |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 17,889 |
| • Density | 24/sq mi (9.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | www |
Geography
editAccording to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 737 square miles (1,910 km2), of which 735 square miles (1,900 km2) is land and 1.7 square miles (4.4 km2) (0.2%) is water.[4] It is bound by the Big Black River, a tributary of the Mississippi River, in the west.
Major roads
edit
Mississippi Highway 12
Mississippi Highway 14
Mississippi Highway 19
Mississippi Highway 35
Mississippi Highway 43- Natchez Trace Parkway
Adjacent counties
edit- Montgomery County (north)
- Choctaw County (northeast)
- Winston County (east)
- Leake County (south)
- Madison County (southwest)
- Holmes County (west)
- Carroll County (northwest)
National protected area
edit- Natchez Trace Parkway (part)
Demographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 4,303 | — | |
| 1850 | 10,991 | 155.4% | |
| 1860 | 14,169 | 28.9% | |
| 1870 | 14,776 | 4.3% | |
| 1880 | 19,988 | 35.3% | |
| 1890 | 22,213 | 11.1% | |
| 1900 | 26,248 | 18.2% | |
| 1910 | 28,851 | 9.9% | |
| 1920 | 24,831 | −13.9% | |
| 1930 | 26,035 | 4.8% | |
| 1940 | 30,227 | 16.1% | |
| 1950 | 26,652 | −11.8% | |
| 1960 | 21,335 | −19.9% | |
| 1970 | 19,570 | −8.3% | |
| 1980 | 19,865 | 1.5% | |
| 1990 | 18,481 | −7.0% | |
| 2000 | 19,661 | 6.4% | |
| 2010 | 19,564 | −0.5% | |
| 2020 | 17,889 | −8.6% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 17,359 | [5] | −3.0% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8] 1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[10] | |||
2020 census
edit| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White | 9,410 | 52.6% |
| Black or African American | 7,642 | 42.72% |
| Native American | 29 | 0.16% |
| Asian | 97 | 0.54% |
| Pacific Islander | 4 | 0.02% |
| Other/Mixed | 376 | 2.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 331 | 1.85% |
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 17,889 people, 6,941 households, and 4,735 families residing in the county.
2010 census
editAs of the 2010 United States Census, there were 19,564 people living in the county, down from its peak in 1940. 56.2% were White, 42.0% Black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% Native American, 0.7% of some other race and 0.6% of two or more races. 1.7% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).
2000 census
editAs of the census[12] of 2000, there were 19,661 people, 7,567 households, and 5,380 families living in the county. The population density was 27 people per square mile (10 people/km2). There were 8,639 housing units at an average density of 12 units per square mile (4.6 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 58.34% White, 40.00% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.65% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. 1.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 7,567 households, out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.30% were married couples living together, 16.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. 26.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.90% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 25.20% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 17.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $24,794, and the median income for a family was $30,796. Males had a median income of $26,180 versus $17,394 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,782. About 18.30% of families and 21.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.60% of those under age 18 and 21.40% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
editCities
edit- Kosciusko (county seat)
Towns
editUnincorporated communities
editGhost towns
editNotable people
edit- Myrtis Methvin was elected in 1932 as the second woman mayor in Louisiana and took office in Castor in Bienville Parish, serving from 1933 to 1945. She was born in Attala County in 1895.[13]
- John D. Winters, a historian of the American Civil War, was born in Attala County in 1917.
- The Choctaw Chief Kiliahote was born here in 1826.
Politics
edit| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 5,178 | 58.69% | 3,542 | 40.15% | 103 | 1.17% |
| 2016 | 4,897 | 59.31% | 3,242 | 39.27% | 117 | 1.42% |
| 2012 | 5,126 | 56.38% | 3,927 | 43.19% | 39 | 0.43% |
| 2008 | 5,273 | 57.42% | 3,849 | 41.91% | 61 | 0.66% |
| 2004 | 5,014 | 61.09% | 3,145 | 38.32% | 48 | 0.58% |
| 2000 | 4,206 | 58.64% | 2,922 | 40.74% | 45 | 0.63% |
| 1996 | 3,130 | 47.34% | 3,092 | 46.76% | 390 | 5.90% |
| 1992 | 3,520 | 49.67% | 3,015 | 42.54% | 552 | 7.79% |
| 1988 | 4,524 | 59.87% | 2,997 | 39.66% | 35 | 0.46% |
| 1984 | 4,870 | 59.28% | 3,327 | 40.50% | 18 | 0.22% |
| 1980 | 3,975 | 48.39% | 4,117 | 50.12% | 122 | 1.49% |
| 1976 | 3,146 | 42.38% | 4,068 | 54.80% | 209 | 2.82% |
| 1972 | 4,738 | 79.50% | 1,103 | 18.51% | 119 | 2.00% |
| 1968 | 599 | 8.60% | 1,588 | 22.81% | 4,776 | 68.59% |
| 1964 | 4,409 | 94.37% | 263 | 5.63% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 650 | 19.89% | 1,337 | 40.91% | 1,281 | 39.20% |
| 1956 | 445 | 16.74% | 1,793 | 67.46% | 420 | 15.80% |
| 1952 | 1,178 | 34.28% | 2,258 | 65.72% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 32 | 1.30% | 130 | 5.27% | 2,305 | 93.43% |
| 1944 | 87 | 3.83% | 2,187 | 96.17% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 63 | 2.97% | 2,049 | 96.65% | 8 | 0.38% |
| 1936 | 36 | 1.90% | 1,855 | 97.79% | 6 | 0.32% |
| 1932 | 38 | 1.57% | 2,370 | 97.97% | 11 | 0.45% |
| 1928 | 113 | 4.77% | 2,258 | 95.23% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 119 | 6.74% | 1,600 | 90.60% | 47 | 2.66% |
| 1920 | 270 | 18.27% | 1,187 | 80.31% | 21 | 1.42% |
| 1916 | 110 | 7.83% | 1,267 | 90.24% | 27 | 1.92% |
| 1912 | 49 | 4.03% | 1,060 | 87.17% | 107 | 8.80% |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Attala County, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ Baca, Keith A. (2007). Native American Place Names in Mississippi. University Press of Mississippi. p. 6. ISBN 978-1-60473-483-6.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteers Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
- ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ Mildred Methvin. "Myrtis Lucille Gregory Methvin". Lafayette, Louisiana: genealogy.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 4, 2018.