Como is a town in Panola County, Mississippi, United States, which borders the Mississippi Delta and is in the northern part of the state, known as hill country. The population was 1,279 as of the 2010 census.

Como, Mississippi
Main Street in Como
Main Street in Como
Location of Como, Mississippi
Location of Como, Mississippi
Como, Mississippi is located in Mississippi
Como, Mississippi
Como, Mississippi
Como, Mississippi is located in the United States
Como, Mississippi
Como, Mississippi
Coordinates: 34°30′48″N 89°56′21″W / 34.51333°N 89.93917°W / 34.51333; -89.93917
CountryUnited States
StateMississippi
CountyPanola
Area
 • Total
1.90 sq mi (4.92 km2)
 • Land1.89 sq mi (4.89 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation364 ft (111 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
1,118
 • Density591.85/sq mi (228.53/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
38619
Area code662
FIPS code28-15500
GNIS feature ID2406302[2]
Websitecomo.panolams.com

History

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In a 2007 article about the area, Wayne Drash, a CNN.com senior producer, described Como as "a hard-hit rural community."[3]

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2), of which 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2) is land and 0.53% is water.

It is 45 miles (72 km) south of Memphis, Tennessee.[3]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1880149
189017819.5%
1900475166.9%
191090590.5%
1920818−9.6%
19308514.0%
1940819−3.8%
1950703−14.2%
196078912.2%
19701,00327.1%
19801,37837.4%
19901,3870.7%
20001,310−5.6%
20101,279−2.4%
20201,118−12.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]

2020 census

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Como Racial Composition[5]
Race Num. Perc.
White 306 27.37%
Black or African American 777 69.5%
Native American 2 0.18%
Asian 3 0.27%
Other/Mixed 21 1.88%
Hispanic or Latino 9 0.81%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 1,118 people, 590 households, and 284 families residing in the town.

2000 census

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As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 1,310 people, 461 households, and 352 families residing in the town. The population density was 692.1 inhabitants per square mile (267.2/km2). There were 506 housing units at an average density of 267.3 per square mile (103.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 71.83% African American, 26.79% White, 0.08% Native American, 0.61% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.15% of the population.

There were 461 households, out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.7% were married couples living together, 31.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.30.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 30.1% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $22,344, and the median income for a family was $25,000. Males had a median income of $28,333 versus $18,977 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,278. About 31.3% of families and 37.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 57.2% of those under age 18 and 29.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

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The Town of Como is served by the North Panola School District. Como Elementary School in Como,[7] North Panola Junior High School in Como,[8] and North Panola High School in Sardis serve the community.[9]

Infrastructure

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The United States Postal Service operates the Como Post Office.[10]

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Como, Mississippi
  3. ^ a b Drash, Wayne. "Granddaughter of slave: I was 'afraid' for Obama", CNN. January 16, 2009. Quote: "Como is a town of 1,400 people 45 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee, along Interstate 55. It is a hard-hit rural community, home to a school with the dubious distinction of being among the worst-performing schools in the nation."
  4. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  5. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  6. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  7. ^ "Como Elementary." North Panola School District. Retrieved on October 21, 2010.
  8. ^ North Panola Junior High School website Archived July 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on October 21, 2010
  9. ^ North Panola High School website[permanent dead link]. Retrieved on October 21, 2010.
  10. ^ "Post Office Location - COMO Archived 2011-03-08 at the Wayback Machine." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on October 21, 2010.
  11. ^ Juwon, James (November 9, 2023). "R.L. Boyce Passed Away: Mississippi, Como-born blues singer and songwriter died at 68". SNBC13. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  12. ^ "Lightnin' Chance Discography". discogs.com. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  13. ^ "Rosa Lee Hill Biography". allmusic.com. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  14. ^ Forty-third Congress Congressional Directory. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. 1874. p. 34.
  15. ^ "Alvin Ray Jackson Biography". espn.com. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  16. ^ "Tony Johnson Stats". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  17. ^ David J. Cook (1897). "Hands Up; or, Thirty-five years of detective life in the mountains and on the plains". W. F. Robinson Printing Co. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  18. ^ Hevesi, Dennis (December 11, 2007). "Michael Shaheen Jr., Top Justice Official, Dies at 67". The New York Times. Retrieved January 18, 2024.