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Leake County
Leake County
County
	Leake County Courthouse in Carthage
	Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
	Mississippi's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 32°45′N 89°31′W / 32.75°N 89.52°W
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
Founded	1833
Named for	Walter Leake
Seat	Carthage
Largest city	Carthage
Area
• Total	585 sq mi (1,520 km2)
• Land	583 sq mi (1,510 km2)
• Water	2.5 sq mi (6 km2) 0.4%
Population (2020)
• Total	21,275
• Density	36/sq mi (14/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	www.leakecountyms.org

Leake County is a county in the center of the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,275.^[1] Its county seat is Carthage.^[2] The county is named for Walter Leake, the Governor of Mississippi from 1822 to 1825.^[3]

In 2010, the center of population of Mississippi was located in Leake County, near the town of Lena.^[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 585 square miles (1,520 km²), of which 583 square miles (1,510 km²) is land and 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²) (0.4%) is water.^[5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Attala County (north)
Neshoba County (east)
Scott County (south)
Madison County (west)

National protected area

Natchez Trace Parkway (part)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1840	2,162		—
1850	5,533		155.9%
1860	9,324		68.5%
1870	8,496		−8.9%
1880	13,146		54.7%
1890	14,803		12.6%
1900	17,360		17.3%
1910	18,298		5.4%
1920	16,973		−7.2%
1930	21,803		28.5%
1940	24,570		12.7%
1950	21,610		−12.0%
1960	18,660		−13.7%
1970	17,085		−8.4%
1980	18,790		10.0%
1990	18,436		−1.9%
2000	20,940		13.6%
2010	23,805		13.7%
2020	21,275		−10.6%
2023 (est.)	21,258	^[6]	−0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census^[7] 1790-1960^[8] 1900-1990^[9] 1990-2000^[10] 2010-2013^[11]

2020 census

Leake County Racial Composition^[12]
Race	Num.	Perc.
White	10,069	47.33%
Black or African American	8,189	38.49%
Native American	1,297	6.1%
Asian	78	0.37%
Pacific Islander	5	0.02%
Other/Mixed	407	1.91%
Hispanic or Latino	1,230	5.78%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 21,275 people, 8,105 households, and 5,591 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 23,805 people living in the county. 49.5% were White, 40.6% Black or African American, 6.0% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 2.8% of some other race and 0.8% of two or more races. 4.3% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census

As of the census^[13] of 2000, there were 20,940 people, 7,611 households, and 5,563 families living in the county. The population density was 36 people per square mile (14 people/km²). There were 8,585 housing units at an average density of 15 units per square mile (5.8 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 56.14% White, 37.42% Black or African American, 4.56% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.14% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. 2.10% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,611 households, out of which 34.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.20% were married couples living together, 16.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.90% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.13. In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.90% under the age of 18, 10.10% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,055, and the median income for a family was $32,147. Males had a median income of $27,367 versus $18,307 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,365. About 18.10% of families and 23.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.90% of those under age 18 and 23.90% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

The county is quite rural, with Carthage the only city and three towns.

The Mississippi Department of Corrections contracted for development of the Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility, which opened in 2001 in the town of Walnut Grove.^[14] The facility was operated by the private Management and Training Corporation (MTC).^[15]

By 2006, the Town of Walnut Grove annexed the land of the prison, resulting in an apparent increase in population, which was chiefly associated with prisoners.^[16] MTC was repeatedly cited for problems with poor treatment of prisoners, and abuses within the facility. The state closed it in 2016.^[17]

Education

The Leake County School District is the sole school district of the county.^[18] It includes Leake Central High School.

Choctaw Tribal School System has two tribal schools in the county: Red Water Elementary School and Standing Pine Elementary School.^[19]^[20]

East Central Community College is the area community college, including Carthage Career Advancement Center in Leake County.^{[citation needed]}

Racial segregation

Most white students attend private schools while black and Hispanic children attend the local public schools. Although, children of all races have the same opportunity to private school as well.^{[citation needed]}

School	Total Students	White Students	Black Students	Hispanic Students	Note
Leake County	24,000	56%	37%	2%	2010 Census
Leake Academy (private)	578	571 (99%)	0 (0%)	3 (>1%)	^[21]
Leake Central High School (public)	562	132 (20%)	373 (66%)	57 (10%)

Politics

United States presidential election results for Leake County, Mississippi^[22]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	5,228	56.83%	3,897	42.36%	75	0.82%
2016	4,782	56.60%	3,584	42.42%	83	0.98%
2012	4,863	54.14%	4,079	45.41%	41	0.46%
2008	5,148	55.01%	4,151	44.35%	60	0.64%
2004	4,962	60.41%	3,212	39.10%	40	0.49%
2000	4,114	59.18%	2,793	40.18%	45	0.65%
1996	3,017	47.60%	2,902	45.79%	419	6.61%
1992	3,943	50.64%	3,333	42.81%	510	6.55%
1988	4,168	59.86%	2,787	40.03%	8	0.11%
1984	4,663	62.04%	2,845	37.85%	8	0.11%
1980	3,624	46.83%	4,033	52.12%	81	1.05%
1976	2,952	45.36%	3,415	52.47%	141	2.17%
1972	4,217	79.13%	1,053	19.76%	59	1.11%
1968	453	7.17%	1,295	20.50%	4,568	72.32%
1964	4,343	96.23%	170	3.77%	0	0.00%
1960	286	8.80%	953	29.32%	2,011	61.88%
1956	220	7.34%	2,475	82.53%	304	10.14%
1952	603	18.44%	2,667	81.56%	0	0.00%
1948	12	0.46%	180	6.97%	2,392	92.57%
1944	24	0.85%	2,800	99.15%	0	0.00%
1940	17	0.60%	2,802	99.26%	4	0.14%
1936	8	0.31%	2,566	99.30%	10	0.39%
1932	14	0.73%	1,903	98.81%	9	0.47%
1928	212	11.12%	1,695	88.88%	0	0.00%
1924	48	3.68%	1,255	96.32%	0	0.00%
1920	121	9.85%	1,082	88.11%	25	2.04%
1916	31	2.08%	1,434	96.05%	28	1.88%
1912	11	1.05%	910	86.91%	126	12.03%

Communities

City

Carthage (county seat)

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

References

^ "Census - Geography Profile: Leake County, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 183.
^ "Centers of Population by State: 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 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 6, 2014.
^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 6, 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 6, 2014.
^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
^ "Five Private Prisons Archived 2012-10-13 at the Wayback Machine." Mississippi Department of Corrections. Retrieved on November 21, 2010.
^ "Walnut Grove Correctional Facility" (PDF). Management and Training Corporation. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 24, 2012. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
^ "Walnut Grove Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine." First Impressions. Mississippi State University, February 2008. 0 (3/21). Retrieved on August 14, 2010. "Looking at the MDA profile, the population growth is impressive (year 2000 – 488, year 2006 – 1,424). However, we learned that most of this population growth has been due to the location and annexation of the Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility."
^ Williams, Timothy (September 16, 2016). "Privately Run Mississippi Prison, Called a Scene of Horror, is Shut Down". New York Times. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Leake County, MS" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 7, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022. - Text list
^ "Home". Red Water Elementary School. Retrieved August 6, 2022. 107 Braves Boulevard Carthage, MS 39051
^ "Home". Red Water Elementary School. Retrieved August 6, 2022. 538 Highway 487 East Carthage, MS 39051
^ "Leake Academy". National Center for Educational Statistics. US Department of Education. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 4, 2018.