Lee County, Mississippi

Lee County
County
County of Lee
Clock tower of the Lee County Courthouse
Clock tower of the Lee County Courthouse
Map of Mississippi highlighting Lee County
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Map of the United States highlighting Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°17′N 88°41′W / 34.29°N 88.68°W / 34.29; -88.68
Country United States
State Mississippi
FoundedOctober 26, 1866
(158 years ago) (1866-10-26)
Named forGen. Robert E. Lee
SeatTupelo
Largest cityTupelo
Area
 • Total453 sq mi (1,170 km2)
 • Land450 sq mi (1,200 km2)
 • Water3.2 sq mi (8 km2)  0.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total83,343
 • Density180/sq mi (71/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes
38801, 38804, 38824, 38826, 38828, 38843, 38849, 38857, 38858, 38860, 38862, 38866, 38868, 38879
Area code662
Congressional district1st
Websiteleecoms.com

Lee County is a county in U.S. state of Mississippi. At the 2020 census, the population was 83,343. Its county seat is Tupelo. Lee County is included in the Tupelo Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Lee County was established by the Mississippi Legislature on October 26, 1866, and named for General Robert E. Lee,[1] General in Chief of the Armies of the Confederate States. It was formed from Itawamba and Pontotoc counties; therefore, the record and list of early settlers mentioned in those counties embrace a great number who were residents of what is present day Lee County.[2]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 453 square miles (1,170 km2), of which 450 square miles (1,200 km2) is land and 3.2 square miles (8.3 km2) (0.7%) is water.[3]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
187015,955—
188020,47028.3%
189020,040−2.1%
190021,9569.6%
191028,89431.6%
192029,6182.5%
193035,31319.2%
194038,83810.0%
195038,237−1.5%
196040,5896.2%
197046,14813.7%
198057,06123.6%
199065,58114.9%
200075,75515.5%
201082,9109.4%
202083,3430.5%
2023 (est.)82,799[4]−0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2013[9] 2018[10]
Family in a wagon in Lee County, 1935. Photo by Arthur Rothstein.

2020 census

Lee County Racial Composition[11]
Race Num. Perc.
White 52,854 63.42%
Black or African American 24,131 28.95%
Native American 94 0.11%
Asian 920 1.1%
Pacific Islander 25 0.03%
Other/Mixed 2,491 2.99%
Hispanic or Latino 2,828 3.39%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 83,343 people, 30,378 households, and 21,437 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 75,755 people, 29,200 households, and 20,819 families residing in the county. The population density was 168 inhabitants per square mile (65/km2). There were 31,887 housing units at an average density of 71 per square mile (27/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 73.66% White, 24.51% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. 1.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 29,200 households, out of which 36.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.60% were married couples living together, 14.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.50% 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 3.05. In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.70% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 21.80% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.50 males. The median income for a household in the county was $36,165, and the median income for a family was $43,149. Males had a median income of $31,039 versus $22,235 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,956. About 10.50% of families and 13.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.90% of those under age 18 and 15.50% of those age 65 or over. Lee County has the ninth highest per capita income in the state of Mississippi.

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Education

Lee County is served by the Baldwyn, Lee County, Nettleton, and Tupelo school districts.[13]

Politics

Lee County has been a Republican stronghold since the mid-1980s. The last Democratic candidate who carried this county was Jimmy Carter in the election of 1980.

United States presidential election results for Lee County, Mississippi[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 24,207 65.51% 12,189 32.98% 558 1.51%
2016 22,220 67.51% 10,029 30.47% 664 2.02%
2012 22,415 63.49% 12,563 35.58% 328 0.93%
2008 22,694 64.91% 12,021 34.39% 245 0.70%
2004 20,254 66.11% 10,127 33.05% 258 0.84%
2000 15,551 61.97% 9,142 36.43% 401 1.60%
1996 11,815 54.48% 8,438 38.91% 1,433 6.61%
1992 12,231 54.36% 7,710 34.27% 2,560 11.38%
1988 13,767 66.42% 6,604 31.86% 357 1.72%
1984 13,312 67.47% 6,208 31.46% 210 1.06%
1980 8,326 44.08% 10,047 53.19% 516 2.73%
1976 7,366 45.10% 8,504 52.07% 463 2.83%
1972 10,730 82.60% 1,632 12.56% 629 4.84%
1968 2,522 18.45% 1,912 13.99% 9,232 67.55%
1964 5,165 68.19% 2,409 31.81% 0 0.00%
1960 1,550 23.34% 3,653 55.01% 1,438 21.65%
1956 929 18.01% 3,883 75.30% 345 6.69%
1952 2,002 32.42% 4,174 67.58% 0 0.00%
1948 82 2.13% 636 16.54% 3,128 81.33%
1944 230 6.15% 3,509 93.85% 0 0.00%
1940 120 3.05% 3,814 96.93% 1 0.03%
1936 42 1.16% 3,585 98.84% 0 0.00%
1932 129 3.36% 3,704 96.51% 5 0.13%
1928 367 11.75% 2,757 88.25% 0 0.00%
1924 152 5.48% 2,621 94.52% 0 0.00%
1920 302 15.38% 1,652 84.11% 10 0.51%
1916 91 5.12% 1,683 94.60% 5 0.28%
1912 39 2.62% 1,390 93.54% 57 3.84%

See also

References

  1. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States (Report). U.S. Geological survey. Bulletin no. 258 (2nd ed.). Washington: Government Printing Office. p. 184. LCCN 05000751. OCLC 1156805 – via United States Geological Survey.
  2. ^ Lowry, Robert; McCardle, William H. (1891). A History of Mississippi, From the Discovery of the Great River by Hernando De Soto, Including the Earliest Settlement Made by the French, Under Iberville, to the Death of Jefferson Davis. Jackson, Miss.: R. H. Henry & Co. p. 520. LCCN 01002485. OCLC 2109804. OL 271554M.
  3. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  4. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  10. ^ "Lee County, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  11. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Lee County, MS" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 1, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2022. - Text list
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
Government
General information