Houston, Mississippi

History

Native American groups had long used the future Chickasaw County for millennia before the coming of European settler colonialists. Eventually the natives were essentially forced out of the area. An 1832 treaty finally made the area secure for settlement, and emigrants rapidly moved in. The formation of Chickasaw County was authorized on February 9, 1836, and a few days later a committee was authorized to determine the location of the county seat. Judge Joel Pinson offered to donate land for development of this seat, and on July 8, 1836, his offer was accepted. Pinson named the settlement Houston in honor of Sam Houston, a childhood friend.

Construction began that year on a brick courthouse on the village square, and a jail one block north. The city of Houston was incorporated on May 9, 1837, and its first post office was authorized on December 5 of that same year. This means that Houston, Mississippi actually predates Houston, Texas, because the latter was incorporated one month later, on June 5, 1837.

The Civil War brought widespread ruin and loss to the county, including an incident when Union troops burned nearly all the county's records as workers tried to move them out for safekeeping. During the following decade, the nearly-moribund economy slowly recovered, but poor roads across the area continued to hamper commerce and daily life. To address this shortcoming, in 1866 the state authorized a second judicial district to be based in Okolona, while allowing the existing facilities in Houston to continue. Thus, the county became one of the few in the nation to host two bases for its court system.

In 1909, Houston became home to the first Carnegie library in the state, after local school superintendent L. B. Reid's request for a public library was approved by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who had created a matching program for libraries. Also in 1909, an African American man, Robbie Daskin, was lynched for allegedly killing a preacher.

Houston hosts the Mississippi Flywheel Festival in April and September of every year.

Geography

Houston is located west of the center of Chickasaw County. Mississippi Highway 8 passes through the city, leading east 29 mi to Aberdeen and west 18 mi to Calhoun City. Mississippi Highway 15 bypasses the city to the west, crossing Highway 8 within a western extension of the city limits. Highway 15 leads north 26 mi to Pontotoc and south 27 mi to Mathiston. The Natchez Trace Parkway passes about 3 mi east of the city center; the Trace followed an ancient Native American trail.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.15 km2, of which 19.11 km2 is land and 0.05 km2, or 0.25%, is water.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Houston has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,797 people, 1,404 households, and 917 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,079 people, 1,589 households, and 1,088 families residing in the city. The population density was 537.4 PD/sqmi. There were 1,721 housing units at an average density of 226.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 59.89% White, 36.58% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 2.70% from other races, and 0.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 5.12% of the population.

There were 1,589 households, out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 19.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.6% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,709, and the median income for a family was $31,979. Males had a median income of $27,214 versus $22,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,482. About 22.6% of families and 21.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.8% of those under age 18 and 28.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The city of Houston is served by the Chickasaw County School District. Houston High School is the community's high school.

The Houston School District and the old Chickasaw County district merged into a new district on July 1, 2021.

The Houston Public Schools system is home to 11-time National Dell-Winston Solar Car Challenge Championships.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Houston was once served by both the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad and Okolona, Houston and Calhoun City Railway. In the early 21st century, both of these rail lines were abandoned. Sections of the former have been converted to a recreational trail.

Notable people

• Dee Barton, film and big band composer, Stan Kenton Orchestra drummer, Jackson State University composer in residence
• David R. Bowen, U.S. Representative from Mississippi's 2nd congressional district 1973–1983
• N. W. Bradford, member of the Mississippi State Senate (1916–1920), and of the Mississippi House of Representatives (1904–1908)
• T. Jeff Busby, U.S. Representative 1923–1935
• Terry Catledge, NBA player
• William R. Dunlap, artist, writer, and arts commentator
• Chris Jones, NFL player
• Ricky Love, former professional basketball player
• Walter Stanley Mooneyham, evangelical author
• Rosa Lee Tucker (1866–1946), Mississippi State Librarian
• William F. Tucker, brigadier general in the Confederate States Army and member of the Mississippi House of Representatives
• Howard Waldrop (1946–2024), science fiction author
• Bukka White, Delta blues guitarist

References

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
2. {{GNIS. 693543
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
4. "Chickasawco History".
5. (Dec 18, 1909). "Judge Lynch claimed 90 victims in 1909". The Anniston Star.
6. "Mississippi Valley Flywheel Festival".
7. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Houston city, Mississippi". US Census Bureau – American Factfinder.
8. "Houston, Mississippi Koppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)".
9. "NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access". NOAA.
10. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov.
11. "Explore Census Data".
12. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau.
13. "OFFICE OF CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER Summary of State Board of Education Agenda Items May 20, 2021". [[Mississippi Department of Education]].
14. "BOWEN, David Reece".
15. Rowland, Dunbar. (1917). "The Official and Statistical Register of the State of Mississippi". Department of Archives and History.
16. United States. Congress. (1961). "Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1774-1961: The Continental Congress, September 5, 1774, to October 21, 1788 and the Congress of the United States, from the First to the Eighty-sixth Congress, March 4, 1789, to January 3, 1961, Inclusive". U.S. Government Printing Office.
17. "William Dunlap".
18. "Ricky Love".
19. (1981). "Lives of Mississippi Authors, 1817-1967". Univ. Press of Mississippi.
20. "William Feimster Tucker".
21. "Summary Bibliography: Howard Waldrop".
22. (2003). "All Music Guide to the Blues: The Definitive Guide to the Blues". Backbeat Books.