Newton County, Mississippi

History

The land that would become Newton County was purchased from the Choctaw under the terms of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek. Newton County was split off from the southern part of Neshoba County and organized on February 26, 1836. The county is named for scientist Isaac Newton.

The Battle of Newton's Station was fought in the county on April 24, 1863, during Grierson's Raid of the American Civil War. Union troops pulled up railroad tracks and burned the depot at Newton's Station.

In February 1864, General William Tecumseh Sherman crossed the county, burning the county seat at Decatur and was nearly captured during the Meridian Campaign. Sherman stopped during the return trip from Meridian and slept at Boler's Inn in the town of Union.

On October 8, 1908, a Black sharecropper named Shep Jones had a dispute with his white employer regarding his work schedule. The altercation escalated, resulting in the employer's death. In response, a white mob terrorized the local Black community, destroying property, burning a church and meeting lodge near Gardlandville, and threatening families. Unable to locate Jones, the mob targeted and lynched his father-in-law, William Fielder, on October 9. The following day, the mob lynched two other Black men, Dee Dawkins and Frank Johnson, who were associated with Jones. The violence prompted many Black residents to flee Newton County. No one was held accountable for the lynchings or the destruction of property.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 580 sqmi, of which 578 sqmi is land and 1.5 sqmi (0.3%) is water.

Major highways

• [[Image:I-20.svg|20px]] Interstate 20
• [[Image:US 80.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 80
• [[Image:Circle sign 15.svg|20px]] Mississippi Highway 15

Adjacent counties

• Neshoba County (north)
• Lauderdale County (east)
• Jasper County (south)
• Scott County (west)

National protected area

• Bienville National Forest (part)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 21,291. The median age was 39.1 years. 24.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 90.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 87.9 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 60.4% White, 30.4% Black or African American, 5.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian,

There were 8,024 households in the county, of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.6% were married-couple households, 18.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 9,073 housing units, of which 11.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.2% were owner-occupied and 22.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.6%.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 21,838 people, 8,221 households, and 6,001 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 /mi2. There were 9,259 housing units at an average density of 16 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 65.01% white, 30.37% black or African American, 3.68% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.33% from other races, and 0.44% from two or more races. 0.91% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,221 households, out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.00% were married couples living together, 16.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.00% were non-families. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.20% under the age of 18, 11.20% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 92.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,735, and the median income for a family was $34,606. Males had a median income of $27,820 versus $20,757 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,008. About 16.40% of families and 19.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.30% of those under age 18 and 21.70% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

• Newton

Towns

• Chunky
• Decatur (county seat)
• Hickory
• Lake (mostly in Scott County)
• Union (partly in Neshoba County)

Census-designated place

• Conehatta

Unincorporated communities

• Battlefield
• Cedar Grove
• Duffee
• Lawrence
• Little Rock
• Perdue
• Stratton

Ghost towns

• Volcan

Politics

Newton County is a longtime Republican stronghold, having not supported a Democratic presidential candidate since 1956.

Education

School districts include:

• Newton County School District
• Newton Municipal School District
• Union Public School District

Conehatta Elementary School of the Choctaw Tribal School System is in the community.

References

References

1. "Census - Geography Profile: Newton County, Mississippi". [[United States Census Bureau]].
2. "Find a County". [[National Association of Counties]].
3. r2WPadmin. "Newton County".
4. Rowland, Dunbar. (1907). "Mississippi: Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form". Southern Historical Publishing Association.
5. "Newton County Mississippi".
6. "Grierson's Raid Historical Marker".
7. "Boler's Inn Historical Marker".
8. (August 19, 2021). "Descendants of Lynching Victims Dedicate Historical Marker in Hickory, Mississippi".
9. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
10. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau.
11. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
13. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
14. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
15. "State & County QuickFacts". [[United States Census Bureau]].
16. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
17. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
18. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
19. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
20. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
21. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Newton County, MS". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
22. "Home". Conehatta Elementary School.