Sharkey County, Mississippi

Historic Weather

On the afternoon of Sunday, February 21, 1971, a large and long-tracked F5 tornado impacted areas of Sharkey County. On March 24, 2023, a high-end EF4 tornado hit the city of Rolling Fork with estimated wind speeds of 195 mph (314kph), causing catastrophic damage throughout the community. The tornado was responsible for 17 fatalities and 165 injuries.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 435 sqmi, of which 432 sqmi is land and 3.4 sqmi (0.8%) is water.

Major highways

• [[File:US 61.svg|20px]] U.S. Route 61
• [[File:Circle sign 14.svg|20px]] Mississippi Highway 14
• [[File:Circle sign 16.svg|20px]] Mississippi Highway 16

Adjacent counties

• Washington County (north)
• Humphreys County (northeast)
• Yazoo County (east)
• Issaquena County (southwest)

National protected area

• Delta National Forest
• Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge (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 3,800. The median age was 42.8 years. 23.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 84.3 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 25.5% White, 70.8% Black or African American,

There were 1,509 households in the county, of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 29.9% were married-couple households, 21.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 41.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 1,679 housing units, of which 10.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 65.9% were owner-occupied and 34.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.9%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 4,916 people living in the county. 71.0% were Black or African American, 27.9% White, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native American, 0.4% of some other race and 0.4% or two or more races. 0.8% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,580 people, 2,163 households, and 1,589 families living in the county. The population density was 15 /mi2. There were 2,416 housing units at an average density of 6 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 69.32% Black or African American, 29.36% White, 0.18% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.27% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. 1.31% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,163 households, out of which 36.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.00% were married couples living together, 26.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.50% were non-families. 23.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.56.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 33.00% under the age of 18, 10.40% from 18 to 24, 24.80% from 25 to 44, 20.40% from 45 to 64, and 11.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 88.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $22,285, and the median income for a family was $26,786. Males had a median income of $26,563 versus $17,931 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,396. About 30.50% of families and 38.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 50.00% of those under age 18 and 24.20% of those age 65 or over.

Sharkey County has the tenth-lowest per capita income in Mississippi and the 73rd lowest in the United States.

Education

• Public School Districts
  • South Delta School District, which operates South Delta High School
• Private Schools
  • Sharkey-Issaquena Academy (Rolling Fork)

Communities

City

• Rolling Fork (county seat)

Towns

• Anguilla
• Cary

Census-designated places

• Delta City
• Nitta Yuma
• Panther Burn

Unincorporated communities

• Egremont
• Issaquena
• Lorenzen
• Onward
• Patmos

Politics

Sharkey County is, like the rest of the Mississippi Delta region, heavily Democratic. It has voted for the Democratic nominee for president in every election since 1976, and no Republican has broken 40% of the vote since George H. W. Bush in 1988. In the 2024 election, Sharkey was the only county in Mississippi that voted more Democratic than in 2020.

References

References

1. "Census - Geography Profile: Sharkey County, Mississippi". [[United States Census Bureau]].
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. National Weather Service in Jackson, Mississippi. (March 27, 2023). "NWS Damage Survey for March 24 tornado event". Iowa Environmental Mesonet.
4. Will McDuffie. (March 24, 2023). "7 dead in 'destructive' Mississippi tornado, official says". ABC News.
5. (May 4, 2023). "Mississippi death toll from March tornado climbs to 22". [[AP News]].
6. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
7. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau.
8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
12. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
13. "Explore Census Data".
14. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
15. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
16. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
17. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
18. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".