Smith County, Mississippi

History

Smith County is named for Major David Smith.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 637 sqmi, of which 636 sqmi is land and 1.0 sqmi (0.2%) is water.

Major highways

• [[Image:Circle sign 13.svg|20px]] Mississippi Highway 13
• [[Image:Circle sign 18.svg|20px]] Mississippi Highway 18
• [[Image:Circle sign 28.svg|20px]] Mississippi Highway 28
• [[Image:Circle sign 35.svg|20px]] Mississippi Highway 35
• [[Image:Circle sign 37.svg|20px]] Mississippi Highway 37
• [[Image:Circle sign 540.svg|20px]] Mississippi Highway 540
• [[Image:Circle sign 481.svg|20px]] Mississippi Highway 481
• [[Image:Circle sign 501.svg|20px]] Mississippi Highway 501
• [[Image:Circle sign 902.svg|20px]] Mississippi Highway 902

Adjacent counties

• Scott County (north)
• Jasper County (east)
• Jones County (southeast)
• Covington County (south)
• Simpson County (west)
• Rankin County (northwest)

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 14,209. The median age was 44.1 years. 22.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.1 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 74.7% White, 21.9% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% Asian,

There were 5,692 households in the county, of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.9% were married-couple households, 17.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 6,622 housing units, of which 14.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 84.9% were owner-occupied and 15.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.1%.

Communities

Towns

• Mize
• Raleigh (county seat)
• Taylorsville
• Polkville

Village

• Sylvarena

Unincorporated communities

• Burns
• Cohay
• Summerland
• Traxler
• White Oak

Ghost town

• Shongelo

Politics

Smith County is currently a Republican stronghold, although, like most of Mississippi, it was heavily Democratic up until the 1960s. Recently, in 2024 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump broke 80% of the vote in the county for the first time since 1972.

Education

There is one school district in the county, Smith County School District.

The county is in the zone for Jones College.

References

References

1. "Census - Geography Profile: Smith County, Mississippi". [[United States Census Bureau]].
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
4. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau.
5. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
7. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
8. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
9. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
10. "Explore Census Data".
11. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
12. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
13. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
14. [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS Presidential Election Results in Smith County, Mississippi], uselectionatlas.org; accessed December 5, 2017.
15. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Smith County, MS". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
16. "Profile". [[Jones College (Mississippi).