Neshoba County is a county located in the state of Mississippi. As of the 2000 census, the population is 28,684. Its county seat is Philadelphia⁶.

Neshoba County was in the news during Freedom Summer. On June 21, 1964, three civil rights workers (Andrew Goodman, Mickey Schwerner, and James Chaney) were killed after traveling to the county to investigate the burning of a black church. As of June 2004, no one has been charged with murder in the case, although federal agents long ago identified a local group of Klansmen as the killers.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,481 km² (572 mi²). 1,476 km² (570 mi²) of it is land and 4 km² (2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.29% water. The county is known for its county fair and harness horse races. It is also home of the Williams Brothers Store, which has been in operation since the 1910s.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 28,684 people, 10,694 households, and 7,742 families residing in the county. The population density is 19/km² (50/mi²). There are 11,980 housing units at an average density of 8/km² (21/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 65.50% White, 19.33% Black or African American, 13.80% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. 1.16% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 10,694 households out of which 34.90% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.50% are married couples living together, 15.60% have a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% are non-families. 24.70% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.50% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.63 and the average family size is 3.11.

In the county the population is spread out with 28.20% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 91.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 88.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county is $28,300, and the median income for a family is $33,439. Males have a median income of $28,112 versus $19,882 for females. The per capita income for the county is $14,964. 21.00% of the population and 17.90% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 27.20% of those under the age of 18 and 22.00% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Cities and towns

• Pearl River
• Philadelphia
• Tucker
• Union

External links

• County fair website (http://www.neshobacountyfair.org/)
• Neshoba County Public Library (http://www.neshoba.lib.ms.us/)
• Neshoba Democrat newspaper (http://www.neshobademocrat.com/)
• Mississippi Region Grapples with Legacy of Civil Rights Murders (http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=1962220), a 40th anniversary story from All Things Considered
• Neshoba Democrat's 40th anniversary stories (http://www.neshobademocrat.com/main.asp?SectionID=20)