Ripley is a city located in Tippah County, Mississippi. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 5,478. It is the county seat of Tippah County⁶. Colonel William Clark Falkner, great-grandfather of author William Faulkner, was a prominent resident of Ripley in the mid- to late-19th century. W. C. Falkner's exploits in and around Ripley served as the model for Faulkner's character of Colonel John Sartoris.

Geography

Ripley is located at 34°43'57" North, 88°56'49" West (34.732363, -88.947055)¹.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 29.9 km² (11.5 mi²). 29.8 km² (11.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.35% water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 5,478 people, 2,174 households, and 1,441 families residing in the city. The population density is 184.1/km² (476.8/mi²). There are 2,334 housing units at an average density of 78.4/km² (203.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 75.65% White, 19.90% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.34% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. 4.91% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 2,174 households out of which 32.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% are married couples living together, 15.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% are non-families. 30.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 14.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.41 and the average family size is 2.99.

In the city the population is spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 84.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 81.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $25,728, and the median income for a family is $31,174. Males have a median income of $26,275 versus $20,160 for females. The per capita income for the city is $12,979. 21.0% of the population and 18.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 26.7% of those under the age of 18 and 21.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

External links

• Maps and aerial photos
  • Street map from Mapquest (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=decimal&latitude=34.732363&longitude=-88.947055&zoom=6)
  • Topographic map from Topozone (http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=34.732363&lon=-88.947055&s=200&size=m&layer=DRG100)
  • Aerial photograph from Microsoft Terraserver (http://terraserver.microsoft.com/map.aspx?t=1&s=14&lon=-88.947055&lat=34.732363&w=750&h=500)