Lincoln County, Mississippi

Lincoln County, Mississippi
Location in the U.S. state of Mississippi
Mississippi's location in the U.S.
Founded	1870
Named for	Abraham Lincoln
Seat	Brookhaven
Largest city	Brookhaven
Area
• Total	588 sq mi (1,523 km2)
• Land	586 sq mi (1,518 km2)
• Water	2.1 sq mi (5 km2), 0.4%
Population
• (2010)	34,869
• Density	59/sq mi (23/km²)
Congressional district	3rd
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5

Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2010 census, the population was 34,869. Its county seat is Brookhaven.

The county was created by the legislature in April 7, 1870, during the Reconstruction Era. It was formed from portions of Lawrence, Pike, Franklin, Copiah, and Amite counties. It was named for Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States.

Lincoln County comprises the Brookhaven, MS Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Jackson-Vicksburg-Brookhaven Combined Statistical Area. The county is southwest of the state capital of Jackson.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 588 square miles (1,520 km²), of which 586 square miles (1,520 km²) is land and 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²) (0.4%) is water.

Major highways

• Interstate 55
• U.S. Highway 51
• U.S. Highway 84

Adjacent counties

• Copiah County (north)
• Lawrence County (east)
• Walthall County (southeast)
• Pike County (south)
• Amite County (southwest)
• Franklin County (west)
• Jefferson County (northwest)

National protected area

• Homochitto National Forest (part), supervised by the United States Forestry Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1870	10,184		—
1880	13,547		33.0%
1890	17,912		32.2%
1900	21,552		20.3%
1910	28,597		32.7%
1920	24,652		−13.8%
1930	26,357		6.9%
1940	27,506		4.4%
1950	27,899		1.4%
1960	26,759		−4.1%
1970	26,198		−2.1%
1980	30,174		15.2%
1990	30,278		0.3%
2000	33,166		9.5%
2010	34,869		5.1%
Est. 2014	34,775		−0.3%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013

As of the United States Census of 2000, (which precedes the large changes and increases reflected in the figures, resulting from the substantial annexations and tripling of the size of the City of Brookhaven, the county seat, from late 2007, which would be reflected in the newer United States Census of 2010) - there were 33,166 people, 12,538 households, and 9,190 families residing in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile (22/km²). There were 14,052 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 69.38% White, 29.67% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 0.37% from two or more races. 0.69% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 12,538 households out of which 34.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.90% were married couples living together, 14.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.70% were non-families. 24.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.70% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,279, and the median income for a family was $33,552. Males had a median income of $29,060 versus $18,877 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,961. About 16.00% of families and 19.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.80% of those under age 18 and 17.10% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The Board of Supervisors governing Lincoln County, currently (June 2006) has the following members:

• District 1: Rev. Jerry Wilson (vice-president)
• District 2: Bobby J. Watts
• District 3: Nolan Earl Williamson
• District 4: Doug Moak
• District 5: Gary Walker (president)

The offices of president and vice-president on the county supervisors rotate annually.

This county does not have "home rule;" thus, the legislature reserved to itself power over the county. Its representatives and state senators help serve its residents.

Economy

The telecommunications company MCI Worldcom is located in Lincoln County. Its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and founder Bernard Ebbers resided near Brookhaven prior to his conviction; he was sentenced to prison.

Education

The county is served by two separate public school districts, a private school, and a couple of smaller "Christian" or religious/private schools. The Lincoln County Public School District consists of four K-12 schools of elementary, middle school, and high school levels. These include Loyd Star, Bogue Chitto, West Lincoln and Enterprise. The Brookhaven School District with its 1983-1984 "National Blue Ribbon" award-winning Brookhaven High School as its flagship school, serves children living in the city limits of Brookhaven. Through annexations, the City tripled its size in 2007.

Media

Lincoln County is served by the local newspaper Daily Leader, printed daily except Monday and Saturday. Its website is <http://www.zwire.com>. Residents may also purchase the larger daily newspaper from the state capital of Jackson, The Clarion-Ledger, which serves the central state metropolitan area and the entire State of Mississippi.

Communities

City

• Brookhaven (county seat)

Hamlets

• Bogue Chitto

Unincorporated communities

• Auburn
• East Lincoln
• Ruth
• Caseyville

Ghost towns

• Norfield
• Woolworth

See also

• Dry counties
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Lincoln County, Mississippi