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Mississippi County, Arkansas
Mississippi County Courthouse - Osceola
Mississippi County Courthouse, Osceola
Flag of Mississippi County, Arkansas
Flag
Map of Arkansas highlighting Mississippi County
Location in the state of Arkansas
Map of the U.S
Arkansas's location in the U.S.
Founded November 1, 1833
Named for Mississippi River
Seat Blytheville and Osceola
Largest city Blytheville
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

920 sq mi (2,383 km²)
901 sq mi (2,334 km²)
19 sq mi (49 km²), 2.1%
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

40,685
Congressional district 1st
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website https://www.mississippicountyar.org

Mississippi County is the easternmost county in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,685.[1] There are two county seats, Blytheville and Osceola.[2] The county was formed on November 1, 1833, and named for the Mississippi River which borders the county to the east. Mississippi County is part of the First Congressional District in Arkansas. The Mississippi County Judge is John Alan Nelson.

The Blytheville, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Mississippi County.

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 920 square miles (2,400 km2), of which 901 square miles (2,330 km2) is land and 19 square miles (49 km2) (2.1%) is water.[3]

Major highways[]

  • I-55 (AR) Interstate 55
  • US 61 U.S. Highway 61
  • Arkansas 14 Highway 14
  • Arkansas 18 Highway 18
  • Arkansas 18B Highway 18 Business
  • Arkansas 77 Highway 77
  • Arkansas 118 Highway 118
  • Arkansas 119 Highway 119
  • Arkansas 135 Highway 135
  • Arkansas 136 Highway 136
  • Arkansas 137 Highway 137
  • Arkansas 137S Highway 137 Spur
  • Arkansas 140 Highway 140
  • Arkansas 150 Highway 150
  • Arkansas 151 Highway 151
  • Arkansas 158 Highway 158
  • Arkansas 181 Highway 181
  • Arkansas 239 Highway 239
  • Arkansas 239S Highway 239 Spur
  • Arkansas 947 Highway 947

Adjacent counties[]

National protected area[]

  • Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1840 1,410
1850 2,368 67.9%
1860 3,895 64.5%
1870 3,633 −6.7%
1880 7,332 101.8%
1890 11,635 58.7%
1900 16,384 40.8%
1910 30,468 86.0%
1920 47,320 55.3%
1930 69,289 46.4%
1940 80,217 15.8%
1950 82,375 2.7%
1960 70,174 −14.8%
1970 62,060 −11.6%
1980 59,517 −4.1%
1990 57,525 −3.3%
2000 51,979 −9.6%
2010 46,480 −10.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]
1790–1960[5] 1900–1990[6]
1990–2000[7] 2010–2020[8] 2020[1]
USA Mississippi County, Arkansas age pyramid

Age pyramid Mississippi County[9]

2020 census[]

Mississippi County Racial Composition[10]
Race Num. Perc.
White 22,861 56.19%
Black or African American 14,251 35.03%
Native American 67 0.16%
Asian 242 0.59%
Pacific Islander 3 0.01%
Other/Mixed 1,490 3.66%
Hispanic or Latino 1,771 4.35%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 40,685 people, 16,389 households, and 10,635 families residing in the county.

2010 census[]

As of the 2010 census, there were 46,480 people living in the county. The racial makeup of the county was 60.5% White, 33.9% Black, 0.3% Native American, 0.5% Asian, <0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from some other race and 1.2% from two or more races. 3.6% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census[]

As of the 2000 census,[11] there were 51,979 people, 19,349 households, and 13,911 families living in the county. The population density was 58 people per square mile (22/km2). There were 22,310 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (10/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 64.45% White, 32.70% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.07% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. 2.25% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 19,349 households, out of which 36.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.00% were married couples living together, 17.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 24.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.60% under the age of 18, 9.90% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 20.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 91.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,479, and the median income for a family was $32,648. Males had a median income of $29,645 versus $19,782 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,978. About 19.00% of families and 23.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.10% of those under age 18 and 19.80% of those age 65 or over.


Government[]

While a traditionally Democratic area, Mississippi County has voted Republican in the past four presidential elections.

United States presidential election results for Mississippi County, Arkansas[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 7,296 59.12% 4,558 36.93% 488 3.95%
2016 7,061 53.48% 5,670 42.94% 473 3.58%
2012 6,603 49.37% 6,467 48.35% 305 2.28%
2008 6,976 49.79% 6,667 47.59% 367 2.62%
2004 6,121 43.25% 7,593 53.65% 439 3.10%
2000 5,199 41.31% 7,107 56.47% 280 2.22%
1996 3,919 29.36% 8,301 62.19% 1,127 8.44%
1992 4,697 29.43% 10,046 62.94% 1,219 7.64%
1988 7,841 52.67% 6,759 45.40% 288 1.93%
1984 10,180 57.30% 7,548 42.49% 38 0.21%
1980 7,170 43.67% 8,908 54.26% 339 2.06%
1976 6,009 36.80% 10,292 63.03% 27 0.17%
1972 10,931 74.73% 3,544 24.23% 152 1.04%
1968 4,369 28.17% 4,993 32.19% 6,147 39.64%
1964 6,213 41.67% 8,678 58.20% 20 0.13%
1960 4,983 47.08% 5,138 48.54% 464 4.38%
1956 4,269 38.97% 6,428 58.68% 258 2.36%
1952 4,586 39.65% 6,968 60.24% 13 0.11%
1948 771 12.17% 3,763 59.40% 1,801 28.43%
1944 1,292 24.68% 3,938 75.22% 5 0.10%
1940 616 10.46% 5,257 89.24% 18 0.31%
1936 303 5.89% 4,835 93.94% 9 0.17%
1932 364 5.87% 5,776 93.12% 63 1.02%
1928 1,324 22.83% 4,451 76.75% 24 0.41%
1924 703 24.86% 2,039 72.10% 86 3.04%
1920 1,050 35.23% 1,809 60.70% 121 4.06%
1916 417 25.03% 1,249 74.97% 0 0.00%
1912 263 20.23% 767 59.00% 270 20.77%
1908 1,167 51.57% 930 41.10% 166 7.34%
1904 417 37.40% 689 61.79% 9 0.81%
1900 378 39.01% 591 60.99% 0 0.00%
1896 168 17.06% 815 82.74% 2 0.20%
1892 525 40.32% 777 59.68% 0 0.00%



Economy[]

Mississippi County Arkansas - panoramio

A steel plant rises behind a soybean field in Mississippi County

The economy of Mississippi County transitioned from agriculture (especially cotton) to manufacturing (mostly steel production) beginning in the 1980s. Over $2.1 billion has been invested in plants and supporting infrastructure in the county, with major facilities being operated by Nucor and Big River Steel (a U.S. Steel company). As of 2021 Mississippi County is the second-largest steel producing county in the United States. The county's position near the center of the United States and along the Mississippi River allows the input for steel mills, scrap metal, to be shipped in on barges, often the most inexpensive method of shipping, and by railroad from Memphis. Company executives have also praised the work ethic of the rural farm families of the area as a natural fit for ironworkers.[13]

Education[]

Public education[]

Mississippi County is home to the following public school districts, listed in order of student population:

  • Blytheville School District
  • Osceola School District
  • Gosnell School District
  • Southern Mississippi County School District
  • Manila School District
  • Buffalo Island Central School District
  • Armorel School District

The following school districts are based outside of the county but serve portions:

  • East Poinsett County School District
  • KIPP: Delta Public Schools
  • Nettleton School District

Libraries[]

Mississippi County is served by the Mississippi–Crittenden Regional Library System, which includes the Mississippi County Library System (central library) and 13 branch libraries in communities throughout the county.

Media[]

Radio[]

FM

  • FM 88.3 KBCM Blytheville
  • FM 93.9 KAMJ Gosnell
  • FM 96.3 KHLS Blytheville
  • FM 103.7 KAIA K279BJ Blytheville
  • FM 107.3 KQXF Osceola

AM

  • AM 860 KOSE Wilson

Print[]

  • NEA Town Courier, Newspaper, Blytheville, Arkansas[14]
  • The Osceola Times, Newspaper, Osceola, Arkansas

Television[]

There are no television stations in Mississippi County, Arkansas. Mississippi County, Arkansas is placed in the Memphis, TN Television Market. Those stations include:

  • ABC- WATN 24
  • NBC- WMC 5
  • CBS- WREG 3
  • Fox- WHBQ 13
  • PBS- WKNO 10
  • CW- WLMT 30
  • Ion WPXX 50

However some residents in county may watch stations from the Jackson, TN, Jonesboro, AR, or Little Rock, AR Television Markets.

Communities[]

Cities[]

  • Blytheville (county seat)
  • Gosnell
  • Joiner
  • Keiser
  • Leachville
  • Luxora
  • Manila
  • Osceola (county seat)
  • Wilson

Towns[]

  • Bassett
  • Birdsong
  • Burdette
  • Dell
  • Dyess
  • Etowah
  • Marie
  • Victoria

Census-designated places[]

  • Armorel

Townships[]

Mississippi County Arkansas 2010 Township Map large

Townships in Mississippi County, Arkansas as of 2010

Townships in Arkansas are the divisions of a county. Each township includes unincorporated areas and some may have incorporated towns or cities within part of their space. Townships have limited purposes in modern times. However, the US Census does list Arkansas population based on townships (often referred to as "minor civil divisions"). Townships are also of value for historical purposes in terms of genealogical research. Each town or city is within one or more townships in an Arkansas county based on census maps. The townships of Mississippi County are listed below with the town(s) and/or city that are fully or partially inside them listed in parentheses.


[15][16]

  • Big Lake (Manila)
  • Bowen (Gosnell)
  • Burdette (Burdette)
  • Canadian (Huffman)
  • Carson (Marie)
  • Chickasawba (Blytheville)
  • Dyess (Dyess)
  • Fletcher (Luxora, Victoria)
  • Golden Lake (Wilson)
  • Half Moon Lake
  • Hector (Dell)
  • Little River (Etowah)
  • McGavock (Joiner)
  • Monroe (Keiser, Osceola)
  • Neal (Leachville)
  • Scott (Bassett)
  • Whitton (Birdsong)

See also[]

  • Island 35 Mastodon
  • List of lakes in Mississippi County, Arkansas
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Mississippi County, Arkansas

References[]

  1. ^ a b "2020 Census Data". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US05093. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  3. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_05.txt. 
  4. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  5. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  6. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ar190090.txt. 
  7. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. 
  8. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/05/05093.html. 
  9. ^ Based on 2000 census data
  10. ^ "Explore Census Data". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US05093&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2. 
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  12. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/. 
  13. ^ Massey, Kyle (August 30, 2021). "Mississippi County: Magnet for Steel". Arkansas Business. Little Rock: Arkansas Business Publishing Group. pp. 1, 8. ISSN 1053-6582. OCLC 1131951942. https://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/137036/mississippi-county-magnet-for-steel. Retrieved September 4, 2021. 
  14. ^ "Town Crier, Courier News to merge Jan. 1" (in en). 2018-12-18. https://www.neatowncourier.com/story/2574522.html. 
  15. ^ U. S. Census Bureau. 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Mississippi County, AR (Map). http://www2.census.gov/geo/pvs/bas/bas11/st05_ar/cou/c05093_mississippi/BAS11C20509300000_000.pdf. 
  16. ^ "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/maps/block/2010/cousub/dc10blk_st05_cousub.html#M. 

External links[]

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Coordinates: 35°46′36″N 90°03′16″W / 35.77667, -90.05444


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Mississippi County, Arkansas. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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