Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi

Jefferson Davis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,321.[1] Its county seat is Prentiss.[2] The county is named after Mississippi Senator and Confederate President Jefferson Davis. The county was carved out of Covington and Lawrence counties in March 1906. Governor James K. Vardaman signed the bill creating the county on May 9, 1906.

For the parish in Louisiana, see Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana. For other counties named after Jefferson Davis, see Jeff Davis County (disambiguation).

Jefferson Davis County
County
Jefferson Davis County courthouse in Prentiss
Jefferson Davis County courthouse in Prentiss
Map of Mississippi highlighting Jefferson Davis County
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Map of the United States highlighting Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°34′N 89°49′W
Country United States
State Mississippi
Founded1906
Named forJefferson Davis
SeatPrentiss
Largest townPrentiss
Area
 • Total409 sq mi (1,060 km2)
 • Land408 sq mi (1,060 km2)
 • Water0.7 sq mi (2 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total11,321
 • Density28/sq mi (11/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.jeffersondaviscountyms.com

History

The genesis of the county occurred on March 31, 1906, when a Mississippi state legislative act authorized the new country's boundaries. The residents of western Covington County and eastern Lawrence County had frequently complained of the rivers and streams impeding the route to their respective county seats. Jefferson Davis County was the state's 77th county.

A 1906 special referendum determined that the county seat would be Prentiss, named for either famed Mississippi lawmaker and orator Seargent Smith Prentiss, or wealthy landowner Prentiss Webb Berry. The settlement was originally named Blountville after early settler William Blount.

In 1933, the county was the first in Mississippi to issue a prohibition on alcohol after the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Round dancing in the community hall was banned in 1938.

In 1935, notorious bank robber Raymond Hamilton, known to hide out in the county's wilderness, was involved in a hostage situation after robbing Prentiss' Bank of Blountville, but escaped in Memphis.[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 409 square miles (1,060 km2), of which 408 square miles (1,060 km2) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) (0.2%) is water.[4]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
191012,860—
192012,755−0.8%
193014,28112.0%
194015,86911.1%
195015,500−2.3%
196013,540−12.6%
197012,936−4.5%
198013,8467.0%
199014,0511.5%
200013,962−0.6%
201012,487−10.6%
202011,321−9.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2013[9]
Jefferson Davis County racial composition as of 2020[10]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 4,330 38.25%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 6,622 58.49%
Native American 8 0.07%
Asian 21 0.19%
Other/Mixed 239 2.11%
Hispanic or Latino 101 0.89%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 11,321 people, 4,713 households, and 3,003 families residing in the county.

Communities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Politics

Jefferson Davis County is heavily Democratic. It has only voted for the Republican candidate for president three times since 1912. It voted for third-party segregationist candidates three times. Prior to the 1960s, its Democratic lean was due to its location in the "Solid South". At the statewide level, Jefferson Davis County has only voted for the Republican candidate for governor once since Reconstruction: for Kirk Fordice in 1991.

United States presidential election results for Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi[11]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 2,534 40.79% 3,599 57.93% 80 1.29%
2016 2,466 39.54% 3,720 59.64% 51 0.82%
2012 2,507 36.52% 4,267 62.16% 90 1.31%
2008 2,871 38.96% 4,454 60.43% 45 0.61%
2004 2,668 46.28% 2,959 51.33% 138 2.39%
2000 2,437 45.83% 2,835 53.32% 45 0.85%
1996 1,890 38.84% 2,663 54.73% 313 6.43%
1992 2,228 39.55% 2,991 53.10% 414 7.35%
1988 2,745 47.92% 2,948 51.47% 35 0.61%
1984 2,884 51.81% 2,644 47.50% 38 0.68%
1980 2,280 36.85% 3,831 61.92% 76 1.23%
1976 1,868 39.76% 2,747 58.47% 83 1.77%
1972 2,830 72.83% 1,005 25.86% 51 1.31%
1968 297 6.79% 1,465 33.48% 2,614 59.73%
1964 2,351 90.91% 235 9.09% 0 0.00%
1960 225 13.06% 510 29.60% 988 57.34%
1956 156 10.92% 1,049 73.41% 224 15.68%
1952 473 22.53% 1,626 77.47% 0 0.00%
1948 51 3.30% 41 2.66% 1,452 94.04%
1944 88 6.03% 1,372 93.97% 0 0.00%
1940 38 2.86% 1,289 96.92% 3 0.23%
1936 67 4.81% 1,325 95.05% 2 0.14%
1932 30 3.09% 940 96.71% 2 0.21%
1928 163 16.00% 856 84.00% 0 0.00%
1924 88 10.73% 732 89.27% 0 0.00%
1920 179 26.76% 485 72.50% 5 0.75%
1916 45 6.59% 634 92.83% 4 0.59%
1912 43 6.63% 542 83.51% 64 9.86%

See also

References
  1. "Census - Geography Profile: Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Jefferson Davis County Mississippi Genealogy & History Network". jeffdavis.msghn.org. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  5. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  7. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  8. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  9. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  10. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  11. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 3, 2018.

31.56°N 89.82°W / 31.56; -89.82

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