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Itawamba County, Mississippi facts for kids

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Itawamba County
U.S. county
Itawamba County Courthouse in Fulton
Itawamba County Courthouse in Fulton
Map of Mississippi highlighting Itawamba County
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Map of the United States highlighting Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Mississippi
Founded 1836
Named for Levi Colbert (Itawamba)
Seat Fulton
Largest city Fulton
Area
 • Total 540 sq mi (1,400 km2)
 • Land 533 sq mi (1,380 km2)
 • Water 7.7 sq mi (20 km2)  1.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 23,863
 • Density 44.2/sq mi (17.06/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 1st

Itawamba County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 23,863. Its county seat is Fulton. The county is part of the Tupelo, MS Micropolitan Statistical Area.

The county was named for Itawamba, an early 19th-century Chickasaw leader. He was prominent during the Indian Removal period of the early 19th century, but died before his people left the area.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 540 square miles (1,400 km2), of which 533 square miles (1,380 km2) is land and 7.7 square miles (20 km2) (1.4%) is water.

Major highways

  • I-22.svg Interstate 22
  • US 78.svg U.S. Highway 78
  • Circle sign 23.svg Mississippi Highway 23
  • Circle sign 25.svg Mississippi Highway 25
  • Circle sign 76.svg Mississippi Highway 76
  • Circle sign 178.svg Mississippi Highway 178
  • Natchez Trace Parkway

Adjacent counties

National protected area

  • Natchez Trace Parkway (part)
  • Pharr Mounds (near Tupelo), 85-acre (340,000 m2) complex of earthwork burial mounds from the Middle Woodland period

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1840 5,375 —
1850 13,528 151.7%
1860 17,695 30.8%
1870 7,812 −55.9%
1880 10,663 36.5%
1890 11,708 9.8%
1900 13,544 15.7%
1910 14,526 7.3%
1920 15,647 7.7%
1930 18,225 16.5%
1940 19,922 9.3%
1950 17,216 −13.6%
1960 15,080 −12.4%
1970 16,847 11.7%
1980 20,518 21.8%
1990 20,017 −2.4%
2000 22,770 13.8%
2010 23,401 2.8%
2020 23,863 2.0%
2023 (est.) 24,093 3.0%
US Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2013 2017

2020 census

Itawamba County racial composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 21,129 88.54%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 1,623 6.8%
Native American 51 0.21%
Asian 50 0.21%
Other/Mixed 626 2.62%
Hispanic or Latino 384 1.61%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 23,863 people, 8,653 households, and 6,207 families residing in the county.

Communities

Itawamba County, Mississippi map
Itawamba County, Mississippi

City

Towns

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Civil Rights

The County holds an annual Civil Rights march and speaker series in January on/around the celebration of MLK day. MLK Day Celebration The county was the site of the 2010 Itawamba County School District prom controversy when a lesbian student, Constance McMillen, from Fulton, had attempted to bring her partner to prom. The matter went to court, with the ACLU representing McMillen. On July 20, 2010, the school district settled the case out of court by paying McMillen US$ 35,000 (equivalent to $41,537 in 2020), paying her attorneys' fees, and agreeing to create a non-discrimination policy that includes sexual orientation.

Notable people

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Itawamba (Misisipi) para niños

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