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Mississippi County, Arkansas

Coordinates: 35°46′36″N 90°03′16″W / 35.77667°N 90.05444°W / 35.77667; -90.05444
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Mississippi County
County
Mississippi County Courthouse, Osceola
Mississippi County Courthouse, Osceola
Flag of Mississippi County
Flag
Map of Arkansas highlighting Mississippi County
Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
Map of the United States highlighting Arkansas
Arkansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°46′36″N 90°03′16″W / 35.776666666667°N 90.054444444444°W / 35.776666666667; -90.054444444444
Country United States
State Arkansas
FoundedNovember 1, 1833
Named forMississippi River
SeatBlytheville and Osceola
Largest cityBlytheville
Government
 • JudgeJohn Nelson
Area
 • Total
920 sq mi (2,400 km2)
 • Land901 sq mi (2,330 km2)
 • Water19 sq mi (50 km2)  2.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
40,685
 • Density44/sq mi (17/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.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 is named for the Mississippi River which borders the county to the east. Mississippi County is part of the First Congressional District in Arkansas.

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

History

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Pre-European Exploration

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Extant early settlements include the Eaker Site and the Sherman Mound.

1812 New Madrid Earthquake

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Main article: 1811–1812 New Madrid earthquakes

Local oral tradition held that prior to the major earthquakes of 1812, the lands in Mississippi County were higher in elevation compared to now and were not prone to flooding.[3] Though the earthquake was named for New Madrid, Missouri, as that was the only town in the area with any population, the actual epicenter of the quake was three miles below what is now Blytheville, Arkansas.[4]

Antebellum Period

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American settlers were recorded in the area as early as 1828. These early settlers include John Troy, the first Mississippi County Judge and namesake of Troy township and G.C. Barfield, the first county surveyor and namesake of Barfield Landing.[3]

Mississippi County was created on November 1, 1833, when it was split off from Craighead County. By 1836, when Arkansas achieved statehood, the county's white population had slightly increased and the local Native population was pushed in the eastern part of the county, towards what is now Big Lake. The first county seat was a small community called Cornwall, which was located at on the banks of the Mississippi River, on the remains of an old Spanish "encampment." Osceola was named as the County Seat in 1833, and later incorporated in 1843.[5][3]

The Federal Swamp Act of 1850 granted federally controlled swamp lands to their respective state governments for sale. According to the 1852 surveyor general's report, Mississippi County had the largest amount of swamp and "Sunken" lands of any county in the country.[5]

Reconstruction Period

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Following the American Civil War, Mississippi County was one of 10 counties in Arkansas put under martial law due to increased activity from the Ku Klux Klan.[3] In 1872, a series of racial and political confrontations known as the Black Hawk War took place. The genesis of this was the murder of "Carpetbagger" Charles Fitzpatrick by the county Sherriff J.B. Murray over Fitzpatrick's allegations of Murray's embezzlement of school funds.[6]

20th century

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During World War 2, a B-25 pilot training school was constructed at Blytheville, with satellite landing strips at Manilla and in the Missouri Bootheel. The facility was later reopened in 1954 at Blytheville Air Force Base, and hosted a squadron of B-52s from 1959 to 1992.[7]

In 1987, Nucor Steel opened a steel plant at Barfield Landing on the Mississippi River. In 2014, U.S. Steel opened a steel plant at Osceola. Mississippi County is now reportedly the largest steel producing county in America.[8]

Geography

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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.[9]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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National protected area

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18401,410—
18502,36867.9%
18603,89564.5%
18703,633−6.7%
18807,332101.8%
189011,63558.7%
190016,38440.8%
191030,46886.0%
192047,32055.3%
193069,28946.4%
194080,21715.8%
195082,3752.7%
196070,174−14.8%
197062,060−11.6%
198059,517−4.1%
199057,525−3.3%
200051,979−9.6%
201046,480−10.6%
202040,685−12.5%
2023 (est.)38,663[10]−5.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13]
1990–2000[14] 2010–2020[15] 2020[1]
Age pyramid Mississippi County[16]

2020 census

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Mississippi County Racial Composition[17]
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

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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

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As of the 2000 census,[18] 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 people/km2). There were 22,310 housing units at an average density of 25 units per square mile (9.7 units/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.

Control Tower for the Arkansas Aeroplex, formerly Blytheville Air Force Base. The Aeroplex contains the longest runway in the state.

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

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The Mississippi County Judge is John Alan Nelson. Formerly a traditionally Democratic area, Mississippi County has voted Republican in the past five presidential elections.

United States presidential election results for Mississippi County, Arkansas[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 6,963 64.97% 3,574 33.35% 180 1.68%
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%

Economy

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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.[20]

Education

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Public education

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

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

Libraries

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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

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Radio

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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 KOSE-FM Osceola

AM

Print

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  • NEA Town Courier, Newspaper, Blytheville, Arkansas[21]
  • The Osceola Times, Newspaper, Osceola, Arkansas

Television

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

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

Communities

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Cities

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Towns

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Census-designated places

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Townships

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Townships in Mississippi County, Arkansas as of 2010

Townships in Arkansas are the divisions of a county. Each township includes unincorporated areas; some may have incorporated cities or towns within part of their boundaries. Arkansas townships have limited purposes in modern times. However, the United States census does list Arkansas population based on townships (sometimes referred to as "county subdivisions" or "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 and publications. The townships of Mississippi County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township. [22][23]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "2020 Census Data". data.census.gov.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d Presley, Leister E. (1889). Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas. Chicago, Nashville and St, Louis: Goodspeed Publishing Company. p. 445.
  4. ^ Hendricks, Nancy. "New Madrid Earthquakes of 1811-1812". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Hale, Ruth. "Mississippi County". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  6. ^ Hale, Ruth. "Black Hawk War of 1872". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  7. ^ Hartley, Jillian. "Eaker Air Force Base". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  8. ^ Jared, George (February 14, 2023). "Leaders explain how steel industry is transforming Mississippi County". Talk Business & Politics. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  9. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  10. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  11. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  12. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  13. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  14. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  15. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  16. ^ Based on 2000 census data
  17. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  18. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  19. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  20. ^ 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. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  21. ^ "Town Crier, Courier News to merge Jan. 1". NEA Town Courier. December 18, 2018. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  22. ^ 2011 Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS): Mississippi County, AR (PDF) (Map). U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
  23. ^ "Arkansas: 2010 Census Block Maps - County Subdivision". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
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