Ripley, Mississippi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ripley is a city in Tippah County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 5,478 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Tippah County^GR6. Colonel William Clark Falkner, great-grandfather of author William Faulkner, was a prominent resident of Ripley in the mid- to late-19th century. W. C. Falkner's exploits in and around Ripley served as the model for Faulkner's character of Colonel John Sartoris.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Trivia
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Ripley is located at 34°43′57″N, 88°56′49″W (34.732363, -88.947055)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 29.9 km² (11.5 mi²). 29.8 km² (11.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.35%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 5,478 people, 2,174 households, and 1,441 families residing in the city. The population density was 184.1/km² (476.8/mi²). There were 2,334 housing units at an average density of 78.4/km² (203.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.65% White, 19.90% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.34% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.91% of the population.

There were 2,174 households out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 84.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,728, and the median income for a family was $31,174. Males had a median income of $26,275 versus $20,160 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,979. About 18.3% of families and 21.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.7% of those under age 18 and 21.9% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Trivia

Author John Grisham spend a few years of his childhood attending Ripley Elementary School.

The Grandparents of former President of the United States Bill Clinton are burried in Ripley

Ripley is the home of the First Monday Trade Day held the weekend prior to the first Monday of every month. It is one of the oldest outdoor flea markets in the United States. It started around the turn of the century at the old square but is now held south of Ripley along Highway 15 across from the Tippah County Fair Grounds.