Clarksdale, Mississippi

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Clarksdale is a city in Coahoma County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 20,645 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Coahoma County^GR6. It is located on the banks of the Sunflower River.

Located in the Mississippi Delta, the birthplace of the blues, Clarksdale is home to the internationally known Delta Blues Museum and "the crossroads", where some believe Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil at the stroke of midnight in exchange for the ability to play the blues.^{[citation needed]}

Clarksdale is also the home of Morgan Freeman's five-star restaurant Madidi and his blues club Ground Zero.

Clarksdale was named in honor of founder and resident John Clark, brother-in-law of politician James Lusk Alcorn, whose plantation home is nearby.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Education
4 Music history
5 Notable people
6 External links

[edit] Geography

Clarksdale is located at 34°11′52″N, 90°34′19″W (34.197888, -90.571941)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 35.9 km² (13.9 mi²). 35.8 km² (13.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.07% is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 20,645 people, 7,233 households, and 5,070 families residing in the city. The population density was 575.9/km² (1,491.8/mi²). There were 7,757 housing units at an average density of 216.4/km² (560.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 29.95% White, 68.52% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.65% of the population.

There were 7,233 households out of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.7% were married couples living together, 30.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.38.

In the city, the population was spread out with 32.9% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 81.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,188, and the median income for a family was $26,592. Males had a median income of $26,881 versus $19,918 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,611. About 29.7% of families and 36.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.1% of those under age 18 and 31.4% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Education

The City of Clarksdale is served by the Clarksdale Municipal School District.

[edit] Music history

Clarksdale has been historically significant in the development of the blues, a form of music distinctively American. More blues singers have come from the state of Mississippi, especially the Mississippi Delta than all of the other Southern States combined. These have included Son House, Robert Johnson, Charlie Patton, Muddy Waters, Skip James, Bukka White, John Lee Hooker, and B.B. King. The Mississippi Blues Trail, now being implemented, is dedicating markers for historic sites such as Clarksdale's Riverside Hotel where Bessie Smith died after her auto accident on Highway 61.^[1] The Riverside Hotel is just one of many historical blues sites in Clarksdate.^[2]

The Delta Blues Museum is located in Clarksdale and is visited by people from all over the world. Close by is Ground Zero and Madidi, restaurants owned by actor, Morgan Freeman.