Covington County, Mississippi

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Covington County, Mississippi
Map
Map of Mississippi highlighting Covington County
Location in the state of Mississippi
Map of the U.S. highlighting Mississippi
Mississippi's location in the U.S.
Statistics
Founded 1819
Seat Collins
Largest city Collins
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

415 sq mi (1,075 km²)
414 sq mi (1,072 km²)
1 sq mi (3 km²), 0.28%
Population
 - (2000)
 - Density

19,407
225/sq mi (87/km²)

Covington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of 2000, the population was 19,407. Its county seat is Collins[1]. Covington County is named for U.S. Army officer and Congressman Leonard Covington.

Contents

[edit] Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 415 square miles (1,075 km²), of which, 414 square miles (1,072 km²) of it is land and 1 square miles (3 km²) of it (0.28%) is water.

[edit] Major highways

[edit] Adjacent counties

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 19,407 people, 7,126 households, and 5,280 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile (18/km²). There were 8,083 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile (8/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 63.42% White, 35.61% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.15% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 0.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1820 2,230
1830 2,551 14.4%
1840 2,717 6.5%
1850 3,338 22.9%
1860 4,408 32.1%
1870 4,753 7.8%
1880 5,993 26.1%
1890 8,299 38.5%
1900 13,076 57.6%
1910 16,909 29.3%
1920 14,869 −12.1%
1930 15,028 1.1%
1940 17,030 13.3%
1950 16,036 −5.8%
1960 13,637 −15%
1970 14,002 2.7%
1980 15,927 13.7%
1990 16,527 3.8%
2000 19,407 17.4%
Est. 2007 20,361 4.9%

There were 7,126 households out of which 36.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.50% were married couples living together, 17.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.90% were non-families. 23.60% 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 2.68 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the county the population was spread out with 28.80% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 13.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 92.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,669, and the median income for a family was $31,264. Males had a median income of $26,611 versus $18,371 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,506. About 18.70% of families and 23.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.60% of those under age 18 and 20.30% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Communities

  • Unincorporated places
    • Ora
    • Sanford

[edit] Commerce

One of the county's best-known businesses is Shady Acres, a fruit and vegetable stand selling a wide variety of fresh food and family recipe dishes.

[edit] Notable people from Covington County


Steve McNair is a top NFL quarterback.

Gerald McRaney starred in CBS's Promised land and Major Dad, and made an appearance on CBS's Jericho.

Dale Houston was born in Covington County in 1940 and lived much of his life in Collins. He reached No. 1 in the rock and roll chart with I'm Leaving It Up To You, sung with his partner Grace Broussard of Prairieville, Louisiana. He died in a Hattiesburg hospital on September 27, 2007.

Covington County is known for its social conservatism. Mississippi, one of the most socially conservative states in the Union, voted for a statewide ban on same-sex marriage by an 86-14 percent vote. Covington County voted for the ban even more overwhelmingly, 89-11 percent.

Elected Officials:

Sheriff: Ben Ford
Supervisors:
Beat 1: Mason Stringer
Beat 2: John Holifield
Beat 3: Jimmy White
Beat 4: Guy Easterling
Beat 5: Arthur Keys
Circuit Clerk: Melissa Duckworth
Chancery Clerk: Jimmy Baggett
Tax Assessor/Collector: Cindy Sanford
Supt. of Education: I.S. "Ike" Sanford, Jr.
School Board:
Beat 1: Dr. Ray Strebeck
Beat 2: Sammy Herrin
Beat 3: Terry Bryant
Beat 4: Bob McNair
Beat 5: Andrew Keys
Judges:
Justice Court:
John L. Sanford (South)
Bobby W. Mooney (North)
Circuit:
Robert (Bob) Evans
Joe Dale Walker
Chancery: Larry Buffington
Coroner/Medical Examiner: Chris DaQuila
Constable:
Robin Dickens (South)
Joe Ponder (North)
Mayors:
Collins: V.O. Smith
Mt. Olive: Bob McNair
Seminary: Billy Karolyi
State Reps:
Joseph (Joe) L. Warren (D)
Blaine (Bo) Eaton (D)
State Senators:
Joey Fillingane (R)
Perry Lee (R)


A community south of Seminary, Sanford, was well-known some decades ago for being the "Strawberry Capital of the World." Now, strawberry growers are few.


Another community northeast of Collins, Hot Coffee, has a "village" of Mennonites living there. Jellies and jams are also grown, packaged, and sold in Hot Coffee.

Coordinates: 31°38′N 89°33′W / 31.63, -89.55