Leland, Mississippi
| Leland, Mississippi | |
|---|---|
| City | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 33°24′18″N 90°53′50″W / 33.40500°N 90.89722°WCoordinates: 33°24′18″N 90°53′50″W / 33.40500°N 90.89722°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Washington |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.1 sq mi (5.4 km2) |
| • Land | 2.1 sq mi (5.3 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.1 km2) |
| Elevation | 125 ft (38 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 5,502 |
| • Density | 2,670.2/sq mi (1,031.0/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 38756 |
| Area code(s) | 662 |
| FIPS code | 28-40280 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0672400 |
Leland is a city in Washington County, Mississippi. The population was 4,790 at the 2008 census.
The town is located in the heart of the Mississippi Delta on the banks of Deer Creek, which is decorated each Christmas season with floats that bring visitors from afar to view the colorful displays.
Farming is the basis of the local economy. Mississippi State University and the federal government maintain an agriculture research station at Stoneville on Leland's outskirts. Cotton, soybeans and catfish are the leading crops.
Leland is in the heart of blues country and has produced a number of national and regionally famous blues musicians. Highway 61, mentioned in numerous blues recordings, runs through the town and gives its name to the community's[1] blues museum. Leland is the burial place of the folk artist and blues musician James "Son" Thomas, who lived for many years along the railroad tracks. Thomas is buried beneath a gravestone donated by musician John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival.
Blues musician Johnny Winter spent part of his childhood in Leland. Winter’s grandfather and father, a former mayor of Leland, operated J.D. Winter & Sons, a cotton business. Winters is commemorated with a Mississippi Blues Trail marker in Leland.[2]
The community is the birthplace of Kermit the Frog, a Muppet created by Jim Henson, who was born in nearby Greenville. The city has a museum along the banks of Deer Creek celebrating Henson's accomplishments.
Geography
Leland is located at 33°24′18″N 90°53′50″W / 33.40500°N 90.89722°W (33.405118, -90.897194)[3].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2), of which 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) (1.44%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,502 people, 1,943 households, and 1,414 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,670.2 people per square mile (1,031.2/km²). There were 2,095 housing units at an average density of 1,016.7 per square mile (392.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 32.01% White, 67.01% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.04% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.75% of the population.
There were 1,943 households out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.9% were married couples living together, 27.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.2% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.35.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.9% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,678, and the median income for a family was $28,926. Males had a median income of $26,184 versus $20,693 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,681. About 24.0% of families and 27.5% of the population were below the poverty line, in
Education
The City of Leland is served by the Leland School District. Leland High School is the sole high school.
Notable people
- Muppet creator Jim Henson grew up in Leland.
- Wadada Leo Smith, a jazz trumpeter and composer, is from Leland.
- Blues musician Johnny Winter spent part of his childhood in Leland.
- Singer/actress Thelma Houston was born in Leland.
- Douglas A. Blackmon, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist for the Wall Street Journal was raised in Leland.
- Johnie Cooks, former college and professional football player at Mississippi State University and the NFL, is from Leland.
- Bob Taylor, baseball player.
References
- ↑ "Leland Blues Project". Retrieved 15 October 2010.
- ↑ "Johnny Winter - Leland". Mississippi Blues Commission. Retrieved December 2013.
- ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
External links
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