Crystal Springs, Mississippi

Crystal Springs, Mississippi
City

Crystal Springs, c. 1900-1940

Location of Crystal Springs, Mississippi
Coordinates: 31°59′17″N 90°21′24″W / 31.98806°N 90.35667°WCoordinates: 31°59′17″N 90°21′24″W / 31.98806°N 90.35667°W
Country United States
State Mississippi
County Copiah
Area
 • Total 5.5 sq mi (14.2 km2)
 • Land 5.4 sq mi (14.1 km2)
 • Water 0.04 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation 469 ft (143 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 5,044
 • Density 929/sq mi (358.8/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 39059
Area code(s) 601
FIPS code 28-17060
GNIS feature ID 0669000
Website cityofcrystalsprings.com

Crystal Springs is a city in Copiah County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 5,044 as of the 2010 census,[1] down from 5,873 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

Crystal Springs is located in northeastern Copiah County at 31°59′17″N 90°21′24″W / 31.98806°N 90.35667°W (31.987973, -90.356562).[2] U.S. Route 51 runs through the northwest part of the town, intersecting Interstate 55 at that highway's Exit 72. I-55 leads north 24 miles (39 km) to Jackson, the state capital, and 29 miles (47 km) south to Brookhaven.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.5 square miles (14.2 km2), of which 5.4 square miles (14.1 km2) is land and 0.039 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.96%, is water.[1]

Demographics

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 5,873 people, 2,118 households, and 1,503 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,090.7 people per square mile (421.5/km²). There were 2,326 housing units at an average density of 432.0 per square mile (166.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 42.99% Caucasian, 55.76% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.61% from other races, and 0.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.23% of the population.

There were 2,118 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.6% were married couples living together, 25.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.1% under the age of 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 86.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,846, and the median income for a family was $29,313. Males had a median income of $29,086 versus $18,969 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,111. About 26.5% of families and 31.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.2% of those under age 18 and 16.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Crystal Springs is served by the Copiah County School District. Copiah-Lincoln Community College is located in Wesson.

The Copiah-Jefferson Regional Library operates a branch in Crystal Springs.[4]

Controversy

In 1966 an African-American man named Eddie James Stewart was reportedly beaten and shot while in police custody in Crystal Springs, which the police stated occurred while Stewart was attempting to escape.[5] The Southern Poverty Law Center lists this death as being under circumstances suggesting the possibility of racially motivated violence.[5]

Crystal Springs recently was featured in national news headlines for the decision of the First Baptist Church to deny a black couple the use of their facilities for a planned wedding on very short notice. Select few highly influential members of the church objected to the couple marrying in the church because the wife-to-be was not a member, although she had attended the church before. The couple was informed of the decision by the pastor, Rev. Stan Weatherford, on the Thursday before the wedding which was planned for July 21, 2012. The pastor performed the wedding at a different church, and the members responsible for the objection were demanded by the majority of the congregation to step down from any and all leadership positions.[6]

Notable people

Famous natives of Crystal Springs include Larry Grantham, American Football League linebacker and member of the New York Jets (Super Bowl III champions); blues guitarists Tommy Johnson and Dexter Allen; Joseph W. Bailey (U.S. senator from Texas, 1901-1913); Pat Harrison, a Democratic member of the U.S. Congress in the 1920s and 1930s; and Alton D. Slay, four-star general in the United States Air Force.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Crystal Springs city, Mississippi". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
  2. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  3. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. ↑ "Homepage". Copiah-Jefferson Regional Library. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "The 'Forgotten'". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved 1 Aug 2012.
  6. ↑ "Predominantly white Baptist church in Mississippi closes door to black couple's wedding". The Clarion-Ledger. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012.