Terry, Mississippi

Terry, Mississippi
Town

Downtown Terry

Location of Terry, Mississippi
Coordinates: 32°6′5″N 90°17′40″W / 32.10139°N 90.29444°WCoordinates: 32°6′5″N 90°17′40″W / 32.10139°N 90.29444°W
Country United States
State Mississippi
County Hinds
Area
 • Total 2.3 sq mi (6.0 km2)
 • Land 2.3 sq mi (6.0 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation 292 ft (89 m)
Population (United States Census, 2010)
 • Total 1,063
 • Density 287.4/sq mi (111.0/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 39170
Area code(s) 601
FIPS code 28-72680
GNIS feature ID 0678644
Historical marker in downtown Terry.

Terry is a town in Hinds County, Mississippi. The population was 1,063 at the 2010 census. It is located near Interstate 55, about 15 miles southwest of Jackson and located in Supervisors District Five of Hinds County. The town is part of the Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The area to become known as "Terry" was first settled in 1811 by settlers from Virginia. In 1867, the town of Terry was established when the railroad was built through the area. For a number of years, Terry was the home of Mississippi governor Albert G. Brown. The town of Terry, originally known as Dry Grove, changed its name in honor of W. D. Terry, whose land the town was built on. This information comes from the bronze plaque in the town's center at Utica and Cunningham Streets.[1]

Geography

Terry is located at 32°6′5″N 90°17′40″W / 32.10139°N 90.29444°W (32.101443, -90.294572).[2]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 km2), all land.

Demographics

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 1,063 people, 407 households, and 289 families residing in the town. The population density was 287.4 people per square mile (111.0/km²). There were 288 housing units at an average density of 124.7 per square mile (48.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 38.90% White, 59.30% African American, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.70% of the population.

There were 407 households out of which 37.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 25.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the town the population was spread out with 31.6% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.6 years. For every 100 females there were 79.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 69.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,192, and the median income for a family was $35,875. Males had a median income of $25,781 versus $24,167 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,011. About 17.0% of families and 16.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.6% of those under age 18 and 18.5% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Roderick "Rod" Nicholson is the current mayor. The Board of Aldermen includes Virginia Smith Bailey, Joseph Kendrick, Elzena Kitchens Johnson, Bonnie Holly, and Doris Young. These town officers are elected every four years in non-partisan elections, that is they are independent of any party labels.

Two Hinds County officials are from the Terry area: Pearlie B. Owens (Justice Court Judge for District Five), and Bennie Buckner (Constable for District Five).

The state senator representing the district that includes Terry is David Blount. Terry is represented by both Brad Oberhousen and Greggory Holloway in the state House of Representatives.

Education

The Town of Terry is served by the Hinds County School District and is home to Terry High School. Pharmistist J. W. Combs was the president of the board of trustees for many years.

The football field at the high school is named after B. C. Lee.

Media

The Terry News is published monthly and provides local news and information about church and other events in Terry and the surrounding area. The newspaper includes a column by Mayor Nicholson and is mailed to every household in the 39170 zip code.

Places of worship

There are several church buildings of note in Terry. The First Baptist Church (formerly Terry Baptist Church) is the largest of the houses of worship. The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepard is located near where the town's water tower once stood. This building was a hospital during the Civil War. A grave lies behind the church. It supposedly belongs to a Gypsy girl who fell out of her wagon when the Gypsies were not allowed to drive through the middle of town.

One former church which has closed but served the town for many years is the Terry United Methodist Church.

A smaller church, located in the middle of a neighborhood, is known as Little Bethel C.M.E. Church. The pastor is James Lofton and the superintendent is Nathan Slater.

Notable people

Terry is the birthplace of influential blues musician Tommy Johnson, who had claimed to have sold his soul to the devil at a secluded Mississippi crossroads in exchange for fame and fortune, a legend that was later popularized by its attribution to bluesman Robert Johnson.

Other persons of note who have lived in Terry include author Rick Bass, former chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party Rickey Cole, and Bobby DeLaughter, prosecutor in the Byron De La Beckwith murder trial.

R.B. Walden, an attorney who served as director of the Louisiana Department of Hospitals and the mayor of Winnsboro, Louisiana, from 1926–1934, was born in Terry in 1901.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Brieger, James (1997). Hometown, Mississippi. Town Square Books, Inc. ISBN 1-886017-27-1.
  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. ↑ "Walden, R.B.". Louisiana Historical Association, A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography (lahistory.org). Retrieved December 28, 2010.
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