Mississippi County, Arkansas
Mississippi County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 46,480. There are two county seats, Blytheville and Osceola. The county was formed on November 1, 1833, and named for the Mississippi River which borders the county to the east. Mississippi County is part of the First Congressional District in Arkansas. The Mississippi County Judge is John Alan Nelson.
The Blytheville, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Mississippi County.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water.Major highways
- Interstate 55
- U.S. Highway 61
- Highway 14
- Highway 18
- Highway 18 Business
- Highway 77
- Highway 118
- Highway 119
- Highway 135
- Highway 136
- Highway 137
- Highway 137 Spur
- Highway 140
- Highway 150
- Highway 151
- Highway 158
- Highway 181
- Highway 239
- Highway 239 Spur
- Highway 947
Adjacent counties
- Dunklin County, Missouri
- Pemiscot County, Missouri
- Dyer County, Tennessee
- Lauderdale County, Tennessee
- Tipton County, Tennessee
- Crittenden County
- Poinsett County
- Craighead County
National protected area
- Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Demographics
As of the 2000 census, there were 51,979 people, 19,349 households, and 13,911 families living in the county. The population density was 58 people per square mile. There were 22,310 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 64.45% White, 32.70% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.07% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. 2.25% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 19,349 households out of which 36.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.00% were married couples living together, 17.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 24.70% 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 2.64 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the county, the population was spread out with 29.60% under the age of 18, 9.90% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 20.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 91.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,479, and the median income for a family was $32,648. Males had a median income of $29,645 versus $19,782 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,978. About 19.00% of families and 23.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.10% of those under age 18 and 19.80% of those age 65 or over.
Government
While a traditionally Democratic area, Mississippi County has voted Republican in the past three presidential elections.Year | GOP | Dem | Others |
2016 | 53.48% 7,061 | 42.94% 5,670 | 3.58% 473 |
2012 | 49.37% 6,603 | 48.35% 6,467 | 2.28% 305 |
2008 | 49.79% 6,976 | 47.59% 6,667 | 2.62% 367 |
2004 | 43.25% 6,121 | 53.65% 7,593 | 3.10% 439 |
2000 | 41.31% 5,199 | 56.47% 7,107 | 2.22% 280 |
1996 | 29.36% 3,919 | 62.19% 8,301 | 8.44% 1,127 |
1992 | 29.43% 4,697 | 62.94% 10,046 | 7.64% 1,219 |
1988 | 52.67% 7,841 | 45.40% 6,759 | 1.93% 288 |
1984 | 57.30% 10,180 | 42.49% 7,548 | 0.21% 38 |
1980 | 43.67% 7,170 | 54.26% 8,908 | 2.07% 339 |
1976 | 36.80% 6,009 | 63.03% 10,292 | 0.17% 27 |
1972 | 74.73% 10,931 | 24.23% 3,544 | 1.04% 152 |
1968 | 28.17% 4,369 | 32.19% 4,993 | 39.64% 6,147 |
1964 | 41.67% 6,213 | 58.20% 8,678 | 0.13% 20 |
1960 | 47.08% 4,983 | 48.54% 5,138 | 4.38% 464 |
1956 | 38.97% 4,269 | 58.68% 6,428 | 2.36% 258 |
1952 | 39.65% 4,586 | 60.24% 6,968 | 0.11% 13 |
1948 | 12.17% 771 | 59.40% 3,763 | 28.43% 1,801 |
1944 | 24.68% 1,292 | 75.22% 3,938 | 0.10% 5 |
1940 | 10.46% 616 | 89.24% 5,257 | 0.31% 18 |
1936 | 5.89% 303 | 93.94% 4,835 | 0.17% 9 |
1932 | 5.87% 364 | 93.12% 5,776 | 1.02% 63 |
1928 | 22.83% 1,324 | 76.75% 4,451 | 0.41% 24 |
1924 | 24.86% 703 | 72.10% 2,039 | 3.04% 86 |
1920 | 35.23% 1,050 | 60.70% 1,809 | 4.06% 121 |
1916 | 25.03% 417 | 74.97% 1,249 | 0.00% 0 |
1912 | 20.23% 263 | 59.00% 767 | 20.77% 270 |
1908 | 51.57% 1,167 | 41.10% 930 | 7.34% 166 |
1904 | 37.40% 417 | 61.79% 689 | 0.81% 9 |
1900 | 39.01% 378 | 60.99% 591 | 0.00% 0 |
1896 | 17.06% 168 | 82.74% 815 | 0.20% 2 |
Education
Public education
Mississippi County is home to the following public school districts, listed in order of student population:- Blytheville School District
- Osceola School District
- Gosnell School District
- Southern Mississippi County School District
- Manila School District
- Buffalo Island Central School District
- Armorel School District
Mississippi County is served by the Mississippi–Crittenden Regional Library System, which includes the Mississippi County Library System and 13 branch libraries in communities throughout the county.
Media
Radio
FM- FM 88.3 KBCM Blytheville
- FM 93.9 KAMJ Gosnell
- FM 96.3 KHLS Blytheville
- FM 103.7 KAIA K279BJ Blytheville
- FM 107.3 KQXF Osceola
- AM 860 KOSE Wilson
Print
- NEA Town Courier, Newspaper, Blytheville, Arkansas
- The Osceola Times, Newspaper, Osceola, Arkansas
Television
However some residents in county may watch stations from the,, or Television Markets.
Communities
Cities
- Blytheville
- Gosnell
- Joiner
- Keiser
- Leachville
- Manila
- Osceola
Towns
- Bassett
- Birdsong
- Burdette
- Dell
- Dyess
- Etowah
- Luxora
- Marie
- Victoria
- Wilson
Townships
- Big Lake
- Bowen
- Burdette
- Canadian
- Carson
- Chickasawba
- Dyess
- Fletcher
- Golden Lake
- Half Moon Lake
- Hector
- Little River
- McGavock
- Monroe
- Neal
- Scott
- Whitton