Lamar County, Mississippi

Lamar County, Mississippi

Lamar County Courthouse in Purvis
Map of Mississippi highlighting Lamar County
Location in the U.S. state of Mississippi
Map of the United States highlighting Mississippi
Mississippi's location in the U.S.
Founded 1904
Named for Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar
Seat Purvis
Largest city Hattiesburg
Area
 • Total 500 sq mi (1,295 km2)
 • Land 497 sq mi (1,287 km2)
 • Water 3.4 sq mi (9 km2), 0.7%
Population
 • (2010) 55,658
 • Density 112/sq mi (43/km²)
Congressional district 4th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.lamarcounty.com/11/index.php

Lamar County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2010 census, the population was 55,658.[1] Its county seat is Purvis.[2] Named for the post-Civil War Mississippi statesman Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar, the county was carved out of Marion County to the west in 1904.

Lamar County is part of the Hattiesburg, MS Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is largely a rural county, except for its northeast quarter.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 500 square miles (1,300 km2), of which 497 square miles (1,290 km2) is land and 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2) (0.7%) is water.[3]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
191011,741—
192012,8699.6%
193012,848−0.2%
194012,096−5.9%
195013,2259.3%
196013,6753.4%
197015,20911.2%
198023,82156.6%
199030,42427.7%
200039,07028.4%
201055,65842.5%
Est. 201560,618[4]8.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 39,070 people, 14,396 households, and 10,725 families residing in the county. The population density was 79 people per square mile (30/km²). There were 15,433 housing units at an average density of 31 per square mile (12/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 85.34% White, 12.90% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. 1.09% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Non-white residents of Lamar County are mostly, though not exclusively, found in urban West Hattiesburg.

There were 14,396 households out of which 38.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.60% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.50% were non-families. 20.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.10% 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 3.11.

In the county the population was spread out with 28.00% under the age of 18, 10.90% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 21.00% from 45 to 64, and 9.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 93.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,628, and the median income for a family was $44,611. Males had a median income of $32,791 versus $22,260 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,849. About 9.70% of families and 13.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.30% of those under age 18 and 17.00% of those age 65 or over.

The wealthiest area of Lamar County is Oak Grove. Some celebrities reside in Oak Grove, like Brett Favre.

Lamar County has the third highest per capita income in the State of Mississippi.

Politics

Lamar County, historically, is one of the most conservative counties in Mississippi. The county has voted for Republican candidates with 60 percent or more of the vote in the past 7 elections.

Lamar County Presidential elections results[10]
Year Winner Loser Other
Year Republican Democratic Other
2012 76.7% 22.1% 1.2%
2008 77.4% 21.6% 1.0%
2004 80.2% 19.2% 0.6%
2000 77.1% 21.0% 1.9%
1996 67.4% 24.8% 7.2%
1992 63.4% 24.6% 12.0%
1988 77.9% 21.6% 0.6%

Government and infrastructure

The Mississippi Department of Mental Health operates the South Mississippi State Hospital in unincorporated Lamar County, near Purvis.[11]

Communities

Cities

Town

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  4. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  5. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  9. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  10. ↑ "Election results". Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Contact Us." South Mississippi State Hospital. Retrieved on November 1, 2010. "South Mississippi State Hospital 823 Highway 589 Purvis, MS 39475."
 Jefferson Davis County Covington County
Marion County Forrest County
   Lamar County, Mississippi  
Pearl River County

Coordinates: 31°13′N 89°31′W / 31.21°N 89.51°W / 31.21; -89.51

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