Noxubee County, Mississippi

Noxubee County, Mississippi
Noxubee County courthouse in Macon
Location in the state of Mississippi
Mississippi's location in the U.S.
Founded	1833
Seat	Macon
Largest city	Macon
Area
• Total	700 sq mi (1,813 km^2)
• Land	695 sq mi (1,800 km^2)
• Water	4.8 sq mi (12 km^2), 0.7%
Population
• (2010)	11,545
• Density	17/sq mi (7/km²)
Congressional district	3rd
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5

Noxubee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2010 census, the population was 11,545.^[1] Its county seat is Macon.^[2] The name is derived from the Choctaw word nakshobi meaning to stink.^[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 700 square miles (1,800 km²), of which 695 square miles (1,800 km²) is land and 4.8 square miles (12 km²) (0.7%) is water.^[4]

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 45
• Mississippi Highway 14
• Mississippi Highway 21
• Mississippi Highway 39

Adjacent counties

• Lowndes County (north)
• Pickens County, Alabama (east)
• Sumter County, Alabama (southeast)
• Kemper County (south)
• Winston County (west)
• Oktibbeha County (northwest)

National protected area

• Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1840	9,975		—
1850	16,299		63.4%
1860	20,667		26.8%
1870	20,905		1.2%
1880	29,874		42.9%
1890	27,338		−8.5%
1900	30,846		12.8%
1910	28,503		−7.6%
1920	23,710		−16.8%
1930	25,560		7.8%
1940	25,669		0.4%
1950	20,022		−22.0%
1960	16,826		−16.0%
1970	14,288		−15.1%
1980	13,212		−7.5%
1990	12,604		−4.6%
2000	12,548		−0.4%
2010	11,545		−8.0%
Est. 2014	11,115	[5]	−3.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8] 1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 11,545 people residing in the county. 71.6% were Black or African American, 27.1% White, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% Native American, 0.4% of some other race and 0.5% of two or more races. 0.8% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

As of the census^[10] of 2000, there were 12,548 people, 4,470 households, and 3,222 families residing in the county. The population density was 18 people per square mile (7/km²). There were 5,228 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 69.30% Black, 29.49% White, 0.15% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.37% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. 1.12% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,470 households out of which 35.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.00% were married couples living together, 24.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.90% were non-families. 25.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.36.

In the county the population was spread out with 30.70% under the age of 18, 10.30% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 19.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 90.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $22,330, and the median income for a family was $27,312. Males had a median income of $25,008 versus $17,636 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,018. About 29.20% of families and 32.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 43.60% of those under age 18 and 25.30% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Noxubee County is within the service area of the East Mississippi Community College system.^[11] The system offers classes in the Macon Extension at Noxubee County High School in Macon.^[12]

Recent news

In 2005, the U.S. Department of Justice began an investigation and the following year filed suit under the Voting Rights Act alleging that the chairman of the Noxubee County Democratic Party, Ike Brown, had conspired to orchestrate "relentless racial discrimination" against white voters.^[13][14]

On August 27, 2007, the Court entered a remedial order in United States v. Brown (S.D. Miss) On Friday, June 29, 2007 U.S. District Judge Tom S. Lee ruled that Mississippi's Noxubee County Democratic Party leader, Ike Brown (a twice-convicted felon), in conjunction with the Noxubee Democratic Executive Committee, had "manipulated the political process in ways specifically intended and designed to impair and impede participation of white voters and to dilute their votes".

The 104-page opinion held that the Voting Rights Act is a colorblind statute and protects all voters from racial discrimination, regardless of the race of the voter. The Court ruled that the Noxubee County Democratic Party had an illegal intent to discriminate against white voters in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The United States entered in a consent decree with the Noxubee County superintendent of general elections, administrator of absentee ballots, registrar, and the county government. The consent decree prohibited a wide range of discriminatory and illegal voting practices, and required these officials to report such incidents if they received information that they were continuing. This consent decree was approved by the district court and filed simultaneously with the filing of the complaint. Ike Brown boasted that he had not signed his name to anything.^[13][15]

Communities

City

• Macon (county seat)

Towns

• Brooksville
• Shuqualak

Unincorporated communities

• Bigbee Valley
• Gholson
• Mashulaville
• Paulette
• Prairie Point

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Noxubee County, Mississippi
• Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
3. Byington, Cyrus (1909). Choctaw Language Dictionary. Global Bible Society.
4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
5. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
10. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
11. "CATALOG 2007-09, eastms.edu. 3 (3/147); retrieved March 1, 2011.
12. CATALOG 2007-09, eastms.edu, 10 (10/147); retrieved on March 1, 2011.
13. Nossiter, Adam (2006-10-11). "U.S. Says Blacks in Mississippi Suppress White Vote". The New York Times.
14. Shapiro, Ari (2005-11-14). "White Voters in Mississippi Allege Voting Discrimination" (audio). National Public Radio.
15. Court decision re Noxubee County, Mississippi voting rights, adversity.net; accessed November 23, 2014.

Coordinates: 33°07′N 88°34′W / 33.11°N 88.57°W