Pearl River County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. The population was 56,145 at the 2020 census. Its county seat is Poplarville. Pearl River County comprises the Picayune, MS Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the New Orleans-Metairie-Hammond, LA-MS Combined Statistical Area. Pearl River County is a dry county, and as such, the sale, transportation, and even private possession of beverage alcohol is prohibited by law,Mississippi Code §67-1-9, §67-3-13. except within Picayune and Poplarville.
History Pearl River County was originally formed as Pearl County in 1872 from portions of Hancock and Marion Counties. Because of low population density and a small tax base, Pearl County dissolved in 1878. Present-day Pearl River County was organized in 1890 by an act of the Mississippi Legislature utilizing the same land area as its predecessor Pearl County.
On the night of April 24, 1959, Mack Charles Parker, an African-American accused of rape, was abducted from the Pearl River County jail in Poplarville by a mob and shot to death. His body was found in the Pearl River 10 days later. The FBI investigated and even obtained confessions from some of the eight suspects. However, the county prosecutor refused to present evidence to a state grand jury and a federal grand jury refused to indict. The case focused national attention on the persistence of lynching in the South and helped accelerate the American Civil Rights Movement.
On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina inflicted heavy damage on the small town of Poplarville. The storm's most powerful, unofficially recorded gust of wind was reported at Pearl River Community College, at . On September 2, 2005, the 1st Battalion, 134th Field Artillery (Ohio Army National Guard) arrived at the National Guard armory in Poplarville to assist the community and Pearl River County in recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Initial efforts were the security of banks, pharmacies and gas stations as well as initial responses to rural emergencies. The unit stayed for three weeks ultimately checking on every family and structure in the county. On September 5, 2005, Poplarville played host to a visit by George W. Bush, Laura Bush, and Governor Haley Barbour to Pearl River Community College in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.0%) is water. It is the fourth-largest county in Mississippi by land area.
Major highways Interstate 59 U.S. Highway 11 Mississippi Highway 13 Mississippi Highway 26 Mississippi Highway 43 Mississippi Highway 53 Mississippi Highway 607
Adjacent counties and parishes Lamar County (north) Forrest County (northeast) Stone County (east) Hancock County (south) St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana (southwest) Washington Parish, Louisiana (west) Marion County (northwest)
National protected areas Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge (part) De Soto National Forest (part)
Media
Newspaper Picayune's local newspaper is the Picayune Item.
Radio The local radio station is WRJW 1320-AM.
Television and Radio stations of New Orleans and Biloxi/Gulfport listening areas are part of Picayune area.
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition +Pearl River County, Mississippi – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)28,39132,67041,18145,91144,10184.01%84.39%84.70%82.23%78.55%Black or African American alone (NH)5,0115,5225,8886,8536,66614.83%14.26%12.11%12.27%11.87%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)531412122812560.16%0.36%0.44%0.50%0.46%Asian alone (NH)42791302222750.12%0.20%0.27%0.40%0.49%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census12310xx0.02%0.06%0.00%Other race alone (NH)15239481650.04%0.01%0.08%0.09%0.29%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census4738522,398xx0.97%1.53%4.27%Hispanic or Latino (any race)2833006861,6362,2840.84%0.77%1.41%2.93%4.07%Total33,79538,71448,62155,83456,145 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%
2020 census As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 56,145. The median age was 41.6 years. 22.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.6 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 79.9% White, 12.0% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.2% from some other race, and 5.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.1% of the population.
29.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 71.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 21,703 households in the county, of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.3% were married-couple households, 18.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 24,641 housing units, of which 11.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.8% were owner-occupied and 24.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.9%.
2010 census As of the 2010 census Pearl River County had a population of 55,834. The ethnic and racial make-up of the population was 82.2% non-Hispanic white, 12.3% African-American, 0.6% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.1% non-Hispanic from some other race, 1.7% from two or more races (0.5% reporting being white and black) and 2.9% Hispanic or Latino.2010 census report for Pearl River County
2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 48,621 people, 18,078 households, and 13,576 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 20,610 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 85.55% White, 12.18% Black or African American, 0.50% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. 1.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 18,078 households, out of which 34.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.30% were married couples living together, 12.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.90% were non-families. 21.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.00% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 27.10% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,912, and the median income for a family was $35,924. Males had a median income of $30,370 versus $21,519 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,160. About 15.50% of families and 18.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.60% of those under age 18 and 12.50% of those age 65 or over.
Government Supervisors District 1: Donald Hart District 2: Malcolm Perry District 3: Cruz Russell District 4: Jason Spence District 5: Bryce Lott
Countywide Elected Officials Sheriff - David Allison Circuit Clerk - Nance Fitzpatrick Stokes Chancery Clerk - Melinda Smith Bowman Tax Assessor/Collector - Gary Beech County Prosecutor - Michael E. Patten Coroner - Derek Turnage County Court Judge - Richelle Lumpkin State Legislature Senator Angela Burks-Hill - District 40 Senator Joseph "Mike" Seymour - District 47 Rep. Jansen Owen - District 106 Rep. Stacey Hobgood-Wilkes - District 108 Rep. Timmy Ladner - District 93
Communities Cities Lumberton (mostly in Lamar County) Picayune Poplarville (county seat)
Census-designated places Hide-A-Way Lake Nicholson
Other unincorporated communities Caesar Carriere McNeill
Education School districts include: - Text list - In 2020 there were four school districts Lamar County School District Pearl River County School District Picayune School District Poplarville Separate School District
Former school districts: - Text list - In 2010 there were four school districts, but at the time Lumberton district had territory in the county while Lamar County district did not have any. Lumberton Public School District - Merged into the Lamar County district in 2018.
The county is in the service area of Pearl River Community College.
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Pearl River County, Mississippi
References
External links