Editing Greene County, Mississippi

{{short description|County in Mississippi, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Greene County
 | state                = Mississippi
 | ex image             = Leaksville Junior High School.jpg
 | ex image size        = 220px
 | ex image cap         = Leaksville Junior High School
 | seal                 = 
 | founded              = 1811
 | seat wl              = Leakesville
 | largest city wl      = Leakesville
 | city type            = town
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 719
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 713
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 5.9
 | area percentage      = 0.8
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 13530
 | pop_est_as_of        = 
 | population_est       = 
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | web                  = www.greenecountyms.gov
 | district             = 4th
 | time zone            = Central
 | named for            = [[Nathanael Greene]]
}}

'''Greene County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located on the southeast border of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Mississippi]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 13,530.<ref>{{cite web|title=Census - Geography Profile: Greene County, Mississippi|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Greene_County,_Mississippi?g=0500000US28041|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 8, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Leakesville, Mississippi|Leakesville]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> Established in 1811, the county was named for General [[Nathanael Greene]] of the [[American Revolutionary War]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9V1IAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA143 | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=143}}</ref>

==History==
Historically this area of the state was occupied by the [[Choctaw people]], who constituted the largest tribe. French, Spanish and English colonists traded with them in the early colonial years. in 1830, President [[Andrew Jackson]] gained passage of the [[Indian Removal Act]] by Congress, and proceeded to force the Choctaw and other of the [[Five Civilized Tribes]] out of the Southeast to lands west of the Mississippi River. The land was sold to European-American settlers.

County boundaries went through numerous changes as population increased and new counties were created. Along with neighboring [[Jones County, Mississippi|Jones]] and [[Perry County, Mississippi|Perry]] counties, Greene is characterized by its sandy soil and [[Piney Woods]]. These characteristics limited the productivity of farming.<ref name="ball4"/>

The county economy originally depended on subsistence farmers who ran herds of cattle and hogs, which were allowed to roam freely in the pine forests and bush. Together with the game they hunted, residents sold the meat animals to markets in [[Mobile, Alabama]], the nearest commercial center.<ref name="ball">{{cite web|url=https://www.greenecountyheraldonline.com/2017/08/04/the-history-of-greene-county-part-1/|title=THE HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY – Part 1|work=Greene County Herald|last=Ball|first=Brooks|date=August 4, 2017|access-date=October 2, 2019}}</ref> While some farmers tried to cultivate cotton because of the high prices when the market was strong, most in this area had small farms and the owners held few enslaved African Americans. The soil did not support very successful cotton crops; in 1860 only 16 of the 213 farmers in this county raised cotton.<ref name="ball4">{{cite web|url=https://www.greenecountyheraldonline.com/2017/08/04/history-of-greene-county-part-4-the-civil-war-years/|title=History of Greene County – Part 4 (the Civil War years ) |last=Ball|first=Brooks|work=Greene County Herald|date=August 4, 2017|access-date=October 3, 2019}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|719|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|713|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|5.9|sqmi}} (0.8%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_28.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928074019/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_28.txt |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 28, 2013 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=November 3, 2014 |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files }}</ref>

===Major highways===
* [[Image:US 45.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 45]]
* [[Image:US 98.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 98]]
* [[Image:Circle sign 42.svg|20px]] [[Mississippi Highway 42]]
* [[Image:Circle sign 57.svg|20px]] [[Mississippi Highway 57]]
* [[Image:Circle sign 63.svg|20px]] [[Mississippi Highway 63]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Wayne County, Mississippi|Wayne County]] (north)
* [[Washington County, Alabama]] (northeast)
* [[Mobile County, Alabama]] (southeast)
* [[George County, Mississippi|George County]] (south)
* [[Perry County, Mississippi|Perry County]] (west)

===National [[protected area]]===
* [[De Soto National Forest]] (part)

==Demographics==
The rural county had strong declines in population from 1940 to 1960, a period when many African Americans left for the West Coast in the second wave of the [[Great Migration (African American)|Great Migration]]. The buildup of defense industries in California and other states before and during World War II attracted many migrants for work opportunities.

{{US Census population
|1820= 1345
|1830= 1854
|1840= 1636
|1850= 2018
|1860= 2232
|1870= 2038
|1880= 3194
|1890= 3906
|1900= 6795
|1910= 6050
|1920= 10430
|1930= 10644
|1940= 9512
|1950= 8215
|1960= 8366
|1970= 8545
|1980= 9827
|1990= 10220
|2000= 13299
|2010= 14400
|2020= 13530
|estyear=2023
|estimate=13601
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 5, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 3, 2014}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=November 3, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ms190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 3, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 3, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2013<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/28/28041.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 3, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607050511/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/28/28041.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref>
}}

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 13,299 people, 4,148 households, and 3,152 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|19|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 4,947 housing units at an average density of {{convert|7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 72.79% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 26.18% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.23% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.07% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.31% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.38% from two or more races. 0.80% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 4,148 households, out of which 37.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.20% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.00% were non-families. 22.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.10% under the age of 18, 13.10% from 18 to 24, 32.10% from 25 to 44, 20.60% from 45 to 64, and 10.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 130.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 141.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,336, and the median income for a family was $33,037. Males had a median income of $30,189 versus $17,935 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $11,868. About 16.50% of families and 19.60% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 25.30% of those under age 18 and 21.10% of those age 65 or over.

===2015===
{{as of|2015}} the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Greene County, Mississippi are:
* African - 26.18%
* English - 18.9%
* American - 17.6%
* Irish - 7.9%
* German - 4.9%
* Scots-Irish - 4.0%
* Scottish - 3.4%
* French (except Basque) - 1.5%
* Dutch - 1.1%
* Italian - 0.7%
* Welsh - 0.4%
* French-Canadian - 0.1%
* Russian - 0.1%
* Norwegian - 0.1%<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_5YR/DP02/0500000US28041|title=American FactFinder - Results|publisher=United States Census Bureau|website=factfinder.census.gov|access-date=March 3, 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213040333/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_5YR/DP02/0500000US28041|archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Greene County racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US28041&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 16, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|9,809
|72.5%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|3,143
|23.23%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|60
|0.44%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|21
|0.16%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|3
|0.02%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|323
|2.39%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|171
|1.26%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 13,530 people, 3,925 households, and 2,624 families residing in the county.

==Government and infrastructure==
The [[Mississippi Department of Corrections]] [[South Mississippi Correctional Institution]] is located in an [[unincorporated area|unincorporated]] area of Greene County;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st28_ms/county/c28041_greene/DC20BLK_C28041.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Greene County, MS|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2022-08-12|page=4 (PDF p. 5/9)|quote=South Mississippi Correctional Instn}}</ref> it has a Leakesville postal address.<ref name="Stateprisons">"[http://www.mdoc.state.ms.us/division_of_institutions%20State%20Prisons.htm State Prisons] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021206092421/http://www.mdoc.state.ms.us/division_of_institutions%20State%20Prisons.htm |date=2002-12-06 }}." [[Mississippi Department of Corrections]]. Retrieved on May 21, 2010.</ref><ref>"[http://www.mdoc.state.ms.us/mdoc%20quick%20reference.htm MDOC QUICK REFERENCE]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20050324032025/http://www.mdoc.state.ms.us/mdoc%20quick%20reference.htm Archive]). [[Mississippi Department of Corrections]]. Retrieved on May 21, 2010.</ref> It opened in 1990. In the early 21st century, it has an inmate population of more than 3,000 men, which has added markedly to the total population of the county. Its inmates constitute approximately 21 percent of the state's total prisoners. Numerous residents of the rural county are employed at the prison.

Greene County has, since the 1970s, been a solid Republican stronghold. The last Democratic presidential candidate to carry the county was [[Jimmy Carter]] in 1976.

{{PresHead|place=Greene County, Mississippi|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 3, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|4,776|835|38|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|4,794|966|52|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|4,335|974|60|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|4,531|1,325|66|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|4,361|1,366|62|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|3,850|1,421|28|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|3,082|1,317|37|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|1,947|1,347|331|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|2,406|1,664|566|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,837|1,637|496|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,744|1,297|21|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,772|1,740|29|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,538|2,127|105|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,884|513|56|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|132|449|2,744|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|1,845|216|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1960|Dixiecrat|247|550|781|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|351|734|144|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|506|1,247|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1948|Dixiecrat|14|118|886|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|109|907|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|66|926|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|46|830|3|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|29|818|1|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|342|593|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|31|456|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|24|337|3|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|32|399|4|Mississippi}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|13|268|30|Mississippi}}

==Communities==

===Towns===
* [[Leakesville, Mississippi|Leakesville]] (county seat)
* [[McLain, Mississippi|McLain]]
* [[State Line, Mississippi|State Line]] (partly in [[Wayne County, Mississippi|Wayne County]])

===[[Census-designated places]]===
* [[Leaf, Mississippi|Leaf]]

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Avera, Mississippi|Avera]]
* [[Neely, Mississippi|Neely]]
* [[Piave, Mississippi|Piave]]
* [[Sand Hill, Greene County, Mississippi|Sand Hill]]
* [[Vernal, Mississippi|Vernal]]

==Education==
[[Greene County School District (Mississippi)|Greene County School District]] is the only school district.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st28_ms/schooldistrict_maps/c28041_greene/DC20SD_C28041.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220801005907/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st28_ms/schooldistrict_maps/c28041_greene/DC20SD_C28041.pdf |archive-date=August 1, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Greene County, MS|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 31, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st28_ms/schooldistrict_maps/c28041_greene/DC20SD_C28041_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

The Greene County School District includes: Greene County High School, Greene County Vocational-Technical School, Leakesville Elementary School, Leakesville Junior High School, McLain Attendance Center, and Sand Hill Attendance Center.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.greene.k12.ms.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15&Itemid=51|title=Greene County School District|website=www.greene.k12.ms.us|access-date=March 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303225527/http://www.greene.k12.ms.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15&Itemid=51|archive-date=March 3, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The county is in the zone for [[Jones College (Mississippi)|Jones College]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jcjc.edu/about/profile.php|title=Profile|publisher=[[Jones College (Mississippi)|Jones College]]|access-date=2024-09-27}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Mississippi}}
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Greene County, Mississippi]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Greene County, Mississippi}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070311022625/http://www.mississippicourthouses.com/Greene/ Mississippi Courthouses – Greene County]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Greene County, Mississippi
|North     = [[Wayne County, Mississippi|Wayne County]]
|Northeast = [[Washington County, Alabama]]
|East      =
|Southeast = [[Mobile County, Alabama]]
|South     = [[George County, Mississippi|George County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Perry County, Mississippi|Perry County]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{Greene County, Mississippi}}
{{Mississippi}}
{{authority control}}

{{coord|31.22|-88.64|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MS_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Greene County, Mississippi| ]]
[[Category:Mississippi counties]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1811]]
[[Category:1811 establishments in Mississippi Territory]]