Editing Houston, Mississippi

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Houston, Mississippi
|settlement_type          = [[City]] 
|image_skyline            = Chickasaw County Courthouse.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = [[Chickasaw County Courthouse (Mississippi)|Chickasaw County Courthouse]] in Houston
|image_flag               = Flag of Houston, Mississippi.png
|image_seal               = 
|image_map = Chickasaw_County_Mississippi_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Houston_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Houston, Mississippi
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
| pushpin_map = USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States
|subdivision_type     = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name     = United States
|subdivision_type1    = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1    = [[Mississippi]]
|subdivision_type2    = [[List of counties in Mississippi|County]]
|subdivision_name2    = [[Chickasaw County, Mississippi|Chickasaw]]
|government_type      = 
|leader_title         = 
|leader_name          = 
|leader_title1        = 
|leader_name1         = 
|established_title    = 
|established_date     = 
|unit_pref            = Imperial
|area_footnotes       = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_28.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 24, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude       = 
|area_total_km2       = 19.15
|area_land_km2        = 19.11
|area_water_km2       = 0.05
|area_total_sq_mi     = 7.40
|area_land_sq_mi      = 7.38
|area_water_sq_mi     = 0.02
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 3797
|population_density_km2   = 198.74
|population_density_sq_mi = 514.71
|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_m              = 108
|elevation_ft             = 354
|coordinates              = {{coord|33|53|53|N|89|00|06|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 38851
|area_code                = [[Area code 662|662]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 28-33900
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0693543<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|693543}}</ref>
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|pop_est_footnotes        = 
|population_est           = 
|website                  = {{URL|www.houston.ms.gov}}
}}
'''Houston''' is a city and one of two [[county seat]]s of [[Chickasaw County, Mississippi|Chickasaw County]], in northeastern [[Mississippi]], United States.<ref>{{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> The population was 3,623 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]].

==History==
[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] groups had long used the future Chickasaw County for millennia before the coming of European adventurers. Eventually the natives were essentially forced out of the area. An [[Treaty of Pontotoc Creek|1832 treaty]] finally made the area secure for settlement, and emigrants rapidly moved in. The formation of Chickasaw County was authorized on February 9, 1836, and a few days later a committee was authorized to determine the location of the county seat. Judge Joel Pinson offered to donate land for development of this seat, and on July 8, 1836, his offer was accepted. Pinson named the settlement Houston in honor of [[Sam Houston]], a childhood friend.

Construction began that year on a brick courthouse on the village square, and a jail one block north. The city of Houston was incorporated on May 9, 1837, and its first post office was authorized on December 5 of that same year. This means that Houston, Mississippi actually predates [[Houston|Houston, Texas]], because the latter was incorporated one month later, on June 5, 1837.

The [[American Civil War|Civil War]] brought widespread ruin and loss to the county, including an incident when Union troops burned nearly all the county's records as workers tried to move them out for safekeeping. During the following decade, the nearly-moribund economy slowly recovered, but poor roads across the area continued to hamper commerce and daily life. To address this shortcoming, in 1866 the state authorized a second judicial district to be based in Okolona, while allowing the existing facilities in Houston to continue. Thus, the county became one of the few in the nation to host two bases for its court system.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msgw.org/chickasaw/chickasawcohistory.html|title=Chickasawco History|website=Msgw.org|access-date=June 22, 2023}}</ref>

In 1909, Houston became home to the first [[Carnegie library]] in the state, after local school superintendent L. B. Reid's request for a public library was approved by philanthropist [[Andrew Carnegie]], who had created a matching program for libraries. Also in 1909, an African American man, Robbie Daskin, was [[Lynching in the United States|lynched]] for allegedly killing a preacher.<ref>{{cite news |title=Judge Lynch claimed 90 victims in 1909 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43968457/judge_lynch_claimed_90_victims_in_1909/ |access-date=10 February 2020 |via=newspapers.com |newspaper=The Anniston Star |date=Dec 18, 1909 |location=Anniston, Alabama |pages=1}}</ref>

Houston hosts the Mississippi Flywheel Festival in April and September of every year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.natcheztracetravel.com/festivals-events/event/14-mississippi-valley-flywheel-festival.html|title=Mississippi Valley Flywheel Festival|website=NatchezTraceTravel.com|access-date=June 22, 2023}}</ref>

==Geography==
Houston is located west of the center of Chickasaw County. [[Mississippi Highway 8]] passes through the city, leading east {{convert|29|mi}} to [[Aberdeen, Mississippi|Aberdeen]] and west {{convert|18|mi}} to [[Calhoun City, Mississippi|Calhoun City]]. [[Mississippi Highway 15]] bypasses the city to the west, crossing Highway 8 within a western extension of the city limits. Highway 15 leads north {{convert|26|mi}} to [[Pontotoc, Mississippi|Pontotoc]] and south {{convert|27|mi}} to [[Mathiston, Mississippi|Mathiston]]. The [[Natchez Trace Parkway]] passes about {{convert|3|mi|0}} east of the city center; the Trace followed an ancient Native American trail.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|19.15|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|19.11|km2|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.05|km2|disp=flip|2}}, or 0.25%, is water.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US2833900| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212191410/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US2833900| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020|title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Houston city, Mississippi|publisher=US Census Bureau – American Factfinder|access-date=October 3, 2014}}</ref>

===Climate===
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.  According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Houston has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=562422&cityname=Houston,+Mississippi,+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Houston, Mississippi Koppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase.com|access-date=June 22, 2023}}</ref>

{{Weather box   <!-- Infobox begins -->
| single line = Y
| location    = Houston, Mississippi (1991–2020)
<!-- Average high temperatures -->
| Jan high F  =52.6
| Feb high F  =57.5
| Mar high F  =66.4
| Apr high F  =74.0
| May high F  =81.6
| Jun high F  =88.2
| Jul high F  =90.2
| Aug high F  =90.6
| Sep high F  =86.1
| Oct high F  =76.1
| Nov high F  =64.2
| Dec high F  =55.4
<!-- Mean daily temperature -->
| Jan mean F  =42.5
| Feb mean F  =46.3
| Mar mean F  =54.6
| Apr mean F  =62.0
| May mean F  =70.4
| Jun mean F  =77.7
| Jul mean F  =80.3
| Aug mean F  =79.6
| Sep mean F  =74.2
| Oct mean F  =63.0
| Nov mean F  =52.2
| Dec mean F  =45.1
<!-- Average low temperatures -->
| Jan low F  =32.3
| Feb low F  =35.1
| Mar low F  =42.8
| Apr low F  =49.9
| May low F  =59.1
| Jun low F  =67.2
| Jul low F  =70.3
| Aug low F  =68.6
| Sep low F  =62.3
| Oct low F  =50.0
| Nov low F  =40.2
| Dec low F  =34.9
<!-- Total precipitation, this should include rain and snow. -->
| precipitation colour    =  green
| Jan precipitation inch  =5.12
| Feb precipitation inch  =5.80
| Mar precipitation inch  =5.14
| Apr precipitation inch  =6.08
| May precipitation inch  =5.67
| Jun precipitation inch  =5.59
| Jul precipitation inch  =4.13
| Aug precipitation inch  =4.66
| Sep precipitation inch  =3.49
| Oct precipitation inch  =3.36
| Nov precipitation inch  =4.50
| Dec precipitation inch  =5.80
<!-- Snowfall -->
| Jan snow inch  =0.6
| Feb snow inch  =0.2
| Mar snow inch  =0.0
| Apr snow inch  =0.0
| May snow inch  =0.0
| Jun snow inch  =0.0
| Jul snow inch  =0.0
| Aug snow inch  =0.0
| Sep snow inch  =0.0
| Oct snow inch  =0.0
| Nov snow inch  =0.0
| Dec snow inch  =0.0
<!-- Mandatory fields, source -->
| source = NOAA<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/us-climate-normals/#dataset=normals-monthly&timeframe=30&station=USC00224265 |title=NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access |publisher=NOAA |access-date=2025-04-01 }}</ref>
}}<!-- Infobox ends -->

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1870= 400
|1880= 480
|1890= 893
|1900= 677
|1910= 1400
|1920= 1408
|1930= 1477
|1940= 1729
|1950= 1664
|1960= 2577
|1970= 2720
|1980= 3745
|1990= 3903
|2000= 4079
|2010= 3623
|2020= 3797
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
[[File:Judge Bates House, Houston, Mississippi.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Judge Bates House]] in Houston is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Mississippi#Chickasaw County|National Register of Historic Places]].]]

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Houston racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US2833900&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2021-12-08|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]]
|1,672
|44.03%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]]
|1,726
|45.46%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|3
|0.08%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|11
|0.29%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|99
|2.61%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|286
|7.53%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 3,797 people, 1,404 households, and 917 families residing in the city.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 4,079 people, 1,589 households, and 1,088 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|537.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,721 housing units at an average density of {{convert|226.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 59.89% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 36.58% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.27% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.17% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.12% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.70% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.27% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] people of any race were 5.12% of the population.

There were 1,589 households, out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 19.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.6% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,709, and the median income for a family was $31,979. Males had a median income of $27,214 versus $22,000 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $12,482. About 22.6% of families and 21.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 17.8% of those under age 18 and 28.0% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
The city of Houston is served by the [[Chickasaw County School District]]. [[Houston High School (Mississippi)|Houston High School]] is the community's high school.

The [[Houston School District]] and the old Chickasaw County district merged into a new district on July 1, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mdek12.org/sites/default/files/documents/MBE/MDE-2021(5)/tab-02-chickasaw_county_sd_consolidation_resolution_item_and_back-up.pdf|title=OFFICE OF CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER Summary of State Board of Education Agenda Items May 20, 2021|publisher=[[Mississippi Department of Education]]|access-date=2021-08-09|quote=Mississippi Code Ann. § 37-7-104.8(7) requires the Mississippi Board of Education to formally consolidate the Houston School District and the Chickasaw County School District thereby creating the new Chickasaw County School District, effective July 1, 2021 and abolishing the former school districts and boards, effective June 30, 2021.}}</ref>

The Houston Public Schools system is home to 11-time National Dell-Winston Solar Car Challenge Championships.

{{expand section|date=February 2011}}

==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
Houston was once served by both the [[Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad]] and [[Okolona, Houston and Calhoun City Railway]]. In the early 21st century, both of these rail lines were abandoned. Sections of the former have been converted to a recreational trail.
{{wide image|Houston, Mississippi.jpg|1000px|East Washington Street in Houston}}

==Notable people==
* [[Dee Barton]], film and big band composer, Stan Kenton Orchestra drummer, Jackson State University composer in residence
* [[David R. Bowen]], [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] from [[Mississippi's 2nd congressional district]] 1973–1983<ref>{{cite web |title=BOWEN, David Reece |url=https://history.house.gov/People/Detail/9666 |website=United States House of Representatives |access-date=19 May 2020}}</ref>
* [[N. W. Bradford]], member of the [[Mississippi State Senate]] (1916–1920), and of the [[Mississippi House of Representatives]] (1904–1908)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rowland |first=Dunbar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b8sGAQAAIAAJ |title=The Official and Statistical Register of the State of Mississippi |date=1917 |publisher=Department of Archives and History |language=en}}</ref>
* [[T. Jeff Busby]], U.S. Representative 1923–1935<ref name="Congress1961">{{cite book|author=United States. Congress|title=Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1774-1961: The Continental Congress, September 5, 1774, to October 21, 1788 and the Congress of the United States, from the First to the Eighty-sixth Congress, March 4, 1789, to January 3, 1961, Inclusive|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZeBQAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA363|year=1961|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|pages=363}}</ref>
* [[Terry Catledge]], NBA player
* [[William R. Dunlap]], artist, writer, and arts commentator<ref>{{cite web |title=William Dunlap |url=https://www.mswritersandmusicians.com/mississippi-artists/william-dunlap |website=Mississippi Writers and Musicians |access-date=19 May 2020}}</ref>
* [[Chris Jones (defensive tackle, born 1994)|Chris Jones]], NFL player
* [[Ricky Love]], former professional basketball player<ref>{{cite web |title=Ricky Love |url=https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Ricky-Love/Summary/65565 |website=Real GM |access-date=19 May 2020}}</ref>
* [[Walter Stanley Mooneyham]], evangelical author<ref>{{cite book|title=Lives of Mississippi Authors, 1817-1967|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RfXGJBB1HvoC&pg=PA338|year=1981|publisher=Univ. Press of Mississippi|isbn=978-1-61703-418-3|pages=338}}</ref>
* [[Rosa Lee Tucker]] (1866–1946), Mississippi State Librarian
* [[William F. Tucker]], [[Brigadier General (CSA)|brigadier general]] in the [[Confederate States Army]] and member of the Mississippi House of Representatives<ref>{{cite web |last1=Losson |first1=Christopher |title=William Feimster Tucker |url=https://mississippiencyclopedia.org/entries/william-feimster-tucker/ |website=Mississippi Encyclopedia |access-date=19 May 2020}}</ref>
* [[Howard Waldrop]] (1946–2024), science fiction author<ref>{{cite web |title=Summary Bibliography: Howard Waldrop |url=http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?Howard_Waldrop |website=International Speculative Fiction Database |access-date=19 May 2020}}</ref>
* [[Bukka White]], [[Delta blues]] guitarist<ref name="BogdanovWoodstra2003">{{cite book|author1=Vladimir Bogdanov|author2=Chris Woodstra|author3=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|title=All Music Guide to the Blues: The Definitive Guide to the Blues|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qYtz7kEHegEC&pg=PA601|year=2003|publisher=Backbeat Books|isbn=978-0-87930-736-3|pages=601}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Houston, Mississippi}}
{{Portal|Mississippi}}
*[http://www.houston.ms.gov/Pages/default.aspx Houston, Mississippi website]

{{Chickasaw County, Mississippi}}
{{Mississippi county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Mississippi]]
[[Category:Cities in Chickasaw County, Mississippi]]
[[Category:County seats in Mississippi]]