Editing Leake County, Mississippi

{{short description|County in Mississippi, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Leake County 
 | state                = Mississippi 
 | seal                 = 
 | founded              = 1833 
 | seat wl              = Carthage 
 | largest city         = Carthage 
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 585 
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 583 
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 2.5 
 | area percentage      = 0.4 
 | population_as_of     = 2020 
 | population_total     = 21275
 | pop_est_as_of        = 
 | population_est       = 
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto 
 | web                  = http://www.leakecountyms.org/ 
 | ex image             = Leake County Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Leake County Courthouse in Carthage
 | district             = 2nd
 | time zone            = Central
 | named for            = [[Walter Leake]]
}}

'''Leake County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the center of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Mississippi]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 21,275.<ref>{{cite web|title=Census - Geography Profile: Leake County, Mississippi|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Leake_County,_Mississippi?g=0500000US28079|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 14, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Carthage, Mississippi|Carthage]].<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}}</ref> The county is named for [[Walter Leake]], the [[Governor of Mississippi]] from 1822 to 1825.<ref>{{cite book|last=Gannett|first=Henry|title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ|year=1905|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n132 183]}}</ref>

In 2010, the [[center of population]] of Mississippi was located in Leake County, near the town of [[Lena, Mississippi|Lena]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/reference/docs/cenpop2010/CenPop2010_Mean_ST.txt |title=Centers of Population by State: 2010 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=November 6, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103082820/http://www.census.gov/geo/reference/docs/cenpop2010/CenPop2010_Mean_ST.txt |archive-date=January 3, 2014 }}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|585|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|583|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2.5|sqmi}} (0.4%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_28.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 6, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928074019/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_28.txt|archive-date=September 28, 2013}}</ref>

===Major highways===
* [[Image:Circle sign 13.svg|20px]] [[Mississippi Highway 13]]
* [[Image:Circle sign 16.svg|20px]] [[Mississippi Highway 16]]
* [[Image:Circle sign 25.svg|20px]] [[Mississippi Highway 25]]
* [[Image:Circle sign 35.svg|20px]] [[Mississippi Highway 35]]
* [[Image:Circle sign 43.svg|20px]] [[Mississippi Highway 43]]
* [[Natchez Trace Parkway]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Attala County, Mississippi|Attala County]] (north)
* [[Neshoba County, Mississippi|Neshoba County]] (east)
* [[Scott County, Mississippi|Scott County]] (south)
* [[Madison County, Mississippi|Madison County]] (west)

===National protected area===
* [[Natchez Trace Parkway]] (part)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1840= 2162
|1850= 5533
|1860= 9324
|1870= 8496
|1880= 13146
|1890= 14803
|1900= 17360
|1910= 18298
|1920= 16973
|1930= 21803
|1940= 24570
|1950= 21610
|1960= 18660
|1970= 17085
|1980= 18790
|1990= 18436
|2000= 20940
|2010= 23805
|2020= 21275
|estyear=2023
|estimate=21258
|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 6, 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 6, 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 6, 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 6, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2013<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/28/28079.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 4, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607051400/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/28/28079.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Leake County Racial Composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US28079&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 8, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]]
|10,069
|47.33%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]]
|8,189
|38.49%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|1,297
|6.1%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|78
|0.37%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|5
|0.02%
|-
|[[Race (United States census)|Other/Mixed]]
|407
|1.91%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|1,230
|5.78%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 21,275 people, 8,105 households, and 5,591 families residing in the county.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 23,805 people living in the county. 49.5% were [[White American|White]], 40.6% [[African American|Black or African American]], 6.0% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.2% [[Asian American|Asian]], 2.8% of some other race and 0.8% [[Multiracial American|of two or more races]]. 4.3% were [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (of any race).

===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 20,940 people, 7,611 households, and 5,563 families living in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|36|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 8,585 housing units at an average density of {{convert|15|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 56.14% [[Race (United States census)|White]], 37.42% [[Race (United States census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States census)|African American]], 4.56% [[Race (United States census)|Native American]], 0.15% [[Race (United States census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Race (United States census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.14% from [[Race (United States census)|other races]], and 0.57% from two or more races. 2.10% of the population were [[Race (United States census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 7,611 households, out of which 34.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.20% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 16.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.90% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.70% 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 3.13. In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.90% under the age of 18, 10.10% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,055, and the median income for a family was $32,147. Males had a median income of $27,367 versus $18,307 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $13,365. About 18.10% of families and 23.30% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 31.90% of those under age 18 and 23.90% of those age 65 or over.

==Government and infrastructure==
The county is quite rural, with Carthage the only city and three towns.

The [[Mississippi Department of Corrections]] contracted for development of the [[Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility]], which opened in 2001 in the town of [[Walnut Grove, Mississippi|Walnut Grove]].<ref name="Privateprisons">"[http://www.mdoc.state.ms.us/Five%20Private%20Prisons.htm Five Private Prisons] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013053002/http://www.mdoc.state.ms.us/Five%20Private%20Prisons.htm |date=2012-10-13 }}." [[Mississippi Department of Corrections]]. Retrieved on November 21, 2010.</ref> The facility was operated by the private [[Management and Training Corporation]] (MTC).<ref>{{cite web|title=Walnut Grove Correctional Facility|url=http://www.mtctrains.com/public/uploads/1/2012/7/WalnutGrove.pdf|publisher=Management and Training Corporation|access-date=March 24, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121224010719/http://www.mtctrains.com/public/uploads/1/2012/7/WalnutGrove.pdf|archive-date=December 24, 2012}}</ref>

By 2006, the Town of Walnut Grove annexed the land of the prison, resulting in an apparent increase in population, which was chiefly associated with prisoners.<ref name="Firstimpressions">"[http://mscat.msstate.edu/firstimpressions/WalnutGrove/WalnutGrove.pdf Walnut Grove] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304235520/http://mscat.msstate.edu/firstimpressions/WalnutGrove/WalnutGrove.pdf |date=2016-03-04 }}." ''First Impressions''. [[Mississippi State University]], February 2008. 0 (3/21). Retrieved on August 14, 2010. "Looking at the MDA profile, the population growth is impressive (year 2000 – 488, year 2006 – 1,424). However, we learned that most of this population growth has been due to the location and annexation of the Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility."</ref> MTC was repeatedly cited for problems with poor treatment of prisoners, and abuses within the facility. The state closed it in 2016.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Williams|first1=Timothy|title=Privately Run Mississippi Prison, Called a Scene of Horror, is Shut Down|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/16/us/mississippi-closes-private-prison-walnut-grove.html?_r=0|access-date=September 16, 2016|newspaper=New York Times|date=September 16, 2016}}</ref>

==Education==
The [[Leake County School District]] is the sole school district of the county.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st28_ms/schooldistrict_maps/c28079_leake/DC20SD_C28079.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807014246/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st28_ms/schooldistrict_maps/c28079_leake/DC20SD_C28079.pdf |archive-date=August 7, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Leake County, MS|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=August 6, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st28_ms/schooldistrict_maps/c28079_leake/DC20SD_C28079_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> It includes [[Leake Central High School]].

[[Choctaw Tribal School System]] has two tribal schools in the county: Red Water Elementary School and Standing Pine Elementary School.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.choctawtribalschools.com/redwaterelementary|title=Home|publisher=Red Water Elementary School|accessdate=August 6, 2022|quote=107 Braves Boulevard Carthage, MS 39051}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.choctawtribalschools.com/standingpineelementary|title=Home|publisher=Red Water Elementary School|accessdate=August 6, 2022|quote=538 Highway 487 East Carthage, MS 39051}}</ref>

[[East Central Community College]] is the [[area community college]], including Carthage Career Advancement Center in Leake County.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

==Racial segregation==
Most white students attend private schools while black and Hispanic children attend the local public schools. Although, children of all races have the same opportunity to private school as well.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! School
! Total Students
! White Students
! Black Students
! Hispanic Students
| '''Note'''
|-
|Leake County
|24,000
|56%
|37%
|2%
|2010 Census
|-
|Leake Academy (private)
|578
|571 (99%)
|0 (0%)
|3 (>1%)
|<ref>{{cite web |title=Leake Academy |url=https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/privateschoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&County=Leake&State=28&ID=00736174 |website=National Center for Educational Statistics |publisher=US Department of Education |access-date=June 15, 2019}}</ref>
|-
|Leake Central High School (public)
|562
|132 (20%)
|373 (66%)
|57 (10%)
|
|}

==Politics==
Since 1984, Leake County has supported Republican candidates at the presidential level; however Democrats usually gain at least 40% of the vote. Since then, in only 1984, 2004, and 2024 has the Republican candidate gained over 60% of the county's vote (and the Democrat under 40%).

{{PresHead|place=Leake 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 4, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|5,143|3,182|55|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|5,228|3,897|75|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|4,782|3,584|83|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|4,863|4,079|41|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|5,148|4,151|60|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|4,962|3,212|40|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|4,114|2,793|45|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|3,017|2,902|419|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|3,943|3,333|510|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|4,168|2,787|8|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|4,663|2,845|8|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|3,624|4,033|81|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|2,952|3,415|141|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,217|1,053|59|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|453|1,295|4,568|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|4,343|170|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1960|Dixiecrat|286|953|2,011|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|220|2,475|304|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|603|2,667|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1948|Dixiecrat|12|180|2,392|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|24|2,800|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|17|2,802|4|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|8|2,566|10|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|14|1,903|9|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|212|1,695|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|48|1,255|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|121|1,082|25|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|31|1,434|28|Mississippi}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|11|910|126|Mississippi}}

==Communities==

===City===
* [[Carthage, Mississippi|Carthage]] (county seat)

===Towns===
* [[Lena, Mississippi|Lena]]
* [[Sebastopol, Mississippi|Sebastopol]] (mostly in [[Scott County, Mississippi|Scott County]])
* [[Walnut Grove, Mississippi|Walnut Grove]]

===Census-designated places===
* [[Redwater, Mississippi|Redwater]]
* [[Standing Pine, Mississippi|Standing Pine]]

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Bolatusha, Mississippi|Bolatusha]]
* [[Coosa, Mississippi|Coosa]]
* [[Edinburg, Mississippi|Edinburg]]
* [[Good Hope, Leake County, Mississippi|Good Hope]]
* [[Hopoca, Mississippi|Hopoca]]
* [[Madden, Mississippi|Madden]]
* [[Midway, Leake County, Mississippi|Midway]]
* [[Ofahoma, Mississippi|Ofahoma]]
* [[Thomastown, Mississippi|Thomastown]]
* [[Tuscola, Mississippi|Tuscola]]
* [[Wiggins, Leake County, Mississippi|Wiggins]]

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

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

==External links==
* [http://www.leakems.com/ Leake County Chamber of Commerce]
* {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130111033552/http://www.leakeida.com/ Leake County Development Association]}}
* [http://www.mississippicourthouses.com/leake/ Leake County Courthouse Pictures]
* [http://msleake.com/ Leake County Genealogy]

{{coord|32.75|-89.52|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MS_source:UScensus1990}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Leake County, Mississippi
|North     = [[Attala County, Mississippi|Attala County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Neshoba County, Mississippi|Neshoba County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Scott County, Mississippi|Scott County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Madison County, Mississippi|Madison County]]
|Northwest = }}

{{Leake County, Mississippi}}
{{Mississippi}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Leake County, Mississippi| ]]
[[Category:Mississippi counties]]
[[Category:1833 establishments in Mississippi]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1833]]
[[Category:Majority-minority counties in Mississippi]]