Editing Lee County, Mississippi

{{short description|County in Mississippi, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2016}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Lee County
 | state                = Mississippi
 | type                 = [[List of counties in Mississippi|County]]
 | official_name        = County of Lee
 | ex image             = Tupelo MS Court house clock tower.JPG{{!}}border
 | ex image size        = 300px
 | ex image cap         = Clock tower of the Lee County Courthouse
 | coordinates          = {{coord|34.29|-88.68|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MS_source:UScensus1990}}
 | founded              = {{Start date and age|1866|10|26|p=1|br=1}}
 | named for            = Gen. [[Robert E. Lee]]
 | seat wl              = Tupelo
 | largest city wl      = Tupelo
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 453
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 450
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 3.2
 | area percentage      = 0.7
 | population_as_of     = 2020 
 | population_total     = 83343
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | ZIP codes            = 38801, 38804, 38824, 38826, 38828, 38843, 38849, 38857, 38858, 38860, 38862, 38866, 38868, 38879
 | area codes           = [[Area code 662|662]]
 | district             = 1st
 | time zone            = Central
 | web                  = leecoms.com
}}

'''Lee County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in [[U.S. state]] of [[Mississippi]]. At the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 83,343. Its county seat is Tupelo. Lee County is included in the [[Tupelo micropolitan area|Tupelo Micropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
Lee County was established by the [[Mississippi Legislature]] on October 26, 1866, and named for General [[Robert E. Lee]],<ref>{{Cite report |last=Gannett |first=Henry |author-link=Henry Gannett |year=1905 |title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States |url=https://archive.org/stream/bulletinofunited258gann#page/n189/mode/2up |series=U.S. Geological survey. Bulletin no. 258 |edition=2nd |location=Washington |publisher=[[United States Government Publishing Office|Government Printing Office]] |page=184 |lccn=05000751 |oclc=1156805 |via=[[United States Geological Survey]]}}</ref> [[General in Chief of the Armies of the Confederate States]]. It was formed from [[Itawamba County, Mississippi|Itawamba]] and [[Pontotoc County, Mississippi|Pontotoc]] counties; therefore, the record and list of early settlers mentioned in those counties embrace a great number who were residents of what is present day Lee County.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lowry |first1=Robert |author-link1=Robert Lowry (governor) |last2=McCardle |first2=William H. |date=1891 |title=A History of Mississippi, From the Discovery of the Great River by Hernando De Soto, Including the Earliest Settlement Made by the French, Under Iberville, to the Death of Jefferson Davis |url=https://archive.org/stream/historyofmississ00low#page/520/mode/2up |location=Jackson, Miss. |publisher=R. H. Henry & Co. |page=520 |lccn=01002485 |oclc=2109804 |ol=271554M}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|453|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|450|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|3.2|sqmi}} (0.7%) 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:I-22.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 22]]
* [[Image:US 45.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 45]]
* [[Image:US 78.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 78]]
* [[Image:US 278.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 278]]
* [[Image:Natchez Trace Parkway Logo.svg|20px]] [[Natchez Trace Parkway]]
* [[Image:Circle sign 6.svg|20px]] [[Mississippi Highway 6]]
* [[Image:Circle sign 145.svg|20px]] [[Mississippi Highway 145]]
* [[Image:Circle sign 178.svg|20px]] [[Mississippi Highway 178]]
* [[Image:Circle sign 363.svg|20px]] [[Mississippi Highway 363]]
* [[Image:Circle sign 245.svg|20px]] [[Mississippi Highway 245]]
* [[Image:Circle sign 371.svg|20px]] [[Mississippi Highway 371]]
* [[Image:Circle sign 370.svg|20px]] [[Mississippi Highway 370]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Prentiss County, Mississippi|Prentiss County]] (north)
* [[Itawamba County, Mississippi|Itawamba County]] (east)
* [[Monroe County, Mississippi|Monroe County]] (southeast)
* [[Chickasaw County, Mississippi|Chickasaw County]] (southwest)
* [[Pontotoc County, Mississippi|Pontotoc County]] (west)
* [[Union County, Mississippi|Union County]] (northwest)

===National protected areas===
* [[Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site]]
* [[Natchez Trace Parkway]] (part)
* [[Tupelo National Battlefield]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 15955
|1880= 20470
|1890= 20040
|1900= 21956
|1910= 28894
|1920= 29618
|1930= 35313
|1940= 38838
|1950= 38237
|1960= 40589
|1970= 46148
|1980= 57061
|1990= 65581
|2000= 75755
|2010= 82910
|2020= 83343
|estyear=2023
|estimate=82799
|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/28/28081.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 4, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607051417/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/28/28081.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref> 2018<ref name=2018pop>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/leecountymississippi/PST045218 |title=Lee County, Mississippi |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=November 2, 2019 }}</ref>
}}
[[File:Family in a wagon, Lee County, Mississippi, 1935.jpg|thumb|right|Family in a wagon in Lee County, 1935. Photo by [[Arthur Rothstein]].]]

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Lee County Racial Composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US28081&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 8, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]]
|52,854
|63.42%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]]
|24,131
|28.95%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|94
|0.11%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|920
|1.1%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|25
|0.03%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|2,491
|2.99%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|2,828
|3.39%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 83,343 people, 30,378 households, and 21,437 families residing in the county.

===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 75,755 people, 29,200 households, and 20,819 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|168|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 31,887 housing units at an average density of {{convert|71|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 73.66% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 24.51% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.13% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.52% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.43% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.74% from two or more races. 1.16% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. There were 29,200 households, out of which 36.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.60% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.05. In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.70% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 21.80% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.50 males. The median income for a household in the county was $36,165, and the median income for a family was $43,149. Males had a median income of $31,039 versus $22,235 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $18,956. About 10.50% of families and 13.40% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 17.90% of those under age 18 and 15.50% of those age 65 or over. Lee County has the [[Mississippi locations by per capita income|ninth highest]] per capita income in the state of Mississippi.

==Communities==
===Cities===
* [[Baldwyn, Mississippi|Baldwyn]] (partly in [[Prentiss County, Mississippi|Prentiss County]])
* [[Saltillo, Mississippi|Saltillo]]
* [[Tupelo, Mississippi|Tupelo]] (county seat)
* [[Verona, Mississippi|Verona]]
* [[Nettleton, Mississippi|Nettleton]] (Partly in [[Monroe County, Mississippi|Monroe County]]) 
* [[Guntown, Mississippi|Guntown]]
---Towns---
* [[Plantersville, Mississippi|Plantersville]]
* [[Shannon, Mississippi|Shannon]]
* [[Sherman, Mississippi|Sherman]] (partly in [[Pontotoc County, Mississippi|Pontotoc County]] and [[Union County, Mississippi|Union County]])

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

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Barrett Ridge, Mississippi|Barrett Ridge]]
* [[Belden, Mississippi|Belden]]
* [[Brewer, Mississippi|Brewer]]
* [[Eggville, Mississippi|Eggville]]
* [[Jug Fork, Mississippi|Jug Fork]]

==Education==
Lee County is served by the [[Baldwyn School District|Baldwyn]], [[Lee County School District (Mississippi)|Lee County]], [[Nettleton School District (Mississippi)|Nettleton]], and [[Tupelo Public School District|Tupelo]] school districts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st28_ms/schooldistrict_maps/c28081_lee/DC20SD_C28081.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220801001436/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st28_ms/schooldistrict_maps/c28081_lee/DC20SD_C28081.pdf |archive-date=August 1, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Lee County, MS|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 31, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st28_ms/schooldistrict_maps/c28081_lee/DC20SD_C28081_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

==Politics==

Lee County has been a Republican stronghold since the mid-1980s. The last Democratic presidential candidate who carried this county was [[Jimmy Carter]] in the election of 1980.

{{PresHead|place=Lee County, Mississippi|source=<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 5, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|24,339|10,616|383|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|24,207|12,189|558|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|22,220|10,029|664|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|22,415|12,563|328|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|22,694|12,021|245|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|20,254|10,127|258|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|15,551|9,142|401|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|11,815|8,438|1,433|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|12,231|7,710|2,560|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|13,767|6,604|357|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|13,312|6,208|210|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|8,326|10,047|516|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|7,366|8,504|463|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|10,730|1,632|629|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|2,522|1,912|9,232|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|5,165|2,409|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|1,550|3,653|1,438|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|929|3,883|345|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|2,002|4,174|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1948|Dixiecrat|82|636|3,128|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|230|3,509|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|120|3,814|1|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|42|3,585|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|129|3,704|5|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|367|2,757|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|152|2,621|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|302|1,652|10|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|91|1,683|5|Mississippi}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|39|1,390|57|Mississippi}}

==See also==
* [[List of memorials to Robert E. Lee]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Lee County, Mississippi]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|wikt=Lee County|commonscat=yes|n=no|q=no|s=no|author=no|b=no|voy=no|v=no|d=no}}
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; Government
*{{official website}}
; General information
*{{osmrelation-inline}}
*{{Ballotpedia}}
*[https://www.msgw.org/lee/ Lee County, Mississippi] at MSGenWeb
*[https://mlp.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/lils/ Lee-Itawamba Library System]
<!-- EDITORS NOTE: Please follow the [[WP:EL]] guideline where possible and consider discussing on the talk page. Thank you. -->

{{Geographic Location
|Centre = Lee County, Mississippi
|Northeast = [[Prentiss County, Mississippi|Prentiss County]]
|East = [[Itawamba County, Mississippi|Itawamba County]]
|Southeast = [[Monroe County, Mississippi|Monroe County]]
|Southwest = [[Chickasaw County, Mississippi|Chickasaw County]]
|West = [[Pontotoc County, Mississippi|Pontotoc County]]
|Northwest = [[Union County, Mississippi|Union County]]
}}
{{Lee County, Mississippi}}
{{Mississippi}}
{{Portal bar|Geography|Mississippi}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lee County, Mississippi}}
[[Category:Lee County, Mississippi| ]]<!--please leave the empty space as standard-->
[[Category:1866 establishments in Mississippi|Lee County]]
[[Category:Mississippi counties|Lee County]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1866|Lee County, Mississippi]]
[[Category:Tupelo micropolitan area|Lee County]]