Editing Tunica, Mississippi

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Tunica, Mississippi
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|motto                    = 
|image_skyline            = TunicaMSTownSign.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_map                = Tunica_County_Mississippi_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Tunica_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Tunica in [[Tunica County]]
|pushpin_map              = USA
|pushpin_map_caption      = Location in the United States
<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Mississippi|County]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_name1        = [[Mississippi]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Tunica County, Mississippi|Tunica]]
<!-- Government -->
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = 
|established_title        = Founded
|established_title2       = [[Municipal incorporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = 
|established_date2        = 1884
<!-- Area -->
|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|accessdate=July 24, 2022}}</ref>
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.66
|area_total_km2           = 1.72
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.66
|area_land_km2            = 1.72
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_urban_sq_mi         = 
|area_urban_km2           = 
|area_metro_sq_mi         = 
|area_metro_km2           = 
<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_note          = 
|population_total         = 1026
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_density_km2   = 596.88
|population_density_sq_mi = 1545.18
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
|utc_offset               = &minus;6
|timezone_DST             = [[North American Central Time Zone|CDT]]
|utc_offset_DST           = &minus;5
|coordinates              = {{coord|34|41|18|N|90|22|40|W|region:US-MS_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 194
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 38676
|area_code                = [[Area code 662|662]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 28-74760
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2406764<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2406764}}</ref>
|website                  = [http://townoftunica.com/ townoftunica.com]
|footnotes                = 
}}
'''Tunica''' is a town in and the county seat of [[Tunica County, Mississippi]], United States, near the [[Mississippi River]]. Until the early 1990s when casino gambling was introduced in the area, Tunica had been one of the [[List of lowest-income places in the United States|most impoverished places in the United States]]. Despite this economic improvement, Tunica's population continues to decline from its peak in 1970.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}

==History==
The community derives its name from the [[Tunica-Biloxi|Tunica Indians]] which once were numerous in the area.<ref>{{cite book|last=Baca|first=Keith A.|title=Native American Place Names in Mississippi|url=https://epdf.pub/native-american-place-names-in-mississippi.html|year=2007|publisher=University Press of Mississippi|isbn=978-1-60473-483-6|page=124}}</ref> Tunica is the fourth community to serve as [[county seat]] of Tunica County,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/usamap.cfm|title=NACo - Find a County<!-- Bot generated title -->|access-date=September 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626200900/http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=%2Fcffiles%2Fcounties%2Fusamap.cfm|archive-date=June 26, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> succeeding earlier county seats at [[Commerce, Mississippi|Commerce]] (1839–1842, 1842–1847), [[Peyton, Mississippi|Peyton]] (1842, temporary) and [[Austin, Mississippi|Austin]] (1847–1888).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tunicamiss.org/press_timeline.asp|title=Welcome to Tunica - Tunica, Mississippi Vacation Guide - Tunica Casinos, Entertainment, Events & More|website=Tunica, Mississippi Vacation Guide - Tunica Casinos, Entertainment, Events & More|access-date=September 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070513081326/http://www.tunicamiss.org/press_timeline.asp|archive-date=May 13, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref><!-- Why?-->

Tunica gained national attention for its deprived neighborhood known as "Sugar Ditch Alley", named for the open sewer located there.<ref name=Mehta1>Mehta, Stephanie N. "Legalized gambling saves a depressed town." ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'' at ''[[CNN]]''/''[[Money (magazine)|Money]]''. March 15, 2007. p. [https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/03/19/8402375/index.htm  1]. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20130124224358/http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/03/19/8402375/index.htm Archive]) Retrieved on June 3, 2013.</ref> Its fortunes have improved since development of a gambling resort area nearby during the early 1990s. While population growth has taken place mostly outside Tunica, the major casinos employ numerous locals. They attract visitors from nearby [[Memphis, Tennessee]], [[West Memphis, Arkansas]] and all over the [[Southeastern United States]].

==Geography==
Tunica is located approximately {{convert|20|mi|km}} south of [[Downtown Memphis|Downtown]] [[Memphis, Tennessee]].<ref name=Mehta1/>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|0.7|sqmi|km2|}}, all land.

{{Weather box
 | width       = auto
 | collapsed   = yes
 | single line = yes
 | location    = Tunica, Mississippi (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1959–2019)
 | Jan record high F  = 78
 | Feb record high F  = 81
 | Mar record high F  = 86
 | Apr record high F  = 94
 | May record high F  = 98
 | Jun record high F  = 101
 | Jul record high F  = 105
 | Aug record high F  = 106
 | Sep record high F  = 106
 | Oct record high F  = 96
 | Nov record high F  = 86
 | Dec record high F  = 80
 | year record high F = 
 | Jan high F = 49.2
 | Feb high F = 53.7
 | Mar high F = 62.9
 | Apr high F = 72.8
 | May high F = 81.6
 | Jun high F = 89.0
 | Jul high F = 91.3
 | Aug high F = 90.9
 | Sep high F = 86.1
 | Oct high F = 75.4
 | Nov high F = 62.5
 | Dec high F = 52.3
 | year high F = 72.3
 | Jan mean F = 40.8
 | Feb mean F = 44.8
 | Mar mean F = 53.5
 | Apr mean F = 62.8
 | May mean F = 72.1
 | Jun mean F = 79.6
 | Jul mean F = 82.1
 | Aug mean F = 80.9
 | Sep mean F = 75.3
 | Oct mean F = 64.0
 | Nov mean F = 52.4
 | Dec mean F = 43.9
 | year mean F = 62.7
 | Jan low F = 32.5
 | Feb low F = 35.9
 | Mar low F = 44.2
 | Apr low F = 52.8
 | May low F = 62.5
 | Jun low F = 70.1
 | Jul low F = 72.9
 | Aug low F = 71.0
 | Sep low F = 64.5
 | Oct low F = 52.6
 | Nov low F = 42.4
 | Dec low F = 35.4
 | year low F = 53.1
 | Jan record low F  = -5
 | Feb record low F  = 2
 | Mar record low F  = 7
 | Apr record low F  = 27
 | May record low F  = 37
 | Jun record low F  = 46
 | Jul record low F  = 53
 | Aug record low F  = 50
 | Sep record low F  = 37
 | Oct record low F  = 27
 | Nov record low F  = 15
 | Dec record low F  = -10
 | year record low F = 
 | precipitation colour   = green
 | Jan precipitation inch = 4.65
 | Feb precipitation inch = 4.95
 | Mar precipitation inch = 5.80
 | Apr precipitation inch = 6.02
 | May precipitation inch = 6.00
 | Jun precipitation inch = 4.28
 | Jul precipitation inch = 4.01
 | Aug precipitation inch = 3.15
 | Sep precipitation inch = 3.33
 | Oct precipitation inch = 3.86
 | Nov precipitation inch = 4.80
 | Dec precipitation inch = 5.66
 | year precipitation inch = 56.51
 | unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
 | Jan precipitation days  = 10.4
 | Feb precipitation days  = 8.6
 | Mar precipitation days  = 10.7
 | Apr precipitation days  = 9.2
 | May precipitation days  = 10.6
 | Jun precipitation days  = 8.1
 | Jul precipitation days  = 7.9
 | Aug precipitation days  = 6.9
 | Sep precipitation days  = 6.6
 | Oct precipitation days  = 7.4
 | Nov precipitation days  = 9.2
 | Dec precipitation days  = 10.7
 | year precipitation days = 106.3
 | Jan snow inch = 0.4
 | Feb snow inch = 0.5
 | Mar snow inch = 0.1
 | 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 = 0.1
 | Dec snow inch = 0.0
 | year snow inch = 1.1
 | unit snow days = 0.1 in
 | Jan snow days  = 0.3
 | Feb snow days  = 0.3
 | Mar snow days  = 0.0
 | Apr snow days  = 0.0
 | May snow days  = 0.0
 | Jun snow days  = 0.0
 | Jul snow days  = 0.0
 | Aug snow days  = 0.0
 | Sep snow days  = 0.0
 | Oct snow days  = 0.0
 | Nov snow days  = 0.1
 | Dec snow days  = 0.0
 | year snow days = 0.7
 | source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=meg
|title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = November 4, 2023}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00228998&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = November 4, 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1890= 198
|1900= 485
|1910= 555
|1920= 955
|1930= 1043
|1940= 1322
|1950= 1354
|1960= 1445
|1970= 1685
|1980= 1361
|1990= 1175
|2000= 1132
|2010= 1030
|2020= 1026
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{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:Main Street - Tunica, Mississippi.jpg|thumb|right|Main Street in Tunica]]

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Tunica Racial Composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US2874760&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 7, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]]
|602
|58.67%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]]
|345
|33.63%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|5
|0.49%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|33
|3.22%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|41
|4.0%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 1,026 people, 501 households, and 293 families residing in the town.

===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 1,132 people, 537 households, and 254 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|1,588.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 592 housing units at an average density of {{convert|830.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 67.84% [[White Americans|White]], 29.42% [[Black (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.27% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.06% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.88% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.53% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.30% of the population.

There were 537 households, of which 18.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 52.7% were non-families. Of all households, 48.0% were made up of individuals, and 26.4% had someone living alone who was 65&nbsp;years of age or older. The average household size was 2.01 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 18.9% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 23.3% who were 65&nbsp;years of age or older. The median age was 46&nbsp;years. For every 100 females, there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $26,607, and the median income for a family was $54,583. Males had a median income of $30,208 versus $22,250 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $20,114. About 17.1% of families and 25.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 33.3% of those under age 18 and 21.3% of those age 65 or over.

== Casino economy ==
Casino gambling's effect on the local economy has spurred population growth in unincorporated parts of the county outside Tunica proper. Since 1990, the town's name has been popularly associated with several casinos located near the [[Mississippi River]]. However, the current group of casinos is located in the community of [[Tunica Resorts, Mississippi|Tunica Resorts]], 10 miles north of the town of Tunica, and extending to the [[DeSoto County, Mississippi|DeSoto County]] line.

Tunica Resorts was originally named "Robinsonville", but the name was changed in 2005 to eliminate confusion over the location of the casinos, which have always used the name "Tunica" as an identifier. The success of these gaming houses in northern Tunica County came at the expense of the area's first group of casinos in the early 1990s, located just northwest of Tunica proper, in an area known as [[Mhoon Landing, Mississippi|Mhoon Landing]]. This now comprises the current [[census-designated place]] of [[North Tunica, Mississippi|North Tunica]]. These casinos were closed or moved as larger resorts opened closer to [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]] to attract its larger residential base.

Unlike the area including casinos along Mississippi's Gulf Coast region, Tunica was not in the path of [[Hurricane Katrina]]. As a result, some of the regular Gulf Coast customer traffic from casinos drifted northward to Tunica County while repairs and reconstruction were underway in the Gulf Coast locations.

Though the casinos lie outside the town limits, the benefits of tax revenue generated have also aided the town. Major improvements to the public school system and downtown district are among the most visible aspects. Long-term effects include major highway improvements on [[U.S. Route 61]] and a much-discussed potential expansion of [[Tunica Municipal Airport]].

As of 2007, some Tunica Resorts residents are trying to incorporate their community as a separate town government,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tunicaresortsms.org/index.htm |title=Welcome to Tunica Resorts MS |access-date=January 29, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060906145159/http://tunicaresortsms.org/index.htm |archive-date=September 6, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> rather than operate under the jurisdiction of Tunica County or be annexed into the town of Tunica. If Tunica Resorts incorporates, the new town government would directly benefit from casino tax revenue, enabling construction of municipal government offices. Depending on population and revenue growth, fire and police stations, libraries and other public infrastructure could be other likely additions.{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}}

==Education==
The Town of Tunica is served by the [[Tunica County School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st28_ms/schooldistrict_maps/c28143_tunica/DC20SD_C28143.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Tunica County, MS|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 31, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st28_ms/schooldistrict_maps/c28143_tunica/DC20SD_C28143_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> Zoned schools include Tunica Elementary School, Tunica Middle School, and [[Rosa Fort High School]].

[[Tunica Academy]] is located in an [[unincorporated area]] in [[Tunica County, Mississippi|Tunica County]], near Tunica.<ref>"[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US2874760&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on Tunica town, Mississippi]{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." [[U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on March 2, 2011.</ref><ref>"[http://www.tunicaacademy.com/ Welcome to Tunica Academy]." [[Tunica Academy]]. Retrieved on March 2, 2011. "584 Academy Drive, Tunica, MS 38676"</ref>

== In popular culture ==
Tunica is mentioned in [[Elmore Leonard]]'s 2002 novel ''[[Tishomingo Blues (novel)|Tishomingo Blues]]''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Leonard |first=Elmore |author-link=Elmore Leonard |year=2009 |title=Tishomingo Blues |url={{GBurl|NZlKo24l-JYC}} |publisher=William Morrow}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Brandon Bryant (American football)|Brandon Bryant]],  NFL Player
* [[James Cotton]], blues harmonica player
* [[Parker Hall (American football)|Parker Hall]], 1939 Most Valuable Player of the [[National Football League]]
* [[Charlaine Harris]], New York Times bestselling author
* [[Donald Hawkins]], NFL Player
* [[Benardrick McKinney]], NFL linebacker

== Transportation ==
[[Tunica Municipal Airport]] has had airline service intermittently with aircraft such as [[Boeing 727]] jets of [[Pan Am Clipper Connection]] and [[Boeing 737]] jets of [[Air Tran]] offering commercial services. The closest airport with continuous airline service is [[Memphis International Airport]] in [[Memphis, Tennessee]], which is about 30 minutes away by car.

== See also ==
{{Portal|Mississippi}}
* [[Tunica Resorts, Mississippi]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{wikivoyage|Tunica}}
* {{Gnis|678927}}
* [https://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/issues/96jan/mississ/mississ.htm/ Mississippi Monte Carlo], an article from ''[[The Atlantic]]'' magazine on the impact of casino gambling in Tunica
* [http://www.tunicamiss.org/ Visitor's Guide] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170523215837/http://tunicamiss.org/ |date=May 23, 2017 }}
* [http://www.tunicatimes.com/ ''The Tunica Times''], the weekly newspaper serving Tunica and Tunica County

{{Tunica area}}
{{Tunica County, Mississippi}}
{{Memphis, Tennessee}}
{{Mississippi}}
{{Mississippi county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Tunica County, Mississippi]]
[[Category:County seats in Mississippi]]
[[Category:Cities in the Memphis metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Gambling in Mississippi]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1888]]
[[Category:1888 establishments in Mississippi]]
[[Category:Towns in Mississippi]]
[[Category:Mississippi placenames of Native American origin]]