Editing Tunica County, Mississippi

{{short description|County in Mississippi, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Tunica County
 | state                = Mississippi
 | ex image             = TUNICA HISTORIC DISTRICT, TUNICA COUNTY, MS.jpg
 | ex image size        = 220px
 | ex image cap         = Tunica County Courthouse in [[Tunica, Mississippi|Tunica]]
 | founded              = 1836
 | seat wl              = Tunica
 | largest city wl      = Tunica Resorts
 | city type            = town
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 481
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 455
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 26
 | area percentage      = 5.4
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 9782
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | web                  = www.tunicacountymississippi.com/
 | district             = 2nd
 | time zone            = Central
 | named for            = [[Tunica-Biloxi|Tunica-Biloxi tribe]]
}}

'''Tunica County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Mississippi]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 9,782.<ref>{{cite web|title=Census - Geography Profile: Tunica County, Mississippi|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Tunica_County,_Mississippi?g=0500000US28143|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 15, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Tunica, Mississippi|Tunica]].<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 the [[Tunica-Biloxi|Tunica]] [[Native American (U.S.)|Native Americans]]. Most migrated to central [[Louisiana]] during the colonial period.

Tunica County is part of the [[Memphis metropolitan area|Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. It is located in the [[Mississippi Delta]] region.

Since the late 20th century, it is known for [[Tunica Resorts, Mississippi|Tunica Resorts]] (formerly Robinsonville), an unincorporated community that is the site of six casino resorts. It is one of the top six destinations in the country in terms of gambling revenues.<ref>[http://www.kypost.com/content/middleblue3/story/Tunica-Holds-Tight/RAiroh9bkk6C8I1TB4BklQ.cspx "Tunica Resorts"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205085550/http://www.kypost.com/content/middleblue3/story/Tunica-Holds-Tight/RAiroh9bkk6C8I1TB4BklQ.cspx |date=February 5, 2016 }}, American Gaming Association,</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|481|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|455|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|26|sqmi}} (5.4%) 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 8, 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-69.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 69 in Mississippi|Interstate 69]]
* [[Image:US 61.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 61#Mississippi|U.S. Route 61]]
* [[Image:Circle sign 3.svg|20px]] [[Mississippi Highway 3]]
* [[Image:Circle sign 4.svg|20px]] [[Mississippi Highway 4]]

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
* [[Crittenden County, Arkansas]] (north)
* [[DeSoto County, Mississippi|DeSoto County]] (northeast)
* [[Tate County, Mississippi|Tate County]] (east)
* [[Panola County, Mississippi|Panola County]] (southeast)
* [[Quitman County, Mississippi|Quitman County]] (south)
* [[Coahoma County, Mississippi|Coahoma County]] (southwest)
* [[Phillips County, Arkansas]] (southwest)
* [[Lee County, Arkansas]] (west)
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1840= 821
|1850= 1314
|1860= 4366
|1870= 5358
|1880= 8461
|1890= 12158
|1900= 16479
|1910= 18646
|1920= 20386
|1930= 21233
|1940= 22610
|1950= 21664
|1960= 16826
|1970= 11854
|1980= 9652
|1990= 8164
|2000= 9227
|2010= 10778
|2020= 9782
|estyear=2023
|estimate=9234
|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 8, 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 8, 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 8, 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 8, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2013<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/28/28143.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 7, 2013|archive-date=June 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607052459/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/28/28143.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}

[[File:Tunica County MS sign 002 2012-03-31.jpg|thumb|right]]

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Tunica County Racial Composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US28143&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 7, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]]
|7,316
|76.35%
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]]
|1,853
|19.34%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|13
|0.14%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|27
|0.28%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|182
|1.9%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|191
|1.99%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 9,782 people, 3,930 households, and 2,347 families residing in the county.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States Census]], there were 10,778 people living in the county. 73.5% were [[African American|Black or African American]], 23.7% [[White American|White]], 0.6% [[Asian American|Asian]], 0.1% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.1% [[Pacific Islands American|Pacific Islander]], 1.2% of some other race and 0.9% [[Multiracial American|of two or more races]]. 2.3% 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 9,227 people, 3,258 households, and 2,192 families living in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|20|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 3,705 housing units at an average density of {{convert|8|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 70.15% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 27.54% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.11% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.42% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.07% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.96% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.75% from two or more races. 2.53% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 3,258 households, out of which 33.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.90% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 26.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.70% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.44.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 31.50% under the age of 18, 10.90% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 20.20% from 45 to 64, and 10.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 91.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $23,270, and the median income for a family was $25,443. Males had a median income of $25,244 versus $18,104 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $11,978. About 28.10% of families and 33.10% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 43.40% of those under age 18 and 32.50% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
[[GreenTech Automotive]] received $6 million of incentive financing from the state of Mississippi and Tunica County to build an automotive plant in the county.<ref name=bacon>[https://www.baconsrebellion.com/where-did-140-million-in-greentech-money-go/ "Where Did $140 Million in GreenTech Money Go?,"] ''Bacon's Rebellion''.</ref><ref>[https://www.desototimes.com/news/greentech-unveils-tunica-car-plans/article_00259cb6-d546-507b-98cb-8cdbed92660f.html "GreenTech unveils Tunica car plans,"] ''DeSoto Times-Tribune''.</ref>  The facility was shut down in January 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1108421_greentech-auto-shutters-its-doors-closes-mississippi-factory|last=Edelstein |first=Stephen |title=GreenTech shutters its doors, closes its Mississippi factory|date=19 January 2017 |publisher=Green Car Reports |access-date=13 June 2024}}</ref> GreenTech had promised to invest $60 million in the manufacturing plant, but it produced few cars if any.<ref name=bacon/>  A  Mississippi state auditor's review begun in 2016 found documentation reflecting only $3 million spent by GreenTech on automotive assembly equipment and parts.<ref name=bacon/>  While the company had promised to create 350 full-time jobs, it was found to never have created more than 94 active, full-time jobs in Mississippi at any time.<ref name=bacon/><ref name=pol>[https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/28/greentech-automotive-lawsuit-terry-mcauliffe-262771 "Chinese investors sue McAuliffe, Rodham over green-car investments ,"] ''Politico''.</ref>

In July 2017, the Mississippi state auditor demanded that GreenTech and its CEO [[Charlie Wang]] pay Mississippi $6 million because Greentech had not lived up to its promises to invest $60 million and create 350 jobs in Tunica County.<ref name=pol/><ref name=aud>[https://journalrecord.com/2017/07/06/mississippi-demands-6-4m-back-from-electric-car-maker-ceo/ "Mississippi demands $6.4M back from electric car maker, CEO,"] ''The Journal Record''.</ref> The auditor said: "I would venture that there isn’t really much of an operation in Tunica at all. This appears to have been a game of smoke and mirrors, and a corporate entity that never had any intention to deliver on the promises it made."<ref name=aud/>   In November 2017, Mississippi Attorney General [[Jim Hood]] sued the company for $3 million, plus forfeiture of land used for the Tunica factory.<ref name=pol/>

GreenTech declared bankruptcy in February 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.richmond.com/news/local/government-politics/greentech-the-electric-car-company-once-led-by-mcauliffe-files/article_bf83ede4-ae12-5561-ad3b-b0a29c2b0984.html |title=GreenTech files for bankruptcy |last=Oliver |first=Ned |publisher=Richmond Times-Dispatch |date=27 February 2018 |url-access=limited}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/greentech-automotive-files-for-bankruptcy-1519775795|title=GreenTech Automotive Files for Bankruptcy|last=Yerak|first=Becky|date=28 February 2018|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=2020-02-06|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}}</ref>  In a 2020 final settlement, it paid Mississippi and Tunica County only $575,000.<ref name=bacon/>

==Education==
* '''Public School Districts'''
** [[Tunica County School District]] (the school district for the entire county<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>)
* '''Private Schools'''
** [[Tunica Academy]] is located in an [[unincorporated area]], near [[Tunica, Mississippi|Tunica]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st28_ms/place/p2874760_tunica/DC20BLK_P2874760.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220731235335/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st28_ms/place/p2874760_tunica/DC20BLK_P2874760.pdf |archive-date=July 31, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Tunica town, MS|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 31, 2022}}</ref><ref>"[http://www.tunicaacademy.com/ Welcome to Tunica Academy]." [[Tunica Academy]]. Retrieved on March 2, 2011. "584 Academy Drive — Tunica, MS 38676"</ref>

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

==Communities==

===Town===
* [[Tunica, Mississippi|Tunica]] (county seat)

===Census-designated places===
* [[Austin, Mississippi|Austin]]
* [[Dundee, Mississippi|Dundee]]
* [[North Tunica, Mississippi|North Tunica]]
* [[Tunica Resorts, Mississippi|Tunica Resorts]] (formerly known as Robinsonville)
* [[White Oak, Mississippi|White Oak]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=14em}}
* [[Banks, Mississippi|Banks]]
* [[Bowdre, Mississippi|Bowdre]]
* [[Clack, Mississippi|Clack]]
* [[Clayton, Mississippi|Clayton]]
* [[Dubbs, Mississippi|Dubbs]]
* [[Evansville, Mississippi|Evansville]]
* [[Hollywood, Mississippi|Hollywood]]
* [[Lost Lake, Mississippi|Lost Lake]]
* [[Maud, Mississippi|Maud]]
* [[Mhoon Landing, Mississippi|Mhoon Landing]]
* [[Prichard, Mississippi|Prichard]]
{{div col end}}

===Ghost towns===
* [[Commerce, Mississippi|Commerce]]
* [[Harbert Landing, Mississippi|Harbert Landing]]
* [[Penton, Mississippi|Penton]]
* [[Pink, Mississippi|Pink]]
* [[Trotter Landing, Mississippi|Trotter Landing]]

==Politics==
Tunica County is a Democratic stronghold, like other Mississippi Delta counties. The last Republican to carry the county was [[Richard Nixon]] in 1972.

{{PresHead|place=Tunica 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 6, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|799|1,837|32|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|926|2,580|59|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|853|2,667|47|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|883|3,475|24|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|1,017|3,279|36|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|950|2,140|39|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|792|1,539|35|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|557|1,263|66|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|693|1,451|99|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|896|1,510|24|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1984|Democratic|1,109|1,621|74|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|954|2,198|53|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|951|1,695|110|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,446|858|21|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|413|1,133|783|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|945|99|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|334|323|240|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|200|470|166|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|383|530|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1948|Dixiecrat|12|23|715|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|35|721|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|13|795|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|5|701|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|8|573|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|26|654|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|13|495|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|2|256|1|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|0|173|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|1|188|4|Mississippi}}

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

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

==External links==
* [http://www.tunicamssheriff.com/ Tunica County Sheriff]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Tunica County, Mississippi
|North     = [[Crittenden County, Arkansas]]
|Northeast = [[DeSoto County, Mississippi|DeSoto County]]
|East      = [[Tate County, Mississippi|Tate County]]
|Southeast = [[Panola County, Mississippi|Panola County]]
|South     = [[Quitman County, Mississippi|Quitman County]]
|Southwest = [[Coahoma County, Mississippi|Coahoma County]] and [[Phillips County, Arkansas]]
|West      = [[Lee County, Arkansas]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{Tunica County, Mississippi}}
{{Mississippi}}
{{Memphis, Tennessee}}

{{coord|34.66|-90.38|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MS_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Tunica County, Mississippi| ]]
[[Category:Mississippi counties]]
[[Category:Counties in the Memphis metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Mississippi placenames of Native American origin]]
[[Category:Mississippi counties on the Mississippi River]]
[[Category:1836 establishments in Mississippi]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1836]]
[[Category:Black Belt (U.S. region)]]
[[Category:Majority-minority counties in Mississippi]]