Editing Utica, Mississippi

{{About|the town in Mississippi||Utica (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Utica, Mississippi
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|motto                    = 
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_map = Hinds_County_Mississippi_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Utica_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Utica, Mississippi
|pushpin_map              = USA
|pushpin_map_caption      = Location in the United States
<!-- Location -->
|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        = [[Hinds County, Mississippi|Hinds]]
<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = Mayor-Council
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         = 
<!-- 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_km2           = 7.78
|area_land_km2            = 7.76
|area_water_km2           = 0.02
|area_total_sq_mi         = 3.00
|area_land_sq_mi          = 3.00
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.01
<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 636
|population_density_km2   = 82.00
|population_density_sq_mi = 212.35
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset              = -6
|timezone_DST            = CDT
|utc_offset_DST          = -5
|elevation_footnotes     = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft            = 285
|coordinates             = {{coord|32|06|21|N|90|37|20|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type        = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code             = 39175
|area_code               = [[Area code 601|601]]
|blank_name              = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info              = 28-75760
|blank1_name             = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info             = 2406782<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2406782}}</ref>
|website                 = 
|footnotes               = 
}}

'''Utica''' is a town in [[Hinds County, Mississippi|Hinds County]], [[Mississippi]], United States. The population was 820 at the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]],<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US2875760| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Utica town, Mississippi| work=American Factfinder| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=August 17, 2017| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213105450/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US2875760| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref> down from 966 at the 2000 census. Utica is part of the [[Jackson, Mississippi|Jackson]] [[Jackson, Mississippi metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
Utica was originally an area known as Cane Ridge.<ref>Mary Collins Landin, "[http://msgw.org/hinds/townutica.html Utica]," Hinds County Mississippi MSGenWeb (Page Created July 3, 2005)</ref> In 1837, it was given the name Utica at the suggestion of the then postmaster, Ozias Osborn, who came from [[Utica, New York]].<ref>Mary Collins Landin, "[http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~prsjr/families/ms/hinds/utica-bpt-ch.htm Utica Baptist Church Celebrates 175th Anniversary, 1825-2004]," SARRETT/SARRATT/SURRATT Families of America (SFA) (website)</ref> The town was incorporated in 1880.

Utica was located on the [[Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad]]. A weekly newspaper, the ''Herald'', was established in 1897. In the early 1900s, Utica had several churches, eight hotels, a public school for white students, and an industrial college for black students. Agriculture consisted of watermelons, cotton and timber. The settlement had a sawmill, three [[cotton gin]]s, and a brick plant. The population in 1907 was nearly 1,000.<ref name="Rowland">{{cite book | last = Rowland | first = Dunbar | title = Mississippi: Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form | publisher = Southern Historical Publishing Association | year = 1907 | url = https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/548960-redirection | volume = 2 | page = 846}}</ref>

==Geography==
Utica is in southwest Hinds County at the junctions of Mississippi Highways [[Mississippi Highway 18|18]] and [[Mississippi Highway 27|27]]. Highway 18 leads northeast {{convert|32|mi}} to [[Jackson, Mississippi|Jackson]], the state capital, and southwest {{convert|28|mi}} to [[Port Gibson, Mississippi|Port Gibson]], while Highway 27 leads northwest {{convert|25|mi}} to [[Vicksburg, Mississippi|Vicksburg]] and southeast {{convert|20|mi}} to [[Crystal Springs, Mississippi|Crystal Springs]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Utica has a total area of {{convert|7.8|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|0.02|km2|order=flip|2}}, or 0.25%, are water.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

===Climate===
The climate in this area is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Utica has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=101922&cityname=Utica%2C+Mississippi%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Utica, Mississippi]</ref>
<div style="width:65%">
{{Weather box
|location = Utica, Mississippi
|single line = Yes
|collapsed   = yes
|metric first = Yes
|Jan high F = 60
|Feb high F = 63
|Mar high F = 70
|Apr high F = 77
|May high F = 84
|Jun high F = 91
|Jul high F = 92
|Aug high F = 93
|Sep high F = 89
|Oct high F = 80
|Nov high F = 69
|Dec high F = 61
|year high F = 77
|Jan low F = 38
|Feb low F = 40
|Mar low F = 46
|Apr low F = 53
|May low F = 60
|Jun low F = 67
|Jul low F = 70
|Aug low F = 70
|Sep low F = 64
|Oct low F = 53
|Nov low F = 44
|Dec low F = 39
|year low F = 54
|Jan precipitation inch = 4.8
|Feb precipitation inch = 4.7
|Mar precipitation inch = 5.6
|Apr precipitation inch = 5.2
|May precipitation inch = 4.7
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.1
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.8
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.5
|Sep precipitation inch = 2.7
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.5
|Nov precipitation inch = 3.6
|Dec precipitation inch = 5.2
|year precipitation inch = 51.5
|source 1 = Weatherbase <ref name=Weatherbase>
{{cite web
|url =http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=101922&cityname=Utica-Mississippi
|publisher=Weatherbase
|title=Weatherbase.com
|year=2013
}}
Retrieved on September 21, 2013.
</ref>
|date=September  2013
}}
</div style>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 230
|1890= 370
|1900= 540
|1910= 572
|1920= 445
|1930= 652
|1940= 818
|1950= 824
|1960= 764
|1970= 1019
|1980= 1064
|1990= 1033
|2000= 966
|2010= 820
|2020= 636
|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>
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Utica town, Mississippi – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Utica town, Mississippi |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US2875760&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Utica town, Mississippi |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US2875760&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Utica town, Mississippi |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US2875760&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|285
|220
|style='background: #ffffe6; |129
|29.50%
|26.83%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |20.28%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|634
|525
|style='background: #ffffe6; |429
|65.63%
|64.02%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |67.45%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|1
|1
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6
|0.10%
|0.12%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.94%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|3
|0
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0
|0.31%
|0.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00%
|-
| [[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]]  alone (NH)
|0
|0
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0
|0.00%
|0.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|0
|2
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1
|0.00%
|0.24%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.16%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|6
|1
|style='background: #ffffe6; |11
|0.62%
|0.12%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.73%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|37
|71
|style='background: #ffffe6; |60
|3.83%
|8.66%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |9.43%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''966'''
|'''820'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''636'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 636 people, 337 households, and 199 families residing in the town.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States Census]], there were 820 people living in the town. The racial makeup of the town was 64.0% Black, 26.8% White, 0.1% Native American, 0.2% from some other race and 0.1% from two or more races. 8.7% were 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=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 966 people, 339 households, and 241 families living in the town. The population density was {{convert|323.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 397 housing units at an average density of {{convert|132.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 30.54% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 66.36% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.10% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.31% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 2.07% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.62% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.83% of the population.

There were 339 households, out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 27.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 26.0% 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 2.85 and the average family size was 3.43.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.8% under the age of 18, 11.7% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $27,614, and the median income for a family was $30,083. Males had a median income of $28,594 versus $21,932 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $11,491. About 17.1% of families and 27.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 37.1% of those under age 18 and 24.5% of those age 65 or over.

===Religion and society===
{{unreferenced section|date=December 2024}}
Utica is the location of the [[URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp]], organized by the [[Union for Reform Judaism]] and dating to when there were more Jews in smaller communities throughout the South. Most now live in larger urban areas with more professional opportunities.

The town is home to several churches of various denominations, including the following on Main Street: Utica Baptist Church (founded in 1829 and affiliated with the [[Southern Baptist Convention]]), Utica [[Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)]], Utica [[United Methodist Church]], and St. Peter's Missionary Baptist Church, a black [[Baptist]] church founded after the Civil War in 1867 by [[freedmen]]. Because black Baptists withdrew ''en masse'' from white Baptist churches across the South, St. Peter's was founded as a mission of the white Baptist church in Utica. Black Baptists soon founded independent state associations of their congregations and organized a national convention by the end of the century. There are several other houses of worship in the town proper, as well as others in the county nearby.

==Education==
Utica is served by the [[Hinds County School District]]. Students up to grade nine attend Utica Elementary-Middle School, and older students attend [[Raymond High School (Mississippi)|Raymond High School]] in [[Raymond, Mississippi|Raymond]].<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20110721164057/http://www.hinds.k12.ms.us/184910101617857560/lib/184910101617857560/attendance_zone.jpg attendance_zone.jpg]." [[Hinds County School District]]. July 21, 2011. Retrieved on December 29, 2018. The map states: "High School Students from Zone 1 [Utica] attend Raymond High School"</ref>

It is also the home of the Utica campus of [[Hinds Community College]]. Founded in 1903 as Utica Normal and Industrial Institute, a technical school for African Americans, the institute became known as Utica Junior College.<ref name="holtz">{{cite book |last1=Holtzclaw |first1=William Henry |title=The Black man's burden |date=1915 |publisher=The Neale Publishing company |location=New York |pages=[https://archive.org/details/blackmans00holtrich/page/104 104]–106 |url=https://archive.org/details/blackmans00holtrich |access-date=10 January 2019}}</ref> Utica was also home to the former [[Hinds County Agricultural High School]].

[[Jackson/Hinds Library System]] operates the Evelyn Taylor Majure Library in Utica.<ref>"[http://www.jhlibrary.com/calendar-for-location/Evelyn-Taylor-Majure-Library/201812 Evelyn Taylor Majure Library]." [[Jackson/Hinds Library System]]. Retrieved on December 29, 2018.</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Woodrow Borah]], historian<ref>{{cite web |title=Woodrow W. Borah, History: Berkeley |url=http://content.cdlib.org/view?docId=hb1r29n709;NAAN=13030&doc.view=frames&chunk.id=div00004&toc.depth=1&toc.id=&brand=calisphere |website=Calisphere |publisher=University of California |access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref>
* [[Alonzo Bradley]] who played for [[Texas Southern University]] and who was the MVP of the 1977 NAIA basketball championship
* [[Zack Bragg]], first mayor of [[West Memphis, Arkansas]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Zach T. Bragg obituary, 1967 |url=https://digitalheritage.arkansas.gov/finding-aids/1733/ |website=Arkansas Digital Archives |access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref>
* [[Charles H. Griffin]], member of the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] from [[Mississippi's 3rd congressional district]]<ref name="Congress1969">{{cite book|author=United States. Congress|title=Official Congressional Directory|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hxc5AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA93|year=1969|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|pages=93}}</ref>
* [[William Henry Holtzclaw]], educator and the founder of Utica Institute which became Hinds Community College
* [[Lindsey Hunter]], professional basketball player and coach<ref>{{cite web |title=Lindsey Hunter - Staff Directory - Mississippi Valley State University |url=https://mvsusports.com/staff.aspx?staff=151 |website=MVSU Athletics |access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref>
* [[Robert Moreland (basketball)|Robert Moreland]], former basketball coach for [[Texas Southern Tigers basketball|Texas Southern]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Washington |first1=Robert |title=TSU Celebrates Robert Moreland |url=https://praisehouston.com/1318031/tsu-celebrates-robert-moreland/ |website=Praise Houston |access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref>
* [[Sonny Boy Nelson]], [[Delta blues]] musician<ref name="GageGage2009">{{cite book|author1=Justin Gage|author2=Melissa Gage|title=Explorer's Guide Memphis & the Delta Blues Trail: A Great Destination|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tPsG6vFFfUoC&pg=PA214|date=4 May 2009|publisher=Countryman Press|location=Woodstock, Vermont|isbn=978-1-58157-923-9|page=214}}</ref>
* [[Derek Newton]], offensive lineman for [[Houston Texans]]
* [[Pete Perry (basketball)|Pete Perry]], former professional basketball player<ref>{{cite web |title=John "Pete" Perry |url=http://www.thedraftreview.com/history/drafted1973/Perry-John.htm |website=Draft Review |access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref>
* [[Willie Lee Simmons]], former member of the [[Mississippi State Senate]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Willie Simmons' Biography |url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/3608/willie-simmons |website=Project Vote Smart |access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref>
* [[Marcell Young]], professional football [[defensive back]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Marcell Young Stats |url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/playery/youn05700.html |website=Pro Football Archives |access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons category|Utica, Mississippi}}
{{Hinds County, Mississippi}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Hinds County, Mississippi]]