Aberdeen, Mississippi
Encyclopedia
Aberdeen is a city in Monroe County
in the U.S. state
of Mississippi
. The population was 6,415 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Monroe County
.
Located on the banks of the Tombigbee River
, Aberdeen was one of the busiest Mississippi ports of the nineteenth century. Cotton was heavily traded in town, and for a time Aberdeen was Mississippi's second largest city. Today Aberdeen retains many historic structures from this period, with over 200 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places
. In the spring of each year, Aberdeen hosts pilgrimages to its historic antebellum homes. The most prominent of these antebellum homes is The Magnolias, which was built in 1850.
Located just outside the city, Aberdeen Lock and Dam
forms Aberdeen Lake
, a popular recreational area. Aberdeen Lock and Dam is part of the Tennessee-Tombigbee
waterway system.
, variant names are Dundee and New Aberdeen.
East Aberdeen is located at 33°49′18"N 88°30′59"W. It is located across the Tombigbee River
from Aberdeen proper. Variant names for East Aberdeen are Howards Bluff, Howards Farm, Howards Ferry, Howards Store, Martins Bluff, and Murffs.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, Aberdeen has a total area
of 11 square miles (28.5 km²), of which, 10.7 square miles (27.7 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (2.19%) is water.
Aberdeen was first settled in 1834 and chartered as a town in 1837. In 1849, it became the county seat when Monroe County was formed.
Hiram Revels, the first African-American United States Senator, died on January 16, 1901, while attending a church conference in Aberdeen.
Aberdeen had a population of 3,708 in 1910. Its population had risen to 5,920 by 1950.. Its population was 7,184 in 1980.
of 2000, there were 6,415 people, 2,398 households, and 1,661 families residing in the city. The population density
was 598.8 people per square mile (231.3/km²). There were 2,730 housing units at an average density of 254.8 per square mile (98.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 60.20% African American, 38.78% White, 0.09% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.06% from other races
, and 0.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.56% of the population.
There were 2,398 households out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.8% were married couples
living together, 29.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.8% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 78.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 69.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,530, and the median income for a family was $27,611. Males had a median income of $27,857 versus $17,090 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $11,584. About 26.3% of families and 29.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.2% of those under age 18 and 26.7% of those age 65 or over.
In 2010 Aberdeen had a population of 5,612. Its ethnic and racial composition was 28.6% non-Hispanic white, 69.1% non-Hispanic black, 0.1% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 1.0% reporting two or more races and 1.0% Hispanic or Latino.
.
Monroe County, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 38,014 people, 14,603 households, and 10,660 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile . There were 16,236 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
. The population was 6,415 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Monroe County
Monroe County, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 38,014 people, 14,603 households, and 10,660 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile . There were 16,236 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile...
.
Located on the banks of the Tombigbee River
Tombigbee River
The Tombigbee River is a tributary of the Mobile River, approximately 200 mi long, in the U.S. states of Mississippi and Alabama. It is one of two major rivers, along with the Alabama River, that unite to form the short Mobile River before it empties into Mobile Bay on the Gulf of Mexico...
, Aberdeen was one of the busiest Mississippi ports of the nineteenth century. Cotton was heavily traded in town, and for a time Aberdeen was Mississippi's second largest city. Today Aberdeen retains many historic structures from this period, with over 200 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. In the spring of each year, Aberdeen hosts pilgrimages to its historic antebellum homes. The most prominent of these antebellum homes is The Magnolias, which was built in 1850.
Located just outside the city, Aberdeen Lock and Dam
Aberdeen Lock and Dam
The Aberdeen Lock and Dam is one of four lock and dam structures on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway that generally lie along the original course of the Tombigbee River. It is located east of Aberdeen in Monroe County, Mississippi and impounds Aberdeen Lake....
forms Aberdeen Lake
Aberdeen Lake (Mississippi)
Aberdeen Lake is a lake in northeast Mississippi on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. Close to Aberdeen, it is impounded by the Aberdeen Lock and Dam....
, a popular recreational area. Aberdeen Lock and Dam is part of the Tennessee-Tombigbee
Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway
The Tennessee–Tombigbee Waterway is a 234-mile man-made, artificial waterway that extends from the Tennessee River to the junction of the Black Warrior-Tombigbee River system near Demopolis, Alabama, United States. The Tenneessee-Tombigbee Waterway links commercial navigation from the nation’s...
waterway system.
Geography
Aberdeen is located at 33°49′28"N 88°32′59"W (33.824412, -88.549733). According to the United States Geological SurveyUnited States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
, variant names are Dundee and New Aberdeen.
East Aberdeen is located at 33°49′18"N 88°30′59"W. It is located across the Tombigbee River
Tombigbee River
The Tombigbee River is a tributary of the Mobile River, approximately 200 mi long, in the U.S. states of Mississippi and Alabama. It is one of two major rivers, along with the Alabama River, that unite to form the short Mobile River before it empties into Mobile Bay on the Gulf of Mexico...
from Aberdeen proper. Variant names for East Aberdeen are Howards Bluff, Howards Farm, Howards Ferry, Howards Store, Martins Bluff, and Murffs.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, Aberdeen has a total area
Area
Area is a quantity that expresses the extent of a two-dimensional surface or shape in the plane. Area can be understood as the amount of material with a given thickness that would be necessary to fashion a model of the shape, or the amount of paint necessary to cover the surface with a single coat...
of 11 square miles (28.5 km²), of which, 10.7 square miles (27.7 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (2.19%) is water.
History
In 1540, Hernando DeSoto's expedition were the first Europeans to travel through Aberdeen.Aberdeen was first settled in 1834 and chartered as a town in 1837. In 1849, it became the county seat when Monroe County was formed.
Hiram Revels, the first African-American United States Senator, died on January 16, 1901, while attending a church conference in Aberdeen.
Aberdeen had a population of 3,708 in 1910. Its population had risen to 5,920 by 1950.. Its population was 7,184 in 1980.
Transportation
Highways
-
U.S. Highway 45 -
Mississippi Highway 25 -
Mississippi Highway 145
Railroads
- Burlington Northern and Santa Fe RailwayBNSF RailwayThe BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
- Alabama and Gulf Coast RailwayAlabama and Gulf Coast RailwayThe Alabama and Gulf Coast Railway is one of several Class III short-line railroad companies owned by RailAmerica, Inc. It operates of track from the Pensacola, Florida export terminals, west of downtown, north to Columbus, Mississippi, with trackage rights along BNSF Railway to Amory, Mississippi...
- Kansas City Southern RailwayKansas City Southern RailwayThe Kansas City Southern Railway , owned by Kansas City Southern Industries, is the smallest and second-oldest Class I railroad company still in operation. KCS was founded in 1887 and is currently operating in a region consisting of ten central U.S. states...
Natural features
- Aberdeen LakeAberdeen Lake (Mississippi)Aberdeen Lake is a lake in northeast Mississippi on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. Close to Aberdeen, it is impounded by the Aberdeen Lock and Dam....
- Tennessee-Tombigbee WaterwayTennessee-Tombigbee WaterwayThe Tennessee–Tombigbee Waterway is a 234-mile man-made, artificial waterway that extends from the Tennessee River to the junction of the Black Warrior-Tombigbee River system near Demopolis, Alabama, United States. The Tenneessee-Tombigbee Waterway links commercial navigation from the nation’s...
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 6,415 people, 2,398 households, and 1,661 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 598.8 people per square mile (231.3/km²). There were 2,730 housing units at an average density of 254.8 per square mile (98.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 60.20% African American, 38.78% White, 0.09% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.06% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.56% of the population.
There were 2,398 households out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 29.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.8% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 78.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 69.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,530, and the median income for a family was $27,611. Males had a median income of $27,857 versus $17,090 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $11,584. About 26.3% of families and 29.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.2% of those under age 18 and 26.7% of those age 65 or over.
In 2010 Aberdeen had a population of 5,612. Its ethnic and racial composition was 28.6% non-Hispanic white, 69.1% non-Hispanic black, 0.1% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 1.0% reporting two or more races and 1.0% Hispanic or Latino.
Education
The City of Aberdeen is served by the Aberdeen School DistrictAberdeen School District (Mississippi)
The Aberdeen School District is a public school district based in Aberdeen, Mississippi .-Schools:*Aberdeen High School *Shivers Junior School *Prairie Elementary School *Aberdeen Middle School...
.
Notable residents
- Stephen Adams, member of the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and United States SenateUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each... - Billy Brasfield, (Makeup Artist) also known as Billy B.
- Reuben DavisReuben Davis (representative)Reuben Davis was a United States Representative from Mississippi. He was born in Winchester, Tennessee into a family of Welsh origin and moved with his parents to Alabama about 1818. His grandfather Joseph Davis was born in Wales in 1763 and emigrated to Virginia. Reuben Davis attended the...
, CongressmanUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and Confederate general. - John GreggJohn Gregg (CSA)John Gregg was an American judge, politician, and general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He was killed in action during the Siege of Petersburg.-Early life and career:...
, ConfederateConfederate States ArmyThe Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
generalGeneralA general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
in the Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. - Moses HardyMoses HardyMoses Hardy was, at age 112 or 113, the last black veteran of World War I and one of the last surviving American veterans of that war. The son of former slaves, Hardy was born in either 1893 or 1894 and lived a religious and farming life until he signed up to serve overseas in World War I in July...
, formerly oldest living American man, one of the oldest veterans of World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. - Booker T. Washington White, more often known as Bukka WhiteBukka WhiteBooker T. Washington White , better known as Bukka White, was an American Delta blues guitarist and singer. "Bukka" was not a nickname, but a phonetic misspelling of White's given name Booker, by his second record label .-Biography:Born between Aberdeen and Houston, Mississippi, White was the...
, Blues musician]]. - Eugene Sykes, JusticeJusticeJustice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics; justice is the act of being just and/or fair.-Concept of justice:...
of the Supreme Court of MississippiSupreme Court of MississippiThe Supreme Court of Mississippi is the highest court in the state of Mississippi. It was created in the first constitution of the state following its admission as a State of the Union in 1817. Initially it was known as the "High Court of Errors and Appeals." The Court is an appellate court, as...
and the first chairman of the Federal Communications CommissionFederal Communications CommissionThe Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
.
External links
- City of Aberdeen website
- Aberdeen Visitors Bureau
- History of Aberdeen's Jewish community from the Institute of Southern Jewish Life