Bay Springs, Mississippi
Encyclopedia
Bay Springs is a city in Jasper County
, Mississippi
, United States
. The population was 2,097 at the 2000 census. It is located at the intersection of state highway
s 15 and 18. The area was settled in the 1880s
by Joe Blankenship, who built the saw mill that became the town's industrial base. The city was incorporated about twenty years later after the arrival of railroads going through it.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 38.4 km² (14.8 mi²
). 38.3 km² (14.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.20%) is water.
of 2000, there were 2,097 people, 793 households, and 524 families residing in the city. The population density
was 54.8/km² (142.0/mi²). There were 880 housing units at an average density of 23.0/km² (59.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 50.02% White, 49.64% African American, 0.05% from other races
, and 0.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.57% of the population.
There were 793 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were married couples
living together, 20.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 77.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,895, and the median income for a family was $30,938. Males had a median income of $31,806 versus $19,091 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,199. About 26.0% of families and 28.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.5% of those under age 18 and 33.1% of those age 65 or over.
in the summer of 1862.
Bay Springs was the site of one of six Sunbeam plants
in Mississippi; when it closed, as a result of Albert J. Dunlap
's downsizing of the company, 300 people lost their jobs. The last workers left the plant at the same time that Dunlap was negotiating a new contract, worth over $46 million; the average annual salary at the Bay Springs plant had been less than $25,000.
Jasper County, Mississippi
-History:Jasper County was formed in 1833 from the middle section of what been Jones County. It was named for Sgt. William Jasper who first distinguished himself in the defense of Fort Moultrie in 1776. When a shell from a British warship shot away the flagstaff, he recovered the flag, raised it on...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,097 at the 2000 census. It is located at the intersection of state highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
s 15 and 18. The area was settled in the 1880s
1880s
The 1880s was the decade that spanned from January 1, 1880 to December 31, 1889. They occurred at the core period of the Second Industrial Revolution. Most Western countries experienced a large economic boom, due to the mass production of railroads and other more convenient methods of travel...
by Joe Blankenship, who built the saw mill that became the town's industrial base. The city was incorporated about twenty years later after the arrival of railroads going through it.
Geography
Bay Springs is located at 31°58′36"N 89°16′46"W (31.976761, -89.279574).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...
, the city has a total area of 38.4 km² (14.8 mi²
Square mile
The square mile is an imperial and US unit of measure for an area equal to the area of a square of one statute mile. It should not be confused with miles square, which refers to the number of miles on each side squared...
). 38.3 km² (14.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.20%) is water.
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 2,097 people, 793 households, and 524 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 54.8/km² (142.0/mi²). There were 880 housing units at an average density of 23.0/km² (59.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 50.02% White, 49.64% African American, 0.05% 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 0.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.57% of the population.
There were 793 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% 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, 20.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 77.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,895, and the median income for a family was $30,938. Males had a median income of $31,806 versus $19,091 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 $14,199. About 26.0% of families and 28.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.5% of those under age 18 and 33.1% of those age 65 or over.
Economics
Bay Springs had a cotton industry in the nineteenth century; a cotton plant was disabled by Union troopsUnion (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
in the summer of 1862.
Bay Springs was the site of one of six Sunbeam plants
Sunbeam Products
Sunbeam Products is an American brand that has produced electric home appliances since 1910. Their products have included the Mixmaster mixer, the Sunbeam CG waffle iron, Coffeemaster and the fully automatic T20 toaster. Sunbeam is owned by Jarden Consumer Solutions after Jarden's acquisition in...
in Mississippi; when it closed, as a result of Albert J. Dunlap
Albert J. Dunlap
Albert John Dunlap is a retired corporate executive. He was best known as a turnaround specialist and downsizer. The ruthless methods he employed to streamline ailing companies, most notably Scott Paper, won him the nicknames "Chainsaw Al" and "Rambo in Pinstripes"...
's downsizing of the company, 300 people lost their jobs. The last workers left the plant at the same time that Dunlap was negotiating a new contract, worth over $46 million; the average annual salary at the Bay Springs plant had been less than $25,000.