Edwards, Mississippi
Encyclopedia
Edwards is a town in Hinds County
, Mississippi
, United States
. The population was 1,347 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Jackson
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
epidemic and was then bypassed by the Alabama and Vicksburg Rail Road. This happened in 1839 when R. O. Edwards plantation became a stop on the railroad known as Edwards Depot.
The depot was burned to prevent its use during the American Civil War
in 1863. The current site of Edwards was chosen in 1866. It was incorporated in 1871.
In 1882 the Southern Christian Institute was opened by the Church of Christ
in the town to educate African-Americans. It latter became Bonner-Campbell College
. In 1897 Edwards suffered an attack of Yellow fever
that killed many residents of the town.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,347 people, 461 households, and 335 families residing in the town. The population density
was 808.2 people per square mile (311.4/km²). There were 505 housing units at an average density of 303.0 per square mile (116.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 78.92% African American, 20.19% White, 0.15% Asian, 0.07% from other races
, and 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.97% of the population.
There were 461 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.5% were married couples
living together, 33.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.47.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.6% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 82.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $29,231, and the median income for a family was $31,786. Males had a median income of $26,094 versus $19,500 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $12,308. About 19.0% of families and 22.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.4% of those under age 18 and 18.7% of those age 65 or over.
Hinds County, Mississippi
As of the census of 2000, there were 250,800 people, 91,030 households, and 62,355 families residing in the county. The population density was 288 people per square mile . There were 100,287 housing units at an average density of 115 per square mile...
, 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 1,347 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Jackson
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Jackson metropolitan area
The Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan area in the central region of the U.S. state of Mississippi that covers five counties: Copiah, Hinds, Madison, Rankin, and Simpson. As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 497,197...
.
History
Edwards was originally named Amsterdam and settled in the 1830s. In 1832 it suffered from a CholeraCholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
epidemic and was then bypassed by the Alabama and Vicksburg Rail Road. This happened in 1839 when R. O. Edwards plantation became a stop on the railroad known as Edwards Depot.
The depot was burned to prevent its use during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The 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...
in 1863. The current site of Edwards was chosen in 1866. It was incorporated in 1871.
In 1882 the Southern Christian Institute was opened by the Church of Christ
Church of Christ
Churches of Christ are autonomous Christian congregations associated with one another through common beliefs and practices. They seek to base doctrine and practice on the Bible alone, and seek to be New Testament congregations as originally established by the authority of Christ. Historically,...
in the town to educate African-Americans. It latter became Bonner-Campbell College
Bonner-Campbell College
Bonner-Campbell College was a historically black college located in Edwards, Mississippi. It began as the Southern Christian Institute run by the Church of Christ in 1882....
. In 1897 Edwards suffered an attack of Yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
that killed many residents of the town.
Geography
Edwards is located at 32°19′51"N 90°36′15"W (32.330942, -90.604091).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 town has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²), all of it land.
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 1,347 people, 461 households, and 335 families residing in the town. 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 808.2 people per square mile (311.4/km²). There were 505 housing units at an average density of 303.0 per square mile (116.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 78.92% African American, 20.19% White, 0.15% Asian, 0.07% 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 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.97% of the population.
There were 461 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.5% 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, 33.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.47.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.6% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 82.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $29,231, and the median income for a family was $31,786. Males had a median income of $26,094 versus $19,500 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 town was $12,308. About 19.0% of families and 22.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.4% of those under age 18 and 18.7% of those age 65 or over.
Notable natives
- Betty CurrieBetty CurrieBetty Currie is the former personal secretary for Bill Clinton...
- Personal secretary of Bill ClintonBill ClintonWilliam Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, moved to Waukegan, IllinoisWaukegan, IllinoisWaukegan is a city and county seat of Lake County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 87,901. The 2010 population was 89,078. It is the ninth-largest city in Illinois by population...
as a child. - Otis HarrisOtis HarrisOtis Harris is an American track & field athlete. He won the silver medal in the 400 meters at the 2004 Summer Olympics....
- Track & field athleteTrack and fieldTrack and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, won gold and silver medals at the 2004 Summer Olympics2004 Summer OlympicsThe 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
. - George W. LeeGeorge W. LeeGeorge W. Lee was an African American civil rights leader, minister, and entrepreneur. He was a vice president of the Regional Council of Negro Leadership and head of the Belzoni, Mississippi branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People...
- A vice-president of the Regional Council of Negro LeadershipRegional Council of Negro LeadershipThe Regional Council of Negro Leadership was a society in Mississippi founded by T. R. M. Howard in 1951 to promote a program of civil rights, self-help, and business ownership...
. - Charlie PattonCharlie PattonCharlie Patton , better known as Charley Patton, was an American Delta blues musician. He is considered by many to be the "Father of the Delta Blues", and is credited with creating an enduring body of American music and personally inspiring just about every Delta blues man...
- Blues musician. - Norman Francis VandivierNorman Francis VandivierNorman Francis Vandivier was a United States Navy aviator during World War II. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for action during the Battle of Midway.-Biography:...
- Aviator.