Port Gibson, Mississippi
Encyclopedia
Port Gibson is a city in Claiborne County
, Mississippi
, United States
. The population was 1,840 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Claiborne County
.
Port Gibson was the site of several clashes during the American Civil War
and figured in Ulysses S. Grant
's Vicksburg Campaign
. The Battle of Port Gibson
occurred on May 1, 1863, and resulted in the deaths of over 200 Union
and Confederate
soldiers. The battle was a turning point in the Confederates' ability to hold Mississippi and defend against an amphibious attack.
Port Gibson has many historic buildings, including the Windsor Ruins
, which have been shown in several motion pictures. Many of the town's historic buildings survived the Civil War because Grant proclaimed the city to be "too beautiful to burn." These words appear on the town's city limits signs.
Although Port Gibson no longer has a Jewish community, it boasts the only Moorish Revival
building in Mississippi and the oldest synagogue in the state, the Gemiluth Chessed synagogue, built in 1892.
The Rabbit's Foot Company
has made to the development of the blues
in Mississippi. This places the site on the Mississippi Blues Trail
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 1,840 people, 692 households, and 447 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,048.0 people per square mile (403.7/km²). There were 787 housing units at an average density of 448.2 per square mile (172.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 19.40% White, 80.00% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.05% from other races
, and 0.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.71% of the population.
There were 692 households out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.9% were married couples
living together, 27.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.33.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 80.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,848, and the median income for a family was $28,958. Males had a median income of $28,036 versus $21,115 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $12,928. About 26.0% of families and 31.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.9% of those under age 18 and 26.3% of those age 65 or over.
. It is also home to the Chamberlain-Hunt Academy
, a Christian military boarding school.
Claiborne County, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 11,831 people, 3,685 households, and 2,531 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile . There were 4,252 housing units at an average density of 9 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 1,840 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 Claiborne County
Claiborne County, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 11,831 people, 3,685 households, and 2,531 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile . There were 4,252 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile...
.
History
Chartered as a town on March 12, 1803, Port Gibson is Mississippi's third-oldest European-American settlement, being occupied in 1729 by French colonists, as it was then within French-claimed territory, La Louisiane.Port Gibson was the site of several clashes 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...
and figured in Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
's Vicksburg Campaign
Vicksburg Campaign
The Vicksburg Campaign was a series of maneuvers and battles in the Western Theater of the American Civil War directed against Vicksburg, Mississippi, a fortress city that dominated the last Confederate-controlled section of the Mississippi River. The Union Army of the Tennessee under Maj. Gen....
. The Battle of Port Gibson
Battle of Port Gibson
The Battle of Port Gibson was fought near Port Gibson, Mississippi, on May 1, 1863, between Union and Confederate forces during the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. The Union Army was led by Maj. Gen. Ulysses S...
occurred on May 1, 1863, and resulted in the deaths of over 200 Union
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
and Confederate
Confederate States Army
The 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...
soldiers. The battle was a turning point in the Confederates' ability to hold Mississippi and defend against an amphibious attack.
Port Gibson has many historic buildings, including the Windsor Ruins
Windsor Ruins
The Windsor Ruins are located in Claiborne County in the U.S. state of Mississippi, about 10 miles southwest of Port Gibson near Alcorn State University. The ruins are those of the largest antebellum Greek Revival mansion built in the state, and have been used in various motion...
, which have been shown in several motion pictures. Many of the town's historic buildings survived the Civil War because Grant proclaimed the city to be "too beautiful to burn." These words appear on the town's city limits signs.
Although Port Gibson no longer has a Jewish community, it boasts the only Moorish Revival
Moorish Revival
Moorish Revival or Neo-Moorish is one of the exotic revival architectural styles that were adopted by architects of Europe and the Americas in the wake of the Romanticist fascination with all things oriental...
building in Mississippi and the oldest synagogue in the state, the Gemiluth Chessed synagogue, built in 1892.
Mississippi Blues Trail
A historic marker has been placed by the Mississippi Blues Commission in Port Gibson commemorating the contribution theThe Rabbit's Foot Company
The Rabbit's Foot Company
The Rabbit's Foot Company, also known as the Rabbit Foot Minstrels and colloquially as "The Foots", was a long running minstrel and variety troupe that toured as a tent show in the American South between 1900 and 1950...
has made to the development of the blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
in Mississippi. This places the site on the Mississippi Blues Trail
Mississippi Blues Trail
The Mississippi Blues Trail, created by the Mississippi Blues Commission, is a project to place interpretive markers at the most notable historical sites related to the growth of the blues throughout the state of Mississippi. The trail extends from the border of Louisiana in southern Mississippi...
.
Geography
Port Gibson is located at 31°57′22"N 90°58′59"W (31.956243, -90.983124).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 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²), all 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 1,840 people, 692 households, and 447 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 1,048.0 people per square mile (403.7/km²). There were 787 housing units at an average density of 448.2 per square mile (172.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 19.40% White, 80.00% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 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 0.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.71% of the population.
There were 692 households out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.9% 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, 27.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.33.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 80.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,848, and the median income for a family was $28,958. Males had a median income of $28,036 versus $21,115 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 $12,928. About 26.0% of families and 31.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.9% of those under age 18 and 26.3% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The City of Port Gibson is served by the Claiborne County School DistrictClaiborne County School District
The Claiborne County School District is a public school district based in Port Gibson, Mississippi . The district's boundaries parallel that of Claiborne County.-2006-07 school year:...
. It is also home to the Chamberlain-Hunt Academy
Chamberlain-Hunt Academy
Chamberlain-Hunt Academy, founded in 1879, is a private Christian military boarding school in rural Port Gibson, Mississippi, USA, for boys in grades 7 through 12...
, a Christian military boarding school.
Notable residents
- Constance Cary HarrisonConstance Cary HarrisonConstance Cary Harrison , was a prolific American writer. She was also known as Constance Cary, Constance C. Harrison, and Mrs. Burton Harrison, as well as her nom de plume, "Refugitta." She was married to Burton Harrison, a lawyer and American democratic politician...
, author, born in Port Gibson - Pete BrownPete Brown (golfer)Pete Brown is an American professional golfer who is best known as the first African American to win a PGA Tour event....
, golfer, first African AmericanAfrican AmericanAfrican Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
to win on the PGA Tour
External links
- History of Port Gibson's Jewish community (from the Institute of Southern Jewish Life)
- The Battle of Port Gibson
- High Resolution Photos from Grits Photography