Raleigh, Mississippi
Encyclopedia
Raleigh is a town in Smith County
, Mississippi
, United States
. The population was 1,462 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat
and second largest town (after Taylorsville) in Smith County.Named for the famous English explorer Sir Walter Raleigh, Raleigh has been home to such famous Mississippians as Governor Robert Lowry, Governor/U.S. Senator Anselm McLaurin and Pioneer William H. Hardy.
and Jefferson Davis
.
A new Chancery Court building was completed in 2009 to make room for county offices and added court room space. The new Chancery Court building is designed in a similar greek revival design which resmbles the Smith County Courthouse.
activity is slightly above the state's average and 187% above the national average.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 5.1 square miles (13.2 km²), of which, 5 square miles (12.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.40%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,255 people, 482 households, and 334 families residing in the town. The population density
was 249.0 people per square mile (96.1/km²). There were 550 housing units at an average density of 109.1 per square mile (42.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 59.76% White, 39.68% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.32% from other races
, and 0.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population. 4% of the population claim German descent and 9% claim Irish descent.
There were 482 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples
living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 83.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,316, and the median income for a family was $31,458. Males had a median income of $28,646 versus $16,417 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $13,982. About 18.9% of families and 24.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.1% of those under age 18 and 25.7% of those age 65 or over.
.
Raleigh High School is the educational center for the towns of Raleigh, Polkville
, and Sylvarena
. Its school colors are maroon and white. Its mascot is Rah-Lee the Lion.
Smith County, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 16,182 people, 6,046 households, and 4,558 families residing in the county. The population density was 25 people per square mile . There were 7,005 housing units at an average density of 11 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 1,462 at the 2010 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....
and second largest town (after Taylorsville) in Smith County.Named for the famous English explorer Sir Walter Raleigh, Raleigh has been home to such famous Mississippians as Governor Robert Lowry, Governor/U.S. Senator Anselm McLaurin and Pioneer William H. Hardy.
History
Raleigh was first established as the community of Indian Springs and was renamed when the county seat was moved from Fairfield to Raleigh in 1834. The town of Raleigh and its citizens were very active in the Civil War, it was home to numerous companies of the Army of Mississippi and a training camp. In 1863 Raleigh was part of the famous Grierson's Raid which played a major role in the defeat of the Confederate Army at Vicksburg.Harrison Hotel
Harrison Hotel is a famous hotel that is no longer running. Many Mississippi politicians, governors and U.S. Senators have stayed there, including Theodore G. BilboTheodore G. Bilbo
Theodore Gilmore Bilbo was an American politician. Bilbo, a Democrat, twice served as governor of Mississippi and later was elected a U.S. Senator . A master of filibuster and scathing rhetoric, a rough-and-tumble fighter in debate, he made his name a synonym for white supremacy...
and Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Finis Davis , also known as Jeff Davis, was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President for its entire history. He was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane Davis...
.
Smith County Courthouse
The Smith County Courthouse is the major focal point of the town. Two prior courthouses were destroyed in fires in the 1800s. The current court house was completed in 1912, a leak in the roof of the court house caused the loss of its signature dome. In 2005, a dedication service was held in honor of the new dome that had been built to replace the original dome.A new Chancery Court building was completed in 2009 to make room for county offices and added court room space. The new Chancery Court building is designed in a similar greek revival design which resmbles the Smith County Courthouse.
Climate
Raleigh's tornadoTornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
activity is slightly above the state's average and 187% above the national average.
Geography
Raleigh is located at 32°1′59"N 89°31′22"W (32.033008, -89.522893).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 5.1 square miles (13.2 km²), of which, 5 square miles (12.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.40%) 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 1,255 people, 482 households, and 334 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 249.0 people per square mile (96.1/km²). There were 550 housing units at an average density of 109.1 per square mile (42.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 59.76% White, 39.68% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.32% 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 0.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population. 4% of the population claim German descent and 9% claim Irish descent.
There were 482 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% 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, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 83.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,316, and the median income for a family was $31,458. Males had a median income of $28,646 versus $16,417 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 $13,982. About 18.9% of families and 24.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.1% of those under age 18 and 25.7% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Raleigh is served by the Smith County School DistrictSmith County School District
The Smith County School District is a public school district based in Raleigh, Mississippi . The district's boundaries parallel that of Smith County.-Schools:*Raleigh High School*Taylorsville High School*Raleigh Elementary School...
.
Raleigh High School is the educational center for the towns of Raleigh, Polkville
Polkville, Mississippi
Polkville is a village in Smith County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 132 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Polkville is located at ....
, and Sylvarena
Sylvarena, Mississippi
Sylvarena is a village in Smith County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 120 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sylvarena is located at ....
. Its school colors are maroon and white. Its mascot is Rah-Lee the Lion.