Ripley, Mississippi
Encyclopedia
Ripley is a city in Tippah County
, Mississippi
, United States
. The population was 5,478 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Tippah County
.
Colonel William Clark Falkner
, great-grandfather of authors William Faulkner
and John Faulkner
, was a prominent resident of Ripley in the mid to late-19th century. W.C. Falkner's exploits in and around Ripley served as the model for Faulkner's character of Colonel John Sartoris
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 11.5 square miles (29.8 km²), of which 11.5 square miles (29.8 km²) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) (0.35%) is water.
of 2000, there were 5,478 people, 2,174 households, and 1,441 families residing in the city. The population density
was 476.8 people per square mile (184.1/km²). There were 2,334 housing units at an average density of 203.1 per square mile (78.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.65% White, 19.90% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.34% from other races
, and 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.91% of the population.
There were 2,174 households out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples
living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 84.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,728, and the median income for a family was $31,174. Males had a median income of $26,275 versus $20,160 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $12,979. About 18.3% of families and 21.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.7% of those under age 18 and 21.9% of those age 65 or over.
. The Ripley school system includes Ripley Elementary School, Ripley Middle School and Ripley High School.
Website: http://www.firstmonday.ripley.ms/
sites during Ripley, MS’s annual Faulkner Festival, led by Faulkner authority and Mississippi historian Robert Bruce Smith, IV
.
Tippah County, Mississippi
-Demographics:At the 2000 census, there are 20,826 people, 8,108 households and 5,910 families residing in the county. The population density was 46 per square mile . There were 8,868 housing units at an average density of 19 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 5,478 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 Tippah County
Tippah County, Mississippi
-Demographics:At the 2000 census, there are 20,826 people, 8,108 households and 5,910 families residing in the county. The population density was 46 per square mile . There were 8,868 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile...
.
Colonel William Clark Falkner
William Clark Falkner
William Clark Falkner was a soldier, lawyer, politician, businessman, and author in northern Mississippi...
, great-grandfather of authors William Faulkner
William Faulkner
William Cuthbert Faulkner was an American writer from Oxford, Mississippi. Faulkner worked in a variety of media; he wrote novels, short stories, a play, poetry, essays and screenplays during his career...
and John Faulkner
John Faulkner (author)
John Faulkner was an American author. His works, in a plain style, depict life in early Mississippi...
, was a prominent resident of Ripley in the mid to late-19th century. W.C. Falkner's exploits in and around Ripley served as the model for Faulkner's character of Colonel John Sartoris
Sartoris
Sartoris is a novel, first published in 1929, by the American author William Faulkner. It portrays the decay of the Mississippi aristocracy following the social upheaval of the American Civil War. The 1929 edition is an abridged version of Faulker's original work. The full text was published in...
.
Geography
Ripley is located at 34°43′57"N 88°56′49"W (34.732363, -88.947055).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 11.5 square miles (29.8 km²), of which 11.5 square miles (29.8 km²) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) (0.35%) 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 5,478 people, 2,174 households, and 1,441 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 476.8 people per square mile (184.1/km²). There were 2,334 housing units at an average density of 203.1 per square mile (78.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.65% White, 19.90% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.34% 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 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.91% of the population.
There were 2,174 households out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% 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, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 84.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,728, and the median income for a family was $31,174. Males had a median income of $26,275 versus $20,160 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 $12,979. About 18.3% of families and 21.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.7% of those under age 18 and 21.9% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The City of Ripley is served by the South Tippah School DistrictSouth Tippah School District
The South Tippah School District is a public school district based in Ripley, Mississippi .In addition to Ripley, the district also serves the towns of Dumas and Blue Mountain as well as rural areas in southern Tippah County.-Schools:...
. The Ripley school system includes Ripley Elementary School, Ripley Middle School and Ripley High School.
First Monday Trade Day
Ripley is the home of the First Monday Trade Day held the weekend prior to the first Monday of every month. It is one of the oldest outdoor flea markets in the United States. It started around the turn of the century at the old square but is now held south of Ripley along Highway 15 across from the Tippah County Fair Grounds. It has seen publicity by various news channels over the years for its tolerance of a controversial live animal market housed at the back edge of the trading grounds.Website: http://www.firstmonday.ripley.ms/
William Faulkner Festival
Additionally, there is an annual walking tour of historic William FaulknerWilliam Faulkner
William Cuthbert Faulkner was an American writer from Oxford, Mississippi. Faulkner worked in a variety of media; he wrote novels, short stories, a play, poetry, essays and screenplays during his career...
sites during Ripley, MS’s annual Faulkner Festival, led by Faulkner authority and Mississippi historian Robert Bruce Smith, IV
Robert Bruce Smith, IV
- Current Activities :Robert Bruce Smith, IV is a Mississippi historian and native writer. Smith presently lives in Tupelo, MS where he does technology consulting. He currently reviews Tupelo Symphony Orchestra concerts for the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal in addition to writing a local...
.
Notable natives
- Super Bowl winner Jim MillerJim Miller (punter)James Gordon Miller is a former American football punter in the National Football League for the San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, and the New York Giants.-College career:...
punted for the San Francisco 49ers when they won Super Bowl XVI - Super Bowl winner Kendall SimmonsKendall SimmonsHenry Alexander Kendall Simmons is an American football guard who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Auburn....
was on offensive lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers when they won Super Bowl XL - Author John GrishamJohn GrishamJohn Ray Grisham, Jr. is an American lawyer and author, best known for his popular legal thrillers.John Grisham graduated from Mississippi State University before attending the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1981 and practiced criminal law for about a decade...
attended Ripley Elementary School - Award winning gospel music artist Carroll RobersonCarroll RobersonCarroll Roberson is a well-known evangelist, gospel singer-songwriter, and author. He is founder and president of Carroll Roberson Ministries in Ripley, Mississippi where he lives with his wife, Donna. They have two sons, Shane and Brandon....
resides in Ripley - Northeast Mississippi Daily JournalNortheast Mississippi Daily JournalThe Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal is the largest daily newspaper in northeast Mississippi. It was first published in 1872. In 1934 it was taken over by George Mclean, a proponent of leftist social policies. It is based in Tupelo, Mississippi and owned by Journal, Inc...
columnist Robert Bruce Smith, IVRobert Bruce Smith, IV- Current Activities :Robert Bruce Smith, IV is a Mississippi historian and native writer. Smith presently lives in Tupelo, MS where he does technology consulting. He currently reviews Tupelo Symphony Orchestra concerts for the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal in addition to writing a local...
, author and historical lecturer - State Senator Lee YanceyLee YanceyJeremy Lee Yancey is a Mississippi State Senator. He was previously a candidate for State Treasurer of Mississippi in the 2011 statewide election.-Early life:...