Demographics

As of the census

Census

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 16,182 people, 6,046 households, and 4,558 families residing in the county. 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 25 people per square mile (10/km²). There were 7,005 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 76.11% White

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...

, 23.11% Black

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...

 or African American

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...

, 0.11% Native American

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...

, 0.10% Asian

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...

, 0.04% Pacific Islander

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...

, 0.19% 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 0.35% from two or more races. 0.59% of the population were Hispanic

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...

 or Latino

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...

 of any race.
There were 6,046 households out of which 35.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.60% 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, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.60% were non-families. 23.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.50% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,840, and the median income for a family was $36,780. Males had a median income of $28,698 versus $20,154 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 county was $14,752. About 12.90% of families and 16.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.50% of those under age 18 and 23.70% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

• Towns
  • Mize
    Mize, Mississippi
    Mize is a town in Smith County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 285 at the 2000 census. On April 6, 2005, an F-3 tornado struck Mize High School. The school's second floor was ripped off by sheer force of wind and the entire structure was severely damaged. Re-construction efforts...
    
    
  • Raleigh
    Raleigh, Mississippi
    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 in Smith County.Named for the famous English explorer Sir Walter Raleigh, Raleigh has been home to such famous Mississippians as Governor Robert...
    
    
  • Taylorsville
    Taylorsville, Mississippi
    Taylorsville is a town in Smith County, Mississippi, United States. It is the hometown of various professional athletes, including former Auburn Tigers and current Oakland Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell...
    
    

• Villages
  • 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 ....
    
    
  • 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 ....
    
    

• Unincorporated places
  • Burns
  • Summerland

See also

• Dry counties
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Smith County, Mississippi

External links

• Smith County - Official site.