Winona, Mississippi
Encyclopedia
Winona is a city in Montgomery County
, Mississippi, United States. The population was 5,482 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Montgomery County
.
Winona is known in the local area as "The Crossroads of North Mississippi" due to its central location at the intersection of U.S. Interstate 55 and U.S. Highways 51 and 82.
, Mississippi was a town that was located west of Winona's current geographical position. It is sometimes considered the predecessor to the current town, Winona.
Captain William Witty, an early settler from North Carolina, was for years a leading Winona merchant and established the first bank in the county. Other names seen among the early settlers were: Curtis, Burton, Palmer, Spivey, Townsend, Hart, Turner and Campbell. The early businesses were mainly grocery stores.
In 1871, Montgomery County was formed from portions of Carroll and other counties, and Winona became the county seat of the newly formed county. A yellow fever epidemic struck the area in 1878, and caused many of the towns citizens to die and many to leave.
In April 1888, a great fire destroyed almost the entire business section of the town. Forty of the 50 businesses burned.
, and 0.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.89% of the population.
There were 2,098 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 24.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 78.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,160, and the median income for a family was $31,619. Males had a median income of $30,163 versus $17,549 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,700. About 24.5% of families and 27.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.6% of those under age 18 and 24.8% of those age 65 or over.
Christian area.
union grove baptist
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 13.1 square miles (33.9 km²), of which, 13.1 square miles (33.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.31%) is water.
. The company, a small truckstop/travelcenter chain, purchased the High Point truck and travel center, previously owned by NFL player Kent Hull, for a reported $4.6 million. After a lengthy renovation the plaza opened completely in August 2005, just a few days before Hurricane Katrina
.
stopped to eat in Winona on their way to Charleston
, South Carolina. On June 9, 1963, Hamer was on her way back from Charleston, South Carolina with other activists from a literacy workshop. Stopping in Winona, Mississippi, the group was arrested on a false charge and jailed by white policemen. Once in jail, Hamer and her colleagues were, per orders of local law officers, beaten savagely by inmates of the Montgomery County jail, almost to the point of death.
While touring the country, Martin Luther King Jr. made a stop in Winona during which he was ambushed by the local barber, Ryan Lynch, an outspoken white supremacist. Lynch rushed Dr. King with the razor from his shop, but King was saved by his assigned bodyguard – a local police officer named Garrit Howard. Howard stopped Lynch without even using his firearm, but rather by quickly grabbing the phonebook from a nearby phone booth and striking Lynch in the face as he charged.
Montgomery County, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 12,189 people, 4,690 households, and 3,367 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 people per square mile . There were 5,402 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
, Mississippi, United States. The population was 5,482 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 Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 12,189 people, 4,690 households, and 3,367 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 people per square mile . There were 5,402 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
.
Winona is known in the local area as "The Crossroads of North Mississippi" due to its central location at the intersection of U.S. Interstate 55 and U.S. Highways 51 and 82.
Middleton
MiddletonMiddleton, Mississippi
Middleton, Mississippi is an extinct town that was located west of the current geographical position of Winona, Mississippi.-History:Few travelers along U.S...
, Mississippi was a town that was located west of Winona's current geographical position. It is sometimes considered the predecessor to the current town, Winona.
Winona
Born as a result of the railroad being built here instead of at Middleton to the west in 1860, Winona was originally a part of Carroll County and was incorporated as a town on May 2, 1861. The first settler of the town was Colonel O.J. Moore, who arrived from Virginia in 1848. What is now the business part of town was then a cultivated field on Colonel Moore's property. The railroad passed through his property and the railway station was placed near his plantation home. An influx of settlers started after the location of the railroad and Winona became a busy town.Captain William Witty, an early settler from North Carolina, was for years a leading Winona merchant and established the first bank in the county. Other names seen among the early settlers were: Curtis, Burton, Palmer, Spivey, Townsend, Hart, Turner and Campbell. The early businesses were mainly grocery stores.
In 1871, Montgomery County was formed from portions of Carroll and other counties, and Winona became the county seat of the newly formed county. A yellow fever epidemic struck the area in 1878, and caused many of the towns citizens to die and many to leave.
In April 1888, a great fire destroyed almost the entire business section of the town. Forty of the 50 businesses burned.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,482 people, 2,098 households, and 1,456 families residing in the city. The population density was 420 PD/sqmi. There were 2,344 housing units at an average density of 179.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 48.10% White, 50.73% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.04% from other racesRace (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 0.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.89% of the population.
There were 2,098 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 24.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 78.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,160, and the median income for a family was $31,619. Males had a median income of $30,163 versus $17,549 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,700. About 24.5% of families and 27.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.6% of those under age 18 and 24.8% of those age 65 or over.
Religion
Winona is a predominately ProtestantProtestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
Christian area.
Churches
- Church of God
- Columbiana United Methodist Church
- Haven Memorial United Methodist Church
- First BaptistBaptistBaptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
Church - First PresbyterianPresbyterianismPresbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
Church - Immanuel Episcopal ChurchEpiscopal Church (United States)The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
- Moore Memorial MethodistMethodismMethodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
Church - North Winona Baptist
- Northside Church of ChristChurch of ChristChurches 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,...
- Sacred Heart Catholic Church
- Southside Baptist Church
- Winona Baptist Temple
- Winona Church of Christ
- Mount Vernom Missionary Baptist Church
- Winona Baptist Church
union grove baptist
Notable residents
- Todd AuerTodd AuerTodd Auer is a former linebacker in the National Football League and is the Defensive Coordinator of the football team at Chadron State College.-Biography:A native of Wisconsin, Auer was born in Winona, Mississippi on January 8, 1965. He has two children....
, NFL football player - William BillingsleyWilliam Billingsley-Biography:Born in Winona, Mississippi, William Billingsley graduated from the Naval Academy in 1909. On December 2, 1912, he reported for duty at the Aviation Camp, Annapolis, MD and was assigned to the Navy-Wright B-2 for instruction....
, Naval pilot - Little Sammy DavisLittle Sammy DavisLittle Sammy Davis is an American blues musician based in New York's Hudson Valley. Although his musical career began in the 1940s, he was not widely known until the mid-1990s when he began working in radio, singing, playing live on tour, and recording studio albums.-Early life and career:Born in...
, blues musician - Jane Holmes DixonJane Holmes DixonJane Holmes Dixon is a retired American Episcopal bishop. She served as Bishop of Washington pro tempore from 2001 to June 2002 in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. Previously, she had served as Bishop Suffragan from 1992 to 2001...
, Episcopal Bishop of Washington Pro-Tempore - Wade GriffinWade GriffinWade Hampton Griffin Jr. is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League. He was signed by the Baltimore Colts as an undrafted free agent in 1977. He played college football at Mississippi....
, NFL football player - E. W. HammonsE. W. HammonsE. W. Hammons was an American film producer. He produced 228 films between 1921 and 1938. In 1915 he founded Educational Pictures, which started out making educational films for schools, but soon changed its focus to comedy short films.He was born in Winona, Mississippi, and died in New Rochelle,...
, film producer - James Michael TylerJames Michael TylerJames Michael Tyler is a US actor best known for his role as Gunther on the NBC sitcom Friends.-Biography:James Michael Tyler was born the youngest of six children on 28 May 1962 in Winona, Mississippi, US to a retired Air Force captain and a homemaker...
, actor - Chip Oliver, NFL football player
- Donald H. PetersonDonald H. PetersonDonald Herod Peterson is a retired United States Air Force officer and a former USAF and NASA astronaut. He was born in Winona, Mississippi, on October 22, 1933...
, astronaut - Roebuck Staples, Gospel and R&B musician
- Chris WhiteChris WhiteChris White or Christopher White may refer to:*Chris White , British jazz/rock saxophonist*Chris White , bassist and songwriter with The Zombies*Chris White , jazz bassist...
, NFL football player - Gil Peterson, Hollywood actor ("The Cool Ones" 1967) and recording artist (Ace Label)
Geography, geology, and climate
Winona is located at 33°29′20"N 89°43′53"W (33.488845, −89.731451).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 13.1 square miles (33.9 km²), of which, 13.1 square miles (33.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.31%) is water.
| Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures | ||||||||||||
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rec High °F | 79 | 84 | 87 | 92 | 96 | 101 | 104 | 103 | 104 | 97 | 87 | 82 |
| Norm High °F | 51 | 57 | 65 | 72 | 79 | 85 | 89 | 88 | 83 | 74 | 64 | 55 |
| Norm Low °F | 28 | 31 | 38 | 45 | 55 | 63 | 67 | 65 | 59 | 45 | 37 | 31 |
| Rec Low °F | −9 | 9 | 24 | 35 | 40 | 49 | 50 | 34 | 26 | 12 | −2 | |
| Precip in. | 5.41 | 4.65 | 6.36 | 5.52 | 5.05 | 4.27 | 4.48 | 3.16 | 3.62 | 3.32 | 5.07 | 6.13 |
| Source: weather.com | ||||||||||||
Economy
Winona has recently received water and power across I-55 which has allowed more businesses, such as Pilot, to develop. Due to the late development of water and power across I-55, Winona has until now been hindered in its ability to grow. This also contributed to many small family owned businesses controlling the economy.Pilot Anchoring
In May 2011, the economy of Winona got a slight boost with the incoming of Pilot Travel CentersPilot Travel Centers
Pilot Flying J is a chain of truck stops in the United States and Canada. The company is based in Knoxville, Tennessee where Pilot Corporation, the majority owner, is based. The company is owned by Pilot, FJ Management Inc., and CVC Capital Partners...
. The company, a small truckstop/travelcenter chain, purchased the High Point truck and travel center, previously owned by NFL player Kent Hull, for a reported $4.6 million. After a lengthy renovation the plaza opened completely in August 2005, just a few days before Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
.
Civil rights related violence
Civil rights and anti-segregationist activists, including Fannie Lou HamerFannie Lou Hamer
Fannie Lou Hamer was an American voting rights activist and civil rights leader....
stopped to eat in Winona on their way to Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, South Carolina. On June 9, 1963, Hamer was on her way back from Charleston, South Carolina with other activists from a literacy workshop. Stopping in Winona, Mississippi, the group was arrested on a false charge and jailed by white policemen. Once in jail, Hamer and her colleagues were, per orders of local law officers, beaten savagely by inmates of the Montgomery County jail, almost to the point of death.
While touring the country, Martin Luther King Jr. made a stop in Winona during which he was ambushed by the local barber, Ryan Lynch, an outspoken white supremacist. Lynch rushed Dr. King with the razor from his shop, but King was saved by his assigned bodyguard – a local police officer named Garrit Howard. Howard stopped Lynch without even using his firearm, but rather by quickly grabbing the phonebook from a nearby phone booth and striking Lynch in the face as he charged.