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Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi

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Jefferson Davis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,321.[1] Its county seat is Prentiss.[2] The county is named after Mississippi Senator and Confederate President Jefferson Davis. The county was carved out of Covington and Lawrence counties in March 1906. Governor James K. Vardaman signed the bill creating the county on May 9, 1906.

Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi
County
Jefferson Davis County Courthouse in Prentiss
Jefferson Davis County Courthouse in Prentiss
Map of Mississippi highlighting Jefferson Davis County
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Coordinates: 31°34′N 89°49′W / 31.56°N 89.82°W / 31.56; -89.82
Country United States
State Mississippi
Founded1906
Named afterJefferson Davis
SeatPrentiss
Largest townPrentiss
Area
 • Total
409 sq mi (1,060 km2)
 • Land408 sq mi (1,060 km2)
 • Water0.7 sq mi (1.8 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
11,321
 • Estimate 
(2025)
10,941 Decrease
 • Density27.7/sq mi (10.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.jeffersondaviscountyms.com

History

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The genesis of the county occurred on March 31, 1906, when a Mississippi state legislative act authorized the new country's boundaries. The residents of western Covington County and eastern Lawrence County had frequently complained of the rivers and streams impeding the route to their respective county seats. Jefferson Davis County was the state's 77th county.

A 1906 special referendum determined that the county seat would be Prentiss, named for either famed Mississippi lawmaker and orator Seargent Smith Prentiss, or wealthy landowner Prentiss Webb Berry. The settlement was originally named Blountville after early settler William Blount.

In 1933, the county was the first in Mississippi to issue a prohibition on alcohol after the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Round dancing in the community hall was banned in 1938.

In 1935, notorious bank robber Raymond Hamilton, known to hide out in the county's wilderness, was involved in a hostage situation after robbing Prentiss' Bank of Blountville, but escaped in Memphis.[3]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 409 square miles (1,060 km2), of which 408 square miles (1,060 km2) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) (0.2%) is water.[4]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
191012,860—
192012,755−0.8%
193014,28112.0%
194015,86911.1%
195015,500−2.3%
196013,540−12.6%
197012,936−4.5%
198013,8467.0%
199014,0511.5%
200013,962−0.6%
201012,487−10.6%
202011,321−9.3%
2025 (est.)10,941[5] Decrease−3.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[10]

Racial and ethnic composition

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Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[11] Pop 1990[12] Pop 2000[13] Pop 2010[14] Pop 2020[15] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 6,381 6,324 5,781 4,802 4,330 46.09% 45.01% 41.41% 38.46% 38.25%
Black or African American alone (NH) 7,369 7,640 7,961 7,461 6,622 53.22% 54.37% 57.02% 59.75% 58.49%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 5 21 12 32 8 0.04% 0.15% 0.09% 0.26% 0.07%
Asian alone (NH) 13 22 18 18 21 0.09% 0.16% 0.13% 0.14% 0.19%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [16] x [17] 1 2 0 x x 0.01% 0.02% 0.00%
Other race alone (NH) 5 0 5 3 16 0.04% 0.00% 0.04% 0.02% 0.14%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [18] x [19] 77 68 223 x x 0.55% 0.54% 1.97%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 73 44 107 101 101 0.53% 0.31% 0.77% 0.81% 0.89%
Total 13,846 14,051 13,962 12,487 11,321 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

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As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 11,321. The median age was 44.9 years. 20.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 91.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.2 males age 18 and over.[20][21]

The racial makeup of the county was 38.5% White, 58.7% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.4% from some other race, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 0.9% of the population.[21]

<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[22]

There were 4,777 households in the county, of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 36.3% were married-couple households, 21.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 37.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[20]

There were 5,641 housing units, of which 15.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 81.0% were owner-occupied and 19.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.6%.[20]

Communities

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Towns

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Unincorporated communities

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Ghost town

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Politics

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Typical of a majority-black county in Mississippi, Jefferson Davis leans Democratic and last voted Republican in 1984.

United States presidential election results for Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi[23]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1912 43 6.63% 542 83.51% 64 9.86%
1916 45 6.59% 634 92.83% 4 0.59%
1920 179 26.76% 485 72.50% 5 0.75%
1924 88 10.73% 732 89.27% 0 0.00%
1928 163 16.00% 856 84.00% 0 0.00%
1932 30 3.09% 940 96.71% 2 0.21%
1936 67 4.81% 1,325 95.05% 2 0.14%
1940 38 2.86% 1,289 96.92% 3 0.23%
1944 88 6.03% 1,372 93.97% 0 0.00%
1948 51 3.30% 41 2.66% 1,452 94.04%
1952 473 22.53% 1,626 77.47% 0 0.00%
1956 156 10.92% 1,049 73.41% 224 15.68%
1960 225 13.06% 510 29.60% 988 57.34%
1964 2,351 90.91% 235 9.09% 0 0.00%
1968 297 6.79% 1,465 33.48% 2,614 59.73%
1972 2,830 72.83% 1,005 25.86% 51 1.31%
1976 1,868 39.76% 2,747 58.47% 83 1.77%
1980 2,280 36.85% 3,831 61.92% 76 1.23%
1984 2,884 51.81% 2,644 47.50% 38 0.68%
1988 2,745 47.92% 2,948 51.47% 35 0.61%
1992 2,228 39.55% 2,991 53.10% 414 7.35%
1996 1,890 38.84% 2,663 54.73% 313 6.43%
2000 2,437 45.83% 2,835 53.32% 45 0.85%
2004 2,668 46.28% 2,959 51.33% 138 2.39%
2008 2,871 38.96% 4,454 60.43% 45 0.61%
2012 2,507 36.52% 4,267 62.16% 90 1.31%
2016 2,466 39.54% 3,720 59.64% 51 0.82%
2020 2,534 40.79% 3,599 57.93% 80 1.29%
2024 2,302 42.80% 3,041 56.55% 35 0.65%

Historic sites

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Education

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All residents are zoned to the Jefferson Davis County School District.[24]

The county is in the zone of Pearl River Community College.[25]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "Census - Geography Profile: Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Jefferson Davis County Mississippi Genealogy & History Network". jeffdavis.msghn.org. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  4. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  5. ↑ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  6. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  10. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  11. ↑ "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Mississippi - Table 58 - Race by Sex: 1980 and Table 59 - Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 17-32. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 7, 2022 – via Wayback Machine.
  12. ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Mississippi: Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 9-37. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 21, 2024 – via Wayback Machine.
  13. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau.
  14. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau.
  15. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau.
  16. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  17. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  18. ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
  19. ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
  20. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  21. 1 2 "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  22. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  23. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  24. ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Jefferson Davis County, MS" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2024. - Text list
  25. ↑ "2014-2016 Catalog" (PDF). Pearl River Community College. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 7, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
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31°34′N 89°49′W / 31.56°N 89.82°W / 31.56; -89.82

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