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Sharkey County, Mississippi

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Sharkey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. Part of the eastern border is formed by the Yazoo River. According to the 2020 census, the population was 3,800,[1] making it the second-least populous county in Mississippi, after Issaquena County. Its county seat is Rolling Fork.[2] The county is named after William L. Sharkey, the provisional Governor of Mississippi in 1865.

Sharkey County, Mississippi
County
Sharkey County Courthouse in Rolling Fork
Sharkey County Courthouse in Rolling Fork
Map of Mississippi highlighting Sharkey County
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Coordinates: 32°53′N 90°49′W / 32.88°N 90.81°W / 32.88; -90.81
Country United States
State Mississippi
Founded1876
Named afterWilliam L. Sharkey
SeatRolling Fork
Largest cityRolling Fork
Area
 • Total
435 sq mi (1,130 km2)
 • Land432 sq mi (1,120 km2)
 • Water3.4 sq mi (8.8 km2)  0.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
3,800
 • Estimate 
(2025)
3,097 Decrease
 • Density8.8/sq mi (3.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.sharkeycounty.net

Sharkey County is located in the Mississippi Delta region.

Historic Weather

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On the afternoon of Sunday, February 21, 1971, a large and long-tracked F5 tornado impacted areas of Sharkey County. On March 24, 2023, a high-end EF4 tornado hit the city of Rolling Fork with estimated wind speeds of 195 mph (314kph), causing catastrophic damage throughout the community. The tornado was responsible for 17 fatalities and 165 injuries.[3][4][5]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 435 square miles (1,130 km2), of which 432 square miles (1,120 km2) is land and 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2) (0.8%) is water.[6]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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National protected area

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18806,306—
18908,38232.9%
190012,17845.3%
191015,69428.9%
192014,190−9.6%
193013,877−2.2%
194015,43311.2%
195012,903−16.4%
196010,738−16.8%
19708,937−16.8%
19807,964−10.9%
19907,066−11.3%
20006,580−6.9%
20104,916−25.3%
20203,800−22.7%
2025 (est.)3,097[7] Decrease−18.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2013[12]

Racial and ethnic composition

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Sharkey 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[13] Pop 1990[14] Pop 2000[15] Pop 2010[16] Pop 2020[17] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 2,689 2,337 1,911 1,366 962 33.76% 33.07% 29.04% 27.79% 25.32%
Black or African American alone (NH) 5,135 4,653 4,527 3,475 2,671 64.48% 65.85% 68.80% 70.69% 70.29%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 16 7 12 3 0 0.20% 0.10% 0.18% 0.06% 0.00%
Asian alone (NH) 17 21 17 11 14 0.21% 0.30% 0.26% 0.22% 0.37%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [18] x [19] 0 0 3 x x 0.00% 0.00% 0.08%
Other race alone (NH) 0 0 0 1 1 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.02% 0.03%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [20] x [21] 27 21 88 x x 0.41% 0.43% 2.32%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 107 48 86 39 61 1.34% 0.68% 1.31% 0.79% 1.61%
Total 7,964 7,066 6,580 4,916 3,800 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 3,800. The median age was 42.8 years. 23.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 84.3 males age 18 and over.[22][23]

The racial makeup of the county was 25.5% White, 70.8% Black or African American, <0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.3% from some other race, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.6% of the population.[23]

<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[24]

There were 1,509 households in the county, of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 29.9% were married-couple households, 21.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 41.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[22]

There were 1,679 housing units, of which 10.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 65.9% were owner-occupied and 34.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.9%.[22]

2010 census

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As of the 2010 United States census, there were 4,916 people living in the county. 71.0% were Black or African American, 27.9% White, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native American, 0.4% of some other race and 0.4% or two or more races. 0.8% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census

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As of the census[25] of 2000, there were 6,580 people, 2,163 households, and 1,589 families living in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile (5.8 people/km2). There were 2,416 housing units at an average density of 6 units per square mile (2.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 69.32% Black or African American, 29.36% White, 0.18% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.27% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. 1.31% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,163 households, out of which 36.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.00% were married couples living together, 26.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.50% were non-families. 23.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.56.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 33.00% under the age of 18, 10.40% from 18 to 24, 24.80% from 25 to 44, 20.40% from 45 to 64, and 11.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 88.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $22,285, and the median income for a family was $26,786. Males had a median income of $26,563 versus $17,931 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,396. About 30.50% of families and 38.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 50.00% of those under age 18 and 24.20% of those age 65 or over.

Sharkey County has the tenth-lowest per capita income in Mississippi and the 73rd lowest in the United States.

Education

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Communities

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Crossing the Sunflower River by ferry southeast of Rolling Fork, 1965

City

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Towns

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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Politics

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Sharkey County is, like the rest of the Mississippi Delta region, heavily Democratic. It has voted for the Democratic nominee for president in every election since 1976, and no Republican has broken 40% of the vote since George H. W. Bush in 1988. In the 2024 election, Sharkey was the only county in Mississippi that voted more Democratic than in 2020.

United States presidential election results for Sharkey County, Mississippi[26]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1912 3 1.79% 157 93.45% 8 4.76%
1916 6 2.36% 246 96.85% 2 0.79%
1920 7 2.98% 228 97.02% 0 0.00%
1924 34 8.65% 353 89.82% 6 1.53%
1928 36 7.05% 475 92.95% 0 0.00%
1932 0 0.00% 551 99.82% 1 0.18%
1936 7 1.22% 567 98.78% 0 0.00%
1940 18 2.35% 747 97.65% 0 0.00%
1944 24 3.32% 698 96.68% 0 0.00%
1948 10 1.29% 23 2.96% 745 95.76%
1952 600 60.73% 388 39.27% 0 0.00%
1956 211 25.36% 308 37.02% 313 37.62%
1960 313 31.08% 263 26.12% 431 42.80%
1964 1,116 89.71% 128 10.29% 0 0.00%
1968 249 10.34% 972 40.35% 1,188 49.32%
1972 1,426 67.94% 655 31.21% 18 0.86%
1976 1,024 41.81% 1,283 52.39% 142 5.80%
1980 996 32.97% 1,957 64.78% 68 2.25%
1984 1,487 43.76% 1,723 50.71% 188 5.53%
1988 1,277 43.00% 1,609 54.18% 84 2.83%
1992 1,008 36.63% 1,526 55.45% 218 7.92%
1996 906 34.59% 1,566 59.79% 147 5.61%
2000 1,074 37.00% 1,706 58.77% 123 4.24%
2004 1,120 36.21% 1,560 50.44% 413 13.35%
2008 873 31.23% 1,907 68.23% 15 0.54%
2012 737 29.11% 1,782 70.38% 13 0.51%
2016 692 31.60% 1,479 67.53% 19 0.87%
2020 688 31.52% 1,465 67.11% 30 1.37%
2024 551 31.20% 1,201 68.01% 14 0.79%

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "Census - Geography Profile: Sharkey County, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ National Weather Service in Jackson, Mississippi (March 27, 2023). NWS Damage Survey for March 24 tornado event (Report). Iowa Environmental Mesonet. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  4. ↑ Will McDuffie (March 24, 2023). "7 dead in 'destructive' Mississippi tornado, official says". ABC News. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Mississippi death toll from March tornado climbs to 22". AP News. May 4, 2023. Archived from the original on May 5, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  6. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  7. ↑ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  11. ↑ "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 7, 2014.
  12. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  13. ↑ "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.
  14. ↑ "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.
  15. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Sharkey County, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau.
  16. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Sharkey County, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau.
  17. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Sharkey County, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau.
  18. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  19. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  20. ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
  21. ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
  22. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  23. 1 2 "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  24. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  25. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  26. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
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32°53′N 90°49′W / 32.88°N 90.81°W / 32.88; -90.81

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