Mississippi County, Arkansas

Mississippi County
U.S. county
Mississippi County Courthouse, Osceola
Flag
Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
Arkansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°46′36″N 90°03′16″W / 35.776666666667°N 90.054444444444°W / 35.776666666667; -90.054444444444
Country	United States
State	Arkansas
Founded	November 1, 1833
Named for	Mississippi River
Seat	Blytheville and Osceola
Largest city	Blytheville
Area
• Total	920 sq mi (2,400 km2)
• Land	901 sq mi (2,330 km2)
• Water	19 sq mi (50 km2)  2.1%%
Population  (2010)
• Total	46,480
• Estimate  (2019)	40,651
• Density	51/sq mi (20/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.mississippicountyar.org

Mississippi County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 46,480.^[1] There are two county seats, Blytheville and Osceola.^[2] The county was formed on November 1, 1833, and named for the Mississippi River which borders the county to the east. Mississippi County is part of the First Congressional District in Arkansas. The Mississippi County Judge is John Alan Nelson.

The Blytheville, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Mississippi County.

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 920 square miles (2,400 km²), of which 901 square miles (2,330 km²) is land and 19 square miles (49 km²) (2.1%) is water.^[3]

Major highways[]

Adjacent counties[]

National protected area[]

• Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1840	1,410		—
1850	2,368		67.9%
1860	3,895		64.5%
1870	3,633		−6.7%
1880	7,332		101.8%
1890	11,635		58.7%
1900	16,384		40.8%
1910	30,468		86.0%
1920	47,320		55.3%
1930	69,289		46.4%
1940	80,217		15.8%
1950	82,375		2.7%
1960	70,174		−14.8%
1970	62,060		−11.6%
1980	59,517		−4.1%
1990	57,525		−3.3%
2000	51,979		−9.6%
2010	46,480		−10.6%
2019 (est.)	40,651	[4]	−12.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1790–1960[6] 1900–1990[7] 1990–2000[8] 2010–2016[1]

As of the 2010 census, there were 46,480 people living in the county. The racial makeup of the county was 60.5% White, 33.9% Black, 0.3% Native American, 0.5% Asian, <0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from some other race and 1.2% from two or more races. 3.6% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of the 2000 census,^[10] there were 51,979 people, 19,349 households, and 13,911 families living in the county. The population density was 58 people per square mile (22/km²). There were 22,310 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 64.45% White, 32.70% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.07% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. 2.25% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 19,349 households, out of which 36.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.00% were married couples living together, 17.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 24.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.60% under the age of 18, 9.90% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 20.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 91.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,479, and the median income for a family was $32,648. Males had a median income of $29,645 versus $19,782 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,978. About 19.00% of families and 23.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.10% of those under age 18 and 19.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government[]

While a traditionally Democratic area, Mississippi County has voted Republican in the past four presidential elections.

Economy[]

The economy of Mississippi County transitioned from agriculture (especially cotton) to manufacturing (mostly steel production) beginning in the 1980s. Over $2.1 billion has been invested in plants and supporting infrastructure in the county, with major facilities being operated by Nucor and Big River Steel (a U.S. Steel company). As of 2021 Mississippi County is the second-largest steel producing county in the United States. The county's position near the center of the United States and along the Mississippi River allows the input for steel mills, scrap metal, to be shipped in on barges, often the most inexpensive method of shipping, and by railroad from Memphis. Company executives have also praised the work ethic of the rural farm families of the area as a natural fit for ironworkers.^[12]

Education[]

Public education[]

Mississippi County is home to the following public school districts, listed in order of student population:

• Blytheville School District
• Osceola School District
• Gosnell School District
• Southern Mississippi County School District
• Manila School District
• Buffalo Island Central School District
• Armorel School District

The following school districts are based outside of the county but serve portions:

• East Poinsett County School District
• KIPP: Delta Public Schools
• Nettleton School District

Libraries[]

Mississippi County is served by the Mississippi–Crittenden Regional Library System, which includes the Mississippi County Library System (central library) and 13 branch libraries in communities throughout the county.

Media[]

Radio[]

FM

• FM 88.3 KBCM Blytheville
• FM 93.9 KAMJ Gosnell
• FM 96.3 KHLS Blytheville
• FM 103.7 KAIA K279BJ Blytheville
• FM 107.3 KQXF Osceola

AM

• AM 860 KOSE Wilson

Print[]

• NEA Town Courier, Newspaper, Blytheville, Arkansas^[13]
• The Osceola Times, Newspaper, Osceola, Arkansas

Television[]

There are no television stations in Mississippi County, Arkansas. Mississippi County, Arkansas is placed in the Memphis, TN Television Market. Those stations include:

• ABC- WATN 24
• NBC- WMC 5
• CBS- WREG 3
• Fox- WHBQ 13
• PBS- WKNO 10
• CW- WLMT 30
• Ion WPXX 50

However some residents in county may watch stations from the Jackson, TN, Jonesboro, AR, or Little Rock, AR Television Markets.

Communities[]

Cities[]

• Blytheville (county seat)
• Gosnell
• Joiner
• Keiser
• Leachville
• Manila
• Osceola (county seat)

Towns[]

Townships[]

Townships in Arkansas are the divisions of a county. Each township includes unincorporated areas; some may have incorporated cities or towns within part of their boundaries. Arkansas townships have limited purposes in modern times. However, the United States census does list Arkansas population based on townships (sometimes referred to as "county subdivisions" or "minor civil divisions"). Townships are also of value for historical purposes in terms of genealogical research. Each town or city is within one or more townships in an Arkansas county based on census maps and publications. The townships of Mississippi County are listed below; listed in parentheses are the cities, towns, and/or census-designated places that are fully or partially inside the township. ^[14][15]

See also[]

• Island 35 Mastodon
• List of lakes in Mississippi County, Arkansas
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Mississippi County, Arkansas

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mississippi County, Arkansas.

• "Mississippi. I. A N. E. county of Arkansas" . The American Cyclopædia. 1879.

Coordinates: 35°46′36″N 90°03′16″W / 35.77667°N 90.05444°W / 35.77667; -90.05444