Forrest County, Mississippi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Forrest County, Mississippi
Map
Map of Mississippi highlighting Forrest County
Location in the state of Mississippi
Map of the U.S. highlighting Mississippi
Mississippi's location in the U.S.
Statistics
Founded 1906
Seat Hattiesburg
Largest city Hattiesburg
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

470 sq mi (1,217 km²)
467 sq mi (1,210 km²)
4 sq mi (10 km²), 0.76%
Population
 - (2000)
 - Density

72,604
155/sq mi (60/km²)
Website: www.co.forrest.ms.us

Forrest County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. It is part of the Hattiesburg, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2000, the population was 72,604. It is named in honor of Confederate General Nathan B. Forrest. Its county seat and largest city is Hattiesburg[1].

Contents

[edit] Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 470 square miles (1,218 km²), of which, 467 square miles (1,208 km²) of it is land and 4 square miles (9 km²) of it (0.76%) is water.

[edit] Major highways

[edit] Adjacent counties

An early map of Mississippi (c. 1907, showing Forrest County
An early map of Mississippi (c. 1907, showing Forrest County

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 72,604 people, 27,183 households, and 17,315 families residing in the county. The population density was 156 people per square mile (60/km²). There were 29,913 housing units at an average density of 64 per square mile (25/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 64.34% White, 33.55% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.74% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. 1.26% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 27,183 households out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.60% were married couples living together, 17.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.30% were non-families. 28.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.50% under the age of 18, 18.20% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 18.30% from 45 to 64, and 11.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 89.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.30 males.

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1910 20,722
1920 21,238 2.5%
1930 30,115 41.8%
1940 34,901 15.9%
1950 45,055 29.1%
1960 52,722 17%
1970 57,849 9.7%
1980 66,018 14.1%
1990 68,314 3.5%
2000 72,604 6.3%
Est. 2007 78,241 7.8%

The median income for a household in the county was $27,420, and the median income for a family was $35,791. Males had a median income of $28,742 versus $20,500 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,160. About 17.10% of families and 22.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.60% of those under age 18 and 12.80% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Communities

[edit] References

  1. ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 31°11′N 89°16′W / 31.19, -89.26