Lowndes County is a county on the eastern border of the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 58,879. Its county seat is Columbus. The county is named for U.S. Congressman William Jones Lowndes.

Lowndes County comprises the Columbus, MS Micropolitan Statistical Area. Since the late 20th century, it has been designated as one of three counties in the Golden Triangle region of the state.

History This upland area was settled by European Americans who wanted to develop cotton plantations to produce what became the largest commodity crop in the state.

In the period from 1877 to 1950, Lowndes County had 19 documented lynchings of African Americans, third to Carroll and Leflore counties, which had 29 and 48, respectively. This form of racial terrorism was at its height in the decades around the turn of the 20th century, which followed the state's disenfranchisement of most blacks in 1890 through creating barriers to voter registration.Lynching in America, 3rd edition, Supplement by County, p. 6

Geography Lowndes County lies on the east side of Mississippi, bordering the U.S. state of Alabama. Its terrain was completely wooded before settlement; at present its more level areas have been cleared and turned to agricultural or urban use, with the drainages (about 40% of the total area) still wooded.Lowndes County MS (Google Maps, accessed 24 September 2020) The Tennessee−Tombigbee Waterway flows south-southeastward through the center of the county, with a significant lock system (John C. Stennis Lock and Dam) near Columbus. The county's highest point ( ASL) is a small rise near the county's NE corner.Lourdes County High Point, Mississippi (PeakBagger.com, accessed 24 September 2020)

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (2.1%) is water.

Major highways

U.S. Highway 45 U.S. Route 45 Alternate U.S. Highway 82 Mississippi Highway 12 Mississippi Highway 50 Mississippi Highway 69 Mississippi Highway 182

Adjacent counties

Noxubee County - south Oktibbeha County - west Clay County - northwest Monroe County - north Lamar County, Alabama - northeast Pickens County, Alabama - southeast

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition +Lowndes County, Mississippi – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)36,91036,44234,48931,84729,36364.41%61.45%56.00%53.27%49.87%Black or African American alone (NH)19,42521,99025,48625,90425,88533.90%37.08%41.38%43.33%43.96%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)717599981100.12%0.13%0.16%0.16%0.19%Asian alone (NH)2592893293945140.45%0.49%0.53%0.66%0.87%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census83116xx0.01%0.05%0.03%Other race alone (NH)1182129341100.21%0.04%0.05%0.06%0.19%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census4625571,558xx0.75%0.93%2.65%Hispanic or Latino (any race)5214916849141,3230.91%0.83%1.11%1.53%2.25%Total57,30459,30861,58659,77958,879 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 58,879. The median age was 38.3 years. 22.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 88.0 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 50.6% White, 44.2% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.9% from some other race, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.2% of the population.

45.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 54.3% lived in rural areas.

There were 23,680 households in the county, of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 40.2% were married-couple households, 20.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 34.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 26,882 housing units, of which 11.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 62.2% were owner-occupied and 37.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.2%.

2010 census As of the 2010 United States census, there were 59,779 people in the county. 54.0% were White, 43.5% Black or African American, 0.7% Asian, 0.2% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.6% of some other race and 1.1% of two or more races. 1.5% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census, there were 61,586 people, 22,849 households, and 16,405 families in the county. The population density was . There were 25,104 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 56.47% White, 41.56% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. 1.11% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 22,849 households, out of which 36.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.20% were married couples living together, 18.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.13.

The county population contained 28.60% under the age of 18, 10.60% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 20.40% from 45 to 64, and 11.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 89.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.20 males age 18 and over.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,123, and the median income for a family was $38,248. Males had a median income of $31,792 versus $20,640 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,514. About 18.00% of families and 21.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.80% of those under age 18 and 16.80% of those age 65 or over.

Education Primary and secondary schools Portions of Lowndes County are served by the Columbus Municipal School District and the Lowndes County School District. - Text list

Private schools are under the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools – Lowndes County Division.

The Columbus Municipal School District includes:

Columbus High School Columbus Middle School McKellar Technology Center Joe Cook Elementary Fine Arts Magnet School Fairview Elementary Aerospace and Science Magnet School Franklin Academy Elementary Medical Sciences and Wellness Magnet School Sale Elementary International Studies Magnet School Stokes-Beard Elementary Communication and Technology Magnet School Columbus Alternative School

The Lowndes County School District has three areas, each with an elementary school, a middle school, and a high school Caledonia Schools New Hope Schools West Lowndes Schools The Mississippi Association of Independent Schools – Lowndes County Division has provided five private and parochial schools for Lowndes County Heritage Academy High School Heritage Academy Elementary School Columbus Christian Academy Victory Christian Academy Annunciation Catholic School

On-post families at Columbus Air Force Base may choose between

Colleges and universities Mississippi University for Women is located in Columbus. Lowndes County is within the service area of the East Mississippi Community College system."CATALOG 2007-2009 ." East Mississippi Community College. 3 (3/147). accessed March 1, 2011. The Golden Triangle Campus is located in Mayhew, an unincorporated area in Lowndes County. The system also offers classes at the Columbus Air Force Base Extension in Columbus.CATALOG 2007-2009 . East Mississippi Community College. 10 (10/147). Accessed March 1, 2011.

Communities

City Columbus (county seat)

Town Artesia Caledonia Crawford ("Crawfordsville" 1852–1870; "Crawfordville 1870–1879)

Census-designated places Columbus Air Force Base New Hope

Unincorporated communities

Bent Oak Billups Flint Hill Forreston Kolola Springs Mayhew McCrary Penns Plum Grove Steens Trinity Wells Whitebury Woodlawn

Ghost towns Moores Bluff Nashville Plymouth

Politics Lowndes County leans Republican, having not supported a Democrat since 1956. However, in 2008 Democrat Barack Obama came the closest to winning the county since Adlai Stevenson had won it in 1956, and in 2012 Obama came even closer, only losing it by 130 votes. While the margin has widened again in subsequent elections, Republican candidates have been unable to regain double digit victories in the county.

See also National Register of Historic Places listings in Lowndes County, Mississippi

References