Lincoln County, Mississippi

Lincoln County
County
Postcard Brookhaven City Hall, early 20th century.
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°32′N 90°27′W
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
Founded	1870
Named for	Abraham Lincoln
Seat	Brookhaven
Largest city	Brookhaven
Area
• Total	588 sq mi (1,520 km2)
• Land	586 sq mi (1,520 km2)
• Water	2.1 sq mi (5 km2)  0.4%
Population  (2020)
• Total	34,907
• Density	59/sq mi (23/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.golincolnms.com

Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 34,907. Its county seat is Brookhaven.

The county was created by the legislature on April 7, 1870, during the Reconstruction Era. It was formed from portions of Lawrence, Pike, Franklin, Copiah, and Amite counties. It was named for Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States.

Lincoln County comprises the Brookhaven, MS Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Jackson–Vicksburg–Brookhaven Combined Statistical Area. The county is southwest of the state capital of Jackson.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 588 square miles (1,520 km²), of which 586 square miles (1,520 km²) is land and 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²) (0.4%) is water.

Major highways

• Interstate 55
• U.S. Highway 51
• U.S. Highway 84
• Mississippi Highway 184
• Mississippi Highway 583

Adjacent counties

• Copiah County (north)
• Lawrence County (east)
• Walthall County (southeast)
• Pike County (south)
• Amite County (southwest)
• Franklin County (west)
• Jefferson County (northwest)

National protected area

• Homochitto National Forest (part), supervised by the United States Forestry Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	10,184		—
1880	13,547		33.0%
1890	17,912		32.2%
1900	21,552		20.3%
1910	28,597		32.7%
1920	24,652		−13.8%
1930	26,357		6.9%
1940	27,506		4.4%
1950	27,899		1.4%
1960	26,759		−4.1%
1970	26,198		−2.1%
1980	30,174		15.2%
1990	30,278		0.3%
2000	33,166		9.5%
2010	34,869		5.1%
2020	34,907		0.1%
2023 (est.)	34,702		−0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2013

2020 census

Lincoln County racial composition

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	22,966	65.88%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	10,484	30.03%
Native American	63	0.18%
Asian	163	0.47%
Pacific Islander	8	0.02%
Other/Mixed	787	2.25%
Hispanic or Latino	406	1.16%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 34,907 people, 12,699 households, and 9,054 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the United States Census of 2000, (which precedes the large changes and increases reflected in the figures, resulting from the substantial annexations and tripling of the size of the City of Brookhaven, the county seat, from late 2007, which would be reflected in the newer United States Census of 2010)—there were 33,166 people, 12,538 households, and 9,190 families residing in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile (22 people/km²). There were 14,052 housing units at an average density of 24 units per square mile (9.3 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 69.38% White, 29.67% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 0.37% from two or more races. 0.69% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 12,538 households, out of which 34.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.90% were married couples living together, 14.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.70% were non-families. 24.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.70% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,279, and the median income for a family was $33,552. Males had a median income of $29,060 versus $18,877 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,961. About 16.00% of families and 19.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.80% of those under age 18 and 17.10% of those age 65 or over.

The offices of president and vice-president on the county supervisors rotate annually.

This county does not have "home rule;" thus, the legislature reserved to itself power over the county. Its representatives and state senators help serve its residents.

United States presidential election results for Lincoln County, Mississippi

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	11,596	69.02%	5,040	30.00%	165	0.98%
2016	10,550	69.44%	4,458	29.34%	185	1.22%
2012	10,839	66.04%	5,471	33.33%	104	0.63%
2008	10,781	65.73%	5,505	33.56%	116	0.71%
2004	10,008	69.04%	4,418	30.48%	70	0.48%
2000	8,540	65.69%	4,358	33.52%	102	0.78%
1996	5,960	53.85%	4,294	38.80%	813	7.35%
1992	7,040	53.78%	4,744	36.24%	1,307	9.98%
1988	8,710	65.50%	4,534	34.10%	53	0.40%
1984	8,898	66.50%	4,458	33.32%	25	0.19%
1980	7,286	57.78%	5,213	41.34%	111	0.88%
1976	6,084	58.55%	4,043	38.90%	265	2.55%
1972	7,593	86.01%	1,070	12.12%	165	1.87%
1968	1,057	10.66%	1,585	15.98%	7,276	73.36%
1964	6,750	93.92%	437	6.08%	0	0.00%
1960	1,251	25.61%	1,449	29.66%	2,185	44.73%
1956	848	22.48%	1,942	51.47%	983	26.05%
1952	2,028	47.17%	2,271	52.83%	0	0.00%
1948	40	1.26%	52	1.64%	3,085	97.10%
1944	103	4.04%	2,445	95.96%	0	0.00%
1940	97	3.98%	2,332	95.57%	11	0.45%
1936	74	2.90%	2,465	96.70%	10	0.39%
1932	92	3.71%	2,379	95.97%	8	0.32%
1928	422	16.15%	2,191	83.85%	0	0.00%
1924	154	10.25%	1,278	85.09%	70	4.66%
1920	421	34.85%	774	64.07%	13	1.08%
1916	105	7.46%	1,282	91.12%	20	1.42%
1912	41	4.43%	768	83.03%	116	12.54%

Economy

The telecommunications company MCI Worldcom was located in Lincoln County. Its chief executive officer (CEO) and founder Bernard Ebbers resided near Brookhaven prior to his conviction; he was sentenced to prison.

Education

Lincoln County Public Library bookmobile in Brookhaven, 1952

The county is served by two separate public school districts, a private school, and a couple of smaller Christian or religious/private schools. The Lincoln County Public School District consists of four K–12 schools of elementary, middle school, and high school levels. These include Loyd Star hornets, Bogue Chitto bobcats, West Lincoln bears and the Enterprise yellowjackets. Through annexations, the City tripled its size in 2007. As well a Brookhaven Academy cougars which is a part of the MAPS or MAIS.

Media

Lincoln County is served by the local newspaper Daily Leader, printed daily except Monday and Saturday. Residents may also purchase the larger daily newspaper from the state capital of Jackson, The Clarion-Ledger, which serves the central state metropolitan area and the entire State of Mississippi.

Communities

City

• Brookhaven (county seat)

Town

• Wesson (partly located in Copiah County)

Hamlet

• Bogue Chitto

Unincorporated communities

• Auburn
• Caseyville
• East Lincoln
• Norfield
• Ruth

Ghost towns

• Woolworth

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Lincoln County, Mississippi

External links

• Lincoln County
• Lincoln County Sheriff's Office
• Media related to Lincoln County, Mississippi at Wikimedia Commons
• Mississippi Courthouses – Lincoln County