Sumner, Mississippi
Encyclopedia
Sumner is a town in Tallahatchie County
, Mississippi
, United States
. The population was 407 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all of it land.
Nation before being settled by many families, including the Sumners. Sumner was covered by trees, vines, and underbrush in its infancy when the men of the community began clearing the land. Sumner was incorporated in 1900 and was named after its founder and first mayor, Joseph Burton Sumner
. In 1902 the county was divided into two districts, with Sumner as the county seat of the west district (Charleston
being the county seat of the east district).
The Tallahatchie County Courthouse in Sumner has historical significance of its own. The courthouse was built in 1902 on a lot donated by Sumner, who also donated the lot for the jail. The courthouse burned in 1908, but was rebuilt in 1909. Sumner's courthouse was the site of the 1955 murder trial of Emmett Till
. In 1990, the courthouse was designated as a state landmark by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
of 2000, there were 407 people, 148 households, and 105 families residing in the town. The population density
was 726.5 people per square mile (280.6/km²). There were 158 housing units at an average density of 282.0 per square mile (108.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 57.99% White, 39.07% African American, 2.21% Asian, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.25% of the population.
There were 148 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were married couples
living together, 20.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.4% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 86.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,000, and the median income for a family was $35,208. Males had a median income of $40,625 versus $15,000 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $20,056. About 25.2% of families and 37.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 48.9% of those under age 18 and 29.7% of those age 65 or over.
Tallahatchie County, Mississippi
-National protected areas:*Coldwater River National Wildlife Refuge *Tallahatchie National Wildlife Refuge -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 14,903 people, 5,263 households, and 3,826 families residing in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 407 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Sumner is located at 33°58′12"N 90°22′11"W (33.969867, -90.369636).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all of it land.
History
The heavily wooded swamp that became Sumner was part of the ChoctawChoctaw
The Choctaw are a Native American people originally from the Southeastern United States...
Nation before being settled by many families, including the Sumners. Sumner was covered by trees, vines, and underbrush in its infancy when the men of the community began clearing the land. Sumner was incorporated in 1900 and was named after its founder and first mayor, Joseph Burton Sumner
Joseph Burton Sumner
Joseph Burton Sumner was a figure in the founding of Sumner, Mississippi.Sumner and his family moved to Tallahatchie County, Mississippi from Alabama around January, 1872. J. B. Sumner built the first general store and post office in the town that was later named for him in 1885, where he became...
. In 1902 the county was divided into two districts, with Sumner as the county seat of the west district (Charleston
Charleston, Mississippi
Charleston is a city in North Central Mississippi and one of the county seats of Tallahatchie County. The population was 2,198 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Charleston is located at ....
being the county seat of the east district).
The Tallahatchie County Courthouse in Sumner has historical significance of its own. The courthouse was built in 1902 on a lot donated by Sumner, who also donated the lot for the jail. The courthouse burned in 1908, but was rebuilt in 1909. Sumner's courthouse was the site of the 1955 murder trial of Emmett Till
Emmett Till
Emmett Louis "Bobo" Till was an African-American boy who was murdered in Mississippi at the age of 14 after reportedly flirting with a white woman. Till was from Chicago, Illinois visiting his relatives in the Mississippi Delta region when he spoke to 21-year-old Carolyn Bryant, the married...
. In 1990, the courthouse was designated as a state landmark by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 407 people, 148 households, and 105 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 726.5 people per square mile (280.6/km²). There were 158 housing units at an average density of 282.0 per square mile (108.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 57.99% White, 39.07% African American, 2.21% Asian, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.25% of the population.
There were 148 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 20.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.4% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 86.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,000, and the median income for a family was $35,208. Males had a median income of $40,625 versus $15,000 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $20,056. About 25.2% of families and 37.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 48.9% of those under age 18 and 29.7% of those age 65 or over.