Lucedale, Mississippi
Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Lucedale (Template:IPAc-en) is a city in George County, Mississippi, United States. It is part of the Pascagoula, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,923 at the 2010 census,<ref name="Census 2010">Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> up from 2,458 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of George County.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref>
History
Lucedale was one of several settlements created after the Mobile, Jackson and Kansas City Railroad penetrated northern Jackson County (now George County) in the late 1890s.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Lucedale was founded in 1901, and was named after Gregory Marston Luce, who operated a lumber business there.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1906, a black man was hanged from a telegraph pole near the Lucedale railroad depot by a crowd of 300, after allegedly assaulting a white woman.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Mississippi's first execution by electrocution was administered to a convicted wife-killer in Lucedale in 1940, using the only portable electric chair ever employed in the United States.<ref name="CP">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The "death wagon" and chair had been on display outside the Mississippi capitol prior to arriving in Lucedale, and photos of the execution were published in state newspapers, the executioner commenting: "he died with tears in his eyes for the efficient care I took to give him a good clean burning".<ref name="CP"/>
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, Lucedale has a total area of Template:Convert, all land.<ref name="Census 2010"/>
Demographics
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 1,858 | 64.76% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 753 | 26.25% |
| Native American | 12 | 0.42% |
| Asian | 30 | 1.05% |
| Pacific Islander | 1 | 0.03% |
| Other/Mixed | 119 | 4.15% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 96 | 3.35% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,869 people, 975 households, and 504 families residing in the city.
Arts and culture
Lucedale Public Library is part of the Jackson-George Regional Library System.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Education
Template:Expand section Lucedale is served by the George County School District.<ref>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref> As of 2010, the district spends US$6,732 per pupil—63% on instruction, 30% on support services, and 7% on other elementary and secondary expenditures—and 15 students existed for every full-time equivalent teacher.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Infrastructure
Highways
- Mississippi Highway 198 passes through the city as Main Street
- US 98
- Highway 63
Public safety
Lucedale Police Department consists of a police chief, 11 patrolmen, and one investigator.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Lucedale Fire Department was established in 1901, and consists of a fire chief, three firemen, and four volunteer firemen.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Healthcare
George Regional Hospital in Lucedale is a 50-bed, non-profit, community owned hospital serving George County, Greene County, Stone County, and northern Jackson County.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Notable people
- Ruthie Bolton, Olympic gold medalist basketball player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Janice Lawrence Braxton, Olympic gold medalist basketball player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Ty Fryfogle, football wide receiver for the Indiana Hoosiers<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Carolyn Haines, author, also credited as Caroline Burnes<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Annibel Jenkins, English professor, scholar
- Alonzo Lawrence, football defensive back<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Jake W. Lindsey, recipient of the Medal of Honor<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Dee McCann, professional football player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Doug McLeod, member of the Mississippi House of Representatives<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Eric Moulds, professional football player<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- John Nix, professional football player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Justin Steele, professional baseball player
- Claude Passeau, professional baseball player<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- McKinnley Jackson, professional football player
References
External links
Template:George County, Mississippi Template:Mississippi county seats