View source for Lowndes County, Mississippi

{{short description|County in Mississippi, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county           = Lowndes County
 | state            = Mississippi
 | ex image         = Lowndes County CH 1933.jpg
 | ex image cap     = Lowndes County Courthouse in Columbus
 | seal             = 
 | founded          = 1830
 | seat wl          = Columbus
 | largest city     = Columbus
 | area_total_sq_mi = 516
 | area_land_sq_mi  = 506
 | area_water_sq_mi = 11
 | area percentage  = 2.1
 | population_as_of = 2020
 | population_total = 58879
 | pop_est_as_of    = 
 | population_est   = 
 | population_density_sq_mi  = auto
 | web              = http://lowndescountyms.com/
 | district         = 1st
 | time zone        = Central
 | named for        = [[William Jones Lowndes]]
}}

'''Lowndes County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] on the eastern border of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Mississippi]]. As of the [[2020 United States census]], the population was 58,879.<ref>{{cite web|title=Census - Geography Profile: Lowndes County, Mississippi|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Lowndes_County,_Mississippi?g=0500000US28087|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 14, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Columbus, Mississippi|Columbus]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county is named for [[U.S. Congressman]] [[William Jones Lowndes]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Gannett|first=Henry|title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9V1IAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA191|year=1905|publisher=US Government Printing Office|page=191}}</ref>

Lowndes County comprises the Columbus, MS [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/bulletins/2013/b13-01.pdf|title=OMB Bulletin No. 13-01: Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas|publisher=[[United States Office of Management and Budget]]|date=February 28, 2013|access-date=April 3, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170121004708/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/bulletins/2013/b13-01.pdf|archive-date=January 21, 2017}}</ref> Since the late 20th century, it has been designated as one of three counties in the [[Golden Triangle (Mississippi)|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 [[Lynching in the United States|lynchings of African Americans]], third to [[Carroll County, Mississippi|Carroll]] and [[Leflore County, Mississippi|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 [[Disfranchisement after Reconstruction era|disenfranchisement of most blacks]] in 1890 through creating barriers to voter registration.<ref>[https://eji.org/sites/default/files/lynching-in-america-third-edition-supplement-by-county.pdf ''Lynching in America'', 3rd edition]{{Dead link|date=March 2020|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}, Supplement by County, p. 6</ref>

==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.<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Lowndes+County,+MS/@33.4847697,-88.4407691,52209m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x8886c4897177cbc1:0x89eaea5155fb8373!8m2!3d33.473423!4d-88.4403883 ''Lowndes County MS'' (Google Maps, accessed 24 September 2020)]</ref> 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 ({{convert|450|ft|m|abbr=off|disp=x|/|sp=us}} ASL) is a small rise near the county's NE corner.<ref>[https://peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=22171 ''Lourdes County High Point, Mississippi'' (PeakBagger.com, accessed 24 September 2020)]</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|516|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|506|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|11|sqmi}} (2.1%) is water.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_28.txt|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=November 6, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928074019/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_28.txt|archive-date=September 28, 2013}}</ref>

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Image:US 45.svg|19px]] [[U.S. Highway 45]]
* [[Image:US 45.svg|19px]] [[U.S. Route 45 Alternate]]
* [[Image:US 82.svg|19px]] [[U.S. Highway 82]]
* [[Image:Circle sign 12.svg|19px]] [[Mississippi Highway 12]]
* [[Image:Circle sign 50.svg|19px]] [[Mississippi Highway 50]]
* [[Image:Circle sign 69.svg|19px]] [[Mississippi Highway 69]]
* [[Image:Circle sign 182.svg|21px]] [[Mississippi Highway 182]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Noxubee County, Mississippi|Noxubee County]] - south
* [[Oktibbeha County, Mississippi|Oktibbeha County]] - west
* [[Clay County, Mississippi|Clay County]] - northwest
* [[Monroe County, Mississippi|Monroe County]] - north
* [[Lamar County, Alabama]] - northeast
* [[Pickens County, Alabama]] - southeast
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1830= 3173
|1840= 14513
|1850= 19544
|1860= 23625
|1870= 30502
|1880= 28244
|1890= 27047
|1900= 29095
|1910= 30703
|1920= 27632
|1930= 29987
|1940= 35245
|1950= 37852
|1960= 46639
|1970= 49700
|1980= 57304
|1990= 59308
|2000= 61586
|2010= 59779
|2020= 58879
|estyear=2024
|estimate=57210
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 3, 2025}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=US Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=US Decennial Census|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=November 6, 2014}}</ref><br/>1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=November 6, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ms190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=November 6, 2014}}</ref><br/>1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=November 6, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2013<ref name=QF>{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/28/28087.html|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=September 4, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607051443/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/28/28087.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Lowndes County Racial Composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US28087&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 8, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]]
|29,363
|49.87%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]]
|25,885
|43.96%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|110
|0.19%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|514
|0.87%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|16
|0.03%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|1,668
|2.83%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|1,323
|2.25%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 58,879 people, 22,436 households, and 14,654 families residing in the county.

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

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=US Census website}}</ref> there were 61,586 people, 22,849 households, and 16,405 families in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|123|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 25,104 housing units at an average density of {{convert|50|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 56.47% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 41.56% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.17% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.54% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.39% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.85% from two or more races. 1.11% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|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 [[Marriage|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.

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]], [[Lowndes County School District (Mississippi)|Lowndes County School District]], and the [[Mississippi Association of Independent Schools]] &ndash; Lowndes County Division.

The Columbus Municipal School District includes:
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* 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
{{div col end}}
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 &ndash; Lowndes County Division has provided five private and parochial schools for Lowndes County
* [[Heritage Academy (Mississippi)|Heritage Academy]] High School
* Heritage Academy Elementary School
* Columbus Christian Academy
* Victory Christian Academy
* Annunciation Catholic School

===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.<ref>"[http://www.eastms.edu/academics/documents/EMCCCATALOGfor2007-2009.pdf CATALOG 2007-2009] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218112338/http://www.eastms.edu/academics/documents/EMCCCATALOGfor2007-2009.pdf|date=18 December 2010}}." East Mississippi Community College. 3 (3/147). accessed March 1, 2011.</ref> The Golden Triangle Campus is located in [[Mayhew, Mississippi|Mayhew]], an [[unincorporated area]] in Lowndes County. The system also offers classes at the [[Columbus Air Force Base]] Extension in Columbus.<ref>[http://www.eastms.edu/academics/documents/EMCCCATALOGfor2007-2009.pdf CATALOG 2007-2009] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218112338/http://www.eastms.edu/academics/documents/EMCCCATALOGfor2007-2009.pdf|date=December 18, 2010}}. [[East Mississippi Community College]]. 10 (10/147). Accessed March 1, 2011.</ref>

==Communities==
[[File:Friendship Cemetery 264-001.JPG|thumb|right|[[Friendship Cemetery]]]]

===City===
* [[Columbus, Mississippi|Columbus]] (county seat)

===Town===
* [[Artesia, Mississippi|Artesia]]
* [[Caledonia, Mississippi|Caledonia]]
* [[Crawford, Mississippi|Crawford]] ("Crawfordsville" 1852–1870; "Crawfordville 1870–1879)

===Census-designated places===
* [[Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi (CDP)|Columbus Air Force Base]]
* [[New Hope, Mississippi|New Hope]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Bent Oak, Mississippi|Bent Oak]]
* [[Billups, Mississippi|Billups]]
* [[Flint Hill, Mississippi|Flint Hill]]
* [[Forreston, Mississippi|Forreston]]
* [[Kolola Springs, Mississippi|Kolola Springs]]
* [[Mayhew, Mississippi|Mayhew]]
* [[McCrary, Mississippi|McCrary]]
* [[Penns, Mississippi|Penns]]
* [[Plum Grove, Mississippi|Plum Grove]]
* [[Steens, Mississippi|Steens]]
* [[Trinity, Mississippi|Trinity]]
* [[Wells, Mississippi|Wells]]
* [[Whitebury, Mississippi|Whitebury]]
* [[Woodlawn, Mississippi|Woodlawn]]
{{div col end}}

===Ghost towns===
* [[Moores Bluff, Mississippi|Moores Bluff]]
* [[Nashville, Mississippi|Nashville]]
* [[Plymouth, Mississippi|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 II|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.

{{PresHead|place=Lowndes County, Mississippi|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 4, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|12|872|26|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|29|1,028|8|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|51|928|9|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|62|1,655|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|185|2,136|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|50|2,305|9|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|56|2,328|10|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|147|2,268|3|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|360|2,216|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1948|Dixiecrat|66|116|2,755|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,670|1,618|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,205|2,308|613|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,010|1,240|1,430|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|6,135|533|0|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|1,968|2,229|6,829|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|10,098|2,398|335|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|8,003|6,181|516|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|9,973|6,187|195|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|12,049|6,078|50|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|11,258|5,993|80|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|10,509|6,552|1,774|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|9,169|6,220|869|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|11,404|7,537|289|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|13,690|10,408|172|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|13,994|13,209|262|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|13,518|13,388|252|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|13,271|11,819|605|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|13,800|13,087|354|Mississippi}}
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|13,087|11,096|243|Mississippi}}
{{PresFoot}}

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Lowndes County, Mississippi]]

==References==
<references />

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Lowndes County, Mississippi
|North     = [[Monroe County, Mississippi|Monroe County]]
|Northeast = [[Lamar County, Alabama]]
|Southeast = [[Pickens County, Alabama]]
|South     = [[Noxubee County, Mississippi|Noxubee County]]
|West      = [[Oktibbeha County, Mississippi|Oktibbeha County]]
|Northwest = [[Clay County, Mississippi|Clay County]]
}}

{{Lowndes County, Mississippi}}
{{Mississippi}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|33.47|-88.44|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MS_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Lowndes County, Mississippi| ]]
[[Category:Mississippi counties]]
[[Category:1830 establishments in Mississippi]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1830]]
[[Category:Majority-minority counties in Mississippi]]