LEE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI

'Lee County' is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of 2000, the population was 75,755 (though a 2006 population estimate placed the population at 79,714). The county seat is Tupelo⁶. It is the largest county in the Tupelo, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area. Lee County is named for General Robert E. Lee.

Contents

Geography

Major Highways

Adjacent Counties

History

Demographics

Communities

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,174 km² (453 mi²). 1,164 km² (450 mi²) of it is land and 9 km² (4 mi²) of it (0.78%) is water.

Major Highways

★ U.S. Highway 45

★ U.S. Highway 78

★ Mississippi Highway 6

★ Natchez Trace Parkway

Adjacent Counties

★ Prentiss County (north)

★ Itawamba County (east)

★ Monroe County (southeast)

★ Chickasaw County (southwest)

★ Pontotoc County (west)

★ Union County (northwest)

History

On September 20, 1816, General Andrew Jackson, David Meriwether, and the Chickasaw Nation signed the Treaty of Chickasaw Council House in Lee County.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 75,755 people, 29,200 households, and 20,819 families residing in the county. The population density was 65/km² (168/mi²). There were 31,887 housing units at an average density of 27/km² (71/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 73.66% White, 24.51% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. 1.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 29,200 households out of which 36.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.60% were married couples living together, 14.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the county the population was spread out with 27.70% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 21.80% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 92.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,165, and the median income for a family was $43,149. Males had a median income of $31,039 versus $22,235 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,956. About 10.50% of families and 13.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.90% of those under age 18 and 15.50% of those age 65 or over.
Lee County has the fourth highest per capita income in the State of Mississippi.

Communities

★ 'Cities'

★
★ Baldwyn (partly in Prentiss County)

★
★ Tupelo

★
★ Verona

★ 'Towns'

★
★ Guntown

★
★ Nettleton (partly in Monroe County)

★
★ Plantersville

★
★ Saltillo

★
★ Shannon

★
★ Sherman (mostly in Pontotoc County, small portion in Union County)

★ 'Unincorporated places'

★
★ Mooreville