Tippah County, Mississippi

Tippah County, Mississippi
The Tippah County courthouse in Ripley
Location in the U.S. state of Mississippi
Mississippi's location in the U.S.
Founded	1836
Seat	Ripley
Largest city	Ripley
Area
• Total	460 sq mi (1,191 km2)
• Land	458 sq mi (1,186 km2)
• Water	2.1 sq mi (5 km2), 0.5%
Population
• (2010)	22,232
• Density	49/sq mi (19/km²)
Congressional district	1st
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5

Tippah County is a county located on the northern border of the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2010 census, the population was 22,232. Its county seat is Ripley. The name "Tippah" is derived from a Chickasaw language word meaning "cut off." It was taken from the creek of the same name that flows across much of the original county from northeast to southwest before emptying into the Tallahatchie River. The creek probably was so named because it, and the ridges on either side, "cut off" the western part of the region from the eastern portion.

One of former President Bill Clinton's great-grandfathers is buried here.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 460 square miles (1,200 km²), of which 458 square miles (1,190 km²) is land and 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²) (0.5%) is water.

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 72
• Mississippi Highway 2
• Mississippi Highway 4
• Mississippi Highway 15

Adjacent counties

• Hardeman County, Tennessee (north)
• Alcorn County (northeast)
• Prentiss County (southeast)
• Union County (south)
• Benton County (west)

National protected area

• Holly Springs National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1840	9,444		—
1850	20,741		119.6%
1860	22,550		8.7%
1870	20,727		−8.1%
1880	12,867		−37.9%
1890	12,951		0.7%
1900	12,983		0.2%
1910	14,631		12.7%
1920	15,419		5.4%
1930	18,658		21.0%
1940	19,680		5.5%
1950	17,522		−11.0%
1960	15,093		−13.9%
1970	15,852		5.0%
1980	18,739		18.2%
1990	19,523		4.2%
2000	20,826		6.7%
2010	22,232		6.8%
Est. 2014	22,039		−0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013

At the 2000 census, there are 20,826 people, 8,108 households and 5,910 families residing in the county. The population density was 46 per square mile (18/km²). There were 8,868 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 81.85% White, 15.92% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.29% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. 2.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of 2000, there were 8,108 households of which 33.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.20% were married couples living together, 11.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.10% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.00.

Age distribution was 25.00% under the age of 18, 10.10% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.20 males.

The median household income was $29,300, and the median family income was $34,547. Males had a median income of $27,505 versus $20,446 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,041 About 14.00% of families and 16.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.00% of those under age 18 and 23.30% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

• Ripley (county seat)

Towns

• Blue Mountain
• Dumas
• Falkner
• Walnut

Unincorporated communities

• Brownfield
• Chalybeate
• Tiplersville
• Lake Mohawk
• Dry Creek

See also

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