Lincoln County, Mississippi
Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 34,907. Its county seat is Brookhaven. The county was created by the legislature on April 7, 1870, during the Reconstruction Era. It was formed from portions of Lawrence, Pike, Franklin, Copiah, and Amite counties. It was named for Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States. Lincoln County comprises the Brookhaven, MS Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Jackson–Vicksburg–Brookhaven Combined Statistical Area. The county is southwest of the state capital of Jackson.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water.Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Copiah County
- Lawrence County
- Walthall County
- Pike County
- Amite County
- Franklin County
- Jefferson County
National protected area
- Homochitto National Forest, supervised by the United States Forestry Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 34,907. The median age was 40.5 years. 24.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 88.2 males age 18 and over.The racial makeup of the county was 66.2% White, 30.2% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.5% from some other race, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.2% of the population.
29.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 70.9% lived in rural areas.
There were 13,939 households in the county, of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.9% were married-couple households, 18.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 15,744 housing units, of which 11.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.9% were owner-occupied and 25.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.5%.
2000 census
As of the United States Census of 2000, —there were 33,166 people, 12,538 households, and 9,190 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 14,052 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 69.38% White, 29.67% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 0.37% from two or more races. 0.69% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.There were 12,538 households, out of which 34.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.90% were married couples living together, 14.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.70% were non-families. 24.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.70% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,279, and the median income for a family was $33,552. Males had a median income of $29,060 versus $18,877 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,961. About 16.00% of families and 19.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.80% of those under age 18 and 17.10% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
Lincoln County is a Republican stronghold, having been so since the 1960s. In 2024 Donald Trump won nearly three-quarters of the vote in the county, the best Republican performance since Nixon in 1972.The offices of president and vice-president on the county supervisors rotate annually.
This county does not have "home rule;" thus, the legislature reserved to itself power over the county. Its representatives and state senators help serve its residents.
Economy
The telecommunications company MCI Worldcom was located in Lincoln County. Its chief executive officer and founder Bernard Ebbers resided near Brookhaven prior to his conviction; he was sentenced to prison.Education
The county is served by two separate public school districts, a private school, and a couple of smaller Christian or religious/private schools.The Lincoln County School District consists of four K–12 schools of elementary, middle school, and high school levels. These include Loyd Star hornets, Bogue Chitto bobcats, West Lincoln bears and the Enterprise yellowjackets. Through annexations, the City tripled its size in 2007. As well a Brookhaven Academy cougars which is a part of the MAPS or MAIS.
It is in the district of Copiah–Lincoln Community College.