Leake County, Mississippi

Leake County is a county in the center of the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,275.^[1] Its county seat is Carthage.^[2] The county is named for Walter Leake, the Governor of Mississippi from 1822 to 1825.^[3]

Leake County
County
Leake County Courthouse in Carthage
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°45′N 89°31′W
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
Founded	1833
Named after	Walter Leake
Seat	Carthage
Largest city	Carthage
Area
• Total	585 sq mi (1,520 km2)
• Land	583 sq mi (1,510 km2)
• Water	2.5 sq mi (6 km2)  0.4%
Population  (2020)
• Total	21,275
• Density	36/sq mi (14/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	www.leakecountyms.org

In 2010, the center of population of Mississippi was located in Leake County, near the town of Lena.^[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 585 square miles (1,520 km²), of which 583 square miles (1,510 km²) is land and 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²) (0.4%) is water.^[5]

Major highways

• Mississippi Highway 13
• Mississippi Highway 16
• Mississippi Highway 25
• Mississippi Highway 35
• Mississippi Highway 43
• Natchez Trace Parkway

Adjacent counties

• Attala County (north)
• Neshoba County (east)
• Scott County (south)
• Madison County (west)

National protected area

• Natchez Trace Parkway (part)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1840	2,162		—
1850	5,533		155.9%
1860	9,324		68.5%
1870	8,496		−8.9%
1880	13,146		54.7%
1890	14,803		12.6%
1900	17,360		17.3%
1910	18,298		5.4%
1920	16,973		−7.2%
1930	21,803		28.5%
1940	24,570		12.7%
1950	21,610		−12.0%
1960	18,660		−13.7%
1970	17,085		−8.4%
1980	18,790		10.0%
1990	18,436		−1.9%
2000	20,940		13.6%
2010	23,805		13.7%
2020	21,275		−10.6%
2023 (est.)	21,258	[6]	−0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9] 1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[11]

2020 census

Leake County Racial Composition^[12]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White	10,069	47.33%
Black or African American	8,189	38.49%
Native American	1,297	6.1%
Asian	78	0.37%
Pacific Islander	5	0.02%
Other/Mixed	407	1.91%
Hispanic or Latino	1,230	5.78%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 21,275 people, 8,105 households, and 5,591 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 23,805 people living in the county. 49.5% were White, 40.6% Black or African American, 6.0% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 2.8% of some other race and 0.8% of two or more races. 4.3% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census

As of the census^[13] of 2000, there were 20,940 people, 7,611 households, and 5,563 families living in the county. The population density was 36 people per square mile (14 people/km²). There were 8,585 housing units at an average density of 15 units per square mile (5.8 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 56.14% White, 37.42% Black or African American, 4.56% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.14% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. 2.10% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,611 households, out of which 34.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.20% were married couples living together, 16.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.90% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.13. In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.90% under the age of 18, 10.10% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,055, and the median income for a family was $32,147. Males had a median income of $27,367 versus $18,307 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,365. About 18.10% of families and 23.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.90% of those under age 18 and 23.90% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

The county is quite rural, with Carthage the only city and three towns.

The Mississippi Department of Corrections contracted for development of the Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility, which opened in 2001 in the town of Walnut Grove.^[14] The facility was operated by the private Management and Training Corporation (MTC).^[15]

By 2006, the Town of Walnut Grove annexed the land of the prison, resulting in an apparent increase in population, which was chiefly associated with prisoners.^[16] MTC was repeatedly cited for problems with poor treatment of prisoners, and abuses within the facility. The state closed it in 2016.^[17]

Education

The Leake County School District is the sole school district of the county.^[18] It includes Leake Central High School.

Choctaw Tribal School System has two tribal schools in the county: Red Water Elementary School and Standing Pine Elementary School.^[19][20]

East Central Community College is the area community college, including Carthage Career Advancement Center in Leake County.^{[citation needed]}

Racial segregation

Most white students attend private schools while black and Hispanic children attend the local public schools. Although, children of all races have the same opportunity to private school as well.^{[citation needed]}

School	Total Students	White Students	Black Students	Hispanic Students	Note
Leake County	24,000	56%	37%	2%	2010 Census
Leake Academy (private)	578	571 (99%)	0 (0%)	3 (>1%)	[21]
Leake Central High School (public)	562	132 (20%)	373 (66%)	57 (10%)

Politics

Since 1984, Leake County has supported Republican candidates at the presidential level; however Democrats usually gain at least 40% of the vote. Since then, in only 1984, 2004, and 2024 has the Republican candidate gained over 60% of the county's vote (and the Democrat under 40%).

United States presidential election results for Leake County, Mississippi^[22]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	5,143	61.37%	3,182	37.97%	55	0.66%
2020	5,228	56.83%	3,897	42.36%	75	0.82%
2016	4,782	56.60%	3,584	42.42%	83	0.98%
2012	4,863	54.14%	4,079	45.41%	41	0.46%
2008	5,148	55.01%	4,151	44.35%	60	0.64%
2004	4,962	60.41%	3,212	39.10%	40	0.49%
2000	4,114	59.18%	2,793	40.18%	45	0.65%
1996	3,017	47.60%	2,902	45.79%	419	6.61%
1992	3,943	50.64%	3,333	42.81%	510	6.55%
1988	4,168	59.86%	2,787	40.03%	8	0.11%
1984	4,663	62.04%	2,845	37.85%	8	0.11%
1980	3,624	46.83%	4,033	52.12%	81	1.05%
1976	2,952	45.36%	3,415	52.47%	141	2.17%
1972	4,217	79.13%	1,053	19.76%	59	1.11%
1968	453	7.17%	1,295	20.50%	4,568	72.32%
1964	4,343	96.23%	170	3.77%	0	0.00%
1960	286	8.80%	953	29.32%	2,011	61.88%
1956	220	7.34%	2,475	82.53%	304	10.14%
1952	603	18.44%	2,667	81.56%	0	0.00%
1948	12	0.46%	180	6.97%	2,392	92.57%
1944	24	0.85%	2,800	99.15%	0	0.00%
1940	17	0.60%	2,802	99.26%	4	0.14%
1936	8	0.31%	2,566	99.30%	10	0.39%
1932	14	0.73%	1,903	98.81%	9	0.47%
1928	212	11.12%	1,695	88.88%	0	0.00%
1924	48	3.68%	1,255	96.32%	0	0.00%
1920	121	9.85%	1,082	88.11%	25	2.04%
1916	31	2.08%	1,434	96.05%	28	1.88%
1912	11	1.05%	910	86.91%	126	12.03%

Communities

City

• Carthage (county seat)

Towns

• Lena
• Sebastopol (mostly in Scott County)
• Walnut Grove

Census-designated places

• Redwater
• Standing Pine

Unincorporated communities

• Bolatusha
• Coosa
• Edinburg
• Good Hope
• Hopoca
• Madden
• Midway
• Ofahoma
• Thomastown
• Tuscola
• Wiggins

See also

• Mississippi portal

• Dry counties
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Leake County, Mississippi