The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.04. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 8,221 households, out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.00% were married couples living together, 16.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.00% were non-families. 0.91% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The racial makeup of the county was 65.01% white, 30.37% black or African American, 3.68% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.33% from other races, and 0.44% from two or more races. There were 9,259 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/km 2). The population density was 38 people per square mile (15/km 2). Major highways ĭemographics Historical populationĢ020 census Newton County Racial Composition RaceĪs of the 2020 United States Census, there were 21,291 people, 8,037 households, and 5,697 families residing in the county.Īs of the census of 2000, there were 21,838 people, 8,221 households, and 6,001 families residing in the county. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 580 square miles (1,500 km 2), of which 578 square miles (1,500 km 2) is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km 2) (0.3%) is water. White elected officials and law enforcement failed to hold anyone accountable for the destruction of Black property or the lynchings. Many Black people were so traumatized by the violence that they fled Newton County. Jones but refusing to be denied a lynching, the mob lynched Dee Dawkins and Frank Johnson, two Black men who were targeted merely for being associated with Mr. Jones's father-in-law, William Fielder, from a tree near his home. The mob destroyed property owned by Black people, burned a Black church and meeting lodge near Gardlandville, and threatened Black families. Jones fled Newton County, aware that Black people were not believed to have a right to defend themselves against white people and that he was at risk of being lynched.įor the next two days, an angry white mob terrorized the entire Black community in a manhunt for Mr. Jones, leading to an altercation that ended with the white man's death. On October 8, a Black sharecropper named Shep Jones had a disagreement about his work schedule with his white employer. On October 10, 1908, a mob of white people brutally shot, tortured, and lynched Frank Johnson, Dee Dawkins, and William Fielder near Hickory, Mississippi. Sherman stopped during the return trip from Meridian and slept in the town of Union. In February 1864, General William Tecumseh Sherman crossed the county, burning the county seat at Decatur and was nearly captured during the Meridian Campaign. The Battle of Newton's Station was fought in the county on April 24, 1863, during Grierson's Raid of the American Civil War.
That’s assuming this county grows faster than current projections, and assuming prosecutors finally decide what to do about this $25 million question.Newton County was formed in 1836 and named after scientist Isaac Newton. “People can argue if they want to, but when they run out of water they’re going to quit arguing.”
He knew how to do it.”Īccording to Tolley, the real costly mistake was firing Tommy Craig. “I don’t think it was a conflict of interest,” said Tolley. He said Craig won government approval for other reservoirs across the state and was a leading expert in the field. Tolley said the 71-year-old Craig is recovering from cancer and unable to defend himself publicly. Every piece of property that was purchased was done with the approval of the sitting county commission.”
“In fact, that’s a ridiculous allegation. Some of the land bought for the proposed reservoir had to be returned to the original owners for free.Ĭraig’s attorney Ed Tolley denied his client broke any laws.