Newton County, Mississippi

Newton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,291. Its county seat is Decatur.

History
The land that would become Newton County was purchased from the Choctaw under the terms of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek. Newton County was split off from the southern part of Neshoba County and organized on February 26, 1836. The county is named for scientist Isaac Newton.

The Battle of Newton's Station was fought in the county on April 24, 1863, during Grierson's Raid of the American Civil War. Union troops pulled up railroad tracks and burned the depot at Newton's Station.

In February 1864, General William Tecumseh Sherman crossed the county, burning the county seat at Decatur and was nearly captured during the Meridian Campaign. Sherman stopped during the return trip from Meridian and slept at Boler's Inn in the town of Union.

On October 8, 1908, a black sharecropper named Shep Jones had a disagreement with his white employer, leading to the employer's death. While searching for Jones, a white mob destroyed property owned by black people, burned their church and meeting lodge, threatened black families, and hanged Jones' father-in-law and two other black men. Many black people fled Newton County. No arrests or restitution occurred.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 580 sqmi, of which 578 sqmi is land and 1.5 sqmi (0.3%) is water.

Major highways

 * [[Image:I-20.svg|20px]] Interstate 20
 * [[Image:US 80.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 80
 * [[Image:Circle sign 15.svg|20px]] Mississippi Highway 15

Adjacent counties

 * Neshoba County (north)
 * Lauderdale County (east)
 * Jasper County (south)
 * Scott County (west)

National protected area

 * Bienville National Forest (part)

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 21,291 people, 8,037 households, and 5,697 families residing in the county.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 21,838 people, 8,221 households, and 6,001 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 /mi2. There were 9,259 housing units at an average density of 16 /mi2. 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. 0.91% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

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. 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. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.20% under the age of 18, 11.20% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 92.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,735, and the median income for a family was $34,606. Males had a median income of $27,820 versus $20,757 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,008. About 16.40% of families and 19.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.30% of those under age 18 and 21.70% of those age 65 or over.

City

 * Newton

Towns

 * Chunky
 * Decatur (county seat)
 * Hickory
 * Lake (mostly in Scott County)
 * Union (partly in Neshoba County)

Census-designated place

 * Conehatta

Unincorporated communities

 * Battlefield
 * Cedar Grove
 * Duffee
 * Lawrence
 * Little Rock
 * Perdue
 * Stratton

Ghost towns

 * Volcan

Education
School districts include:
 * Newton County School District
 * Newton Municipal School District
 * Union Public School District

Conehatta Elementary School of the Choctaw Tribal School System is in the community.