Sharkey County, Mississippi

Sharkey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. Part of the eastern border is formed by the Yazoo River. According to the 2020 census, the population was 3,800, making it the second-least populous county in Mississippi, after Issaquena County. Its county seat is Rolling Fork. Sharkey County is located in the Mississippi Delta region.

History
The county is named after William L. Sharkey, the provisional Governor of Mississippi in 1865.

Historic weather
On the afternoon of Sunday, February 21, 1971, a large and long-tracked F5 tornado impacted areas of Sharkey County. On March 24, 2023, a high-end EF4 tornado hit the city of Rolling Fork with estimated wind speeds of 195 mph (314kph), causing catastrophic damage throughout the community. The tornado was responsible for 17 fatalities and 165 injuries.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 435 sqmi, of which 432 sqmi is land and 3.4 sqmi (0.8%) is water.

Major highways

 * US 61.svg U.S. Route 61
 * Circle sign 14.svg Mississippi Highway 14
 * Circle sign 16.svg Mississippi Highway 16

Adjacent counties

 * Washington County (north)
 * Humphreys County (northeast)
 * Yazoo County (east)
 * Issaquena County (southwest)

National protected area

 * Delta National Forest
 * Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge (part)

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 3,800 people, 1,751 households, and 1,046 families residing in the county.

2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 4,916 people living in the county. 71.0% were Black or African American, 27.9% White, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native American, 0.4% of some other race and 0.4% or two or more races. 0.8% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census
According to the census of 2000, there were 6,580 people, 2,163 households, and 1,589 families living in the county. The population density was 15 /mi2. There were 2,416 housing units at an average density of 6 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 69.32% Black or African American, 29.36% White, 0.18% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.27% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. 1.31% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,163 households, out of which 36.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.00% were married couples living together, 26.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.50% were non-families. 23.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.56.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 33.00% under the age of 18, 10.40% from 18 to 24, 24.80% from 25 to 44, 20.40% from 45 to 64, and 11.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 88.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $22,285, and the median income for a family was $26,786. Males had a median income of $26,563 versus $17,931 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,396. About 30.50% of families and 38.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 50.00% of those under age 18 and 24.20% of those age 65 or over.

Sharkey County has the tenth-lowest per capita income in Mississippi and the 73rd lowest in the United States.

Education

 * Public School Districts
 * South Delta School District, which operates South Delta High School
 * Private Schools
 * Sharkey-Issaquena Academy (Rolling Fork)

City

 * Rolling Fork (county seat)

Towns

 * Anguilla
 * Cary

Census-designated places

 * Delta City
 * Nitta Yuma
 * Panther Burn

Unincorporated communities

 * Egremont
 * Lorenzen
 * Onward
 * Patmos

Politics
Sharkey County is, like the rest of the Mississippi Delta region, heavily Democratic. It has voted for the Democratic nominee for president in every election since 1976, and no Republican has broken 40% of the vote since George H. W. Bush in 1988.