Artesia, Mississippi
Encyclopedia
Artesia is a town in Lowndes County
, Mississippi
, United States
. The population was 498 at the 2000 census.
. During the railroad's construction in the 1850s, an offer was made to the towns of Columbus
and Aberdeen
to route the railroad through the towns, but both towns refused. Columbus reconsidered a few months later; but by that time, the railway had already chosen a route well to the west of the town. However, the railroad did extend a spur line in order to serve Columbus, and that spur line joins the main line at the site of present-day Artesia.
The name originates from a cluster of artesian wells that were found in the area.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), of which 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) is land and 1.33% is water.
of 2000, there were 498 people, 176 households, and 124 families residing in the town. The population density
was 671.8 people per square mile (259.8/km²). There were 196 housing units at an average density of 264.4 per square mile (102.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 79.32% African American, 19.88% White, 0.20% Asian, 0.40% Pacific Islander, and 0.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.
There were 176 households out of which 39.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.7% were married couples
living together, 30.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.50.
In the town the population was spread out with 33.7% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 86.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $18,438, and the median income for a family was $21,429. Males had a median income of $20,000 versus $13,750 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $8,716. About 42.2% of families and 43.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 60.0% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.
Lowndes County, Mississippi
As of the census of 2000, there were 61,586 people, 22,849 households, and 16,405 families residing in the county. The population density was 123 people per square mile . There were 25,104 housing units at an average density of 50 per square mile...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 498 at the 2000 census.
History
Artesia was originally Artesia Junction, a junction point on the Mobile and Ohio RailroadMobile and Ohio Railroad
The Mobile and Ohio Railroad was a railroad in the Southern U.S. The M&O was chartered in January and February 1848 by the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee. It was planned to span the distance between the seaport of Mobile, Alabama and the Ohio River near Cairo, Illinois...
. During the railroad's construction in the 1850s, an offer was made to the towns of Columbus
Columbus, Mississippi
Columbus is a city in Lowndes County, Mississippi, United States that lies above the Tombigbee River. It is approximately northeast of Jackson, north of Meridian, south of Tupelo, northwest of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and west of Birmingham, Alabama. The population was 25,944 at the 2000 census...
and Aberdeen
Aberdeen, Mississippi
Aberdeen is a city in Monroe County in the U.S. state of Mississippi. The population was 6,415 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Monroe County....
to route the railroad through the towns, but both towns refused. Columbus reconsidered a few months later; but by that time, the railway had already chosen a route well to the west of the town. However, the railroad did extend a spur line in order to serve Columbus, and that spur line joins the main line at the site of present-day Artesia.
The name originates from a cluster of artesian wells that were found in the area.
Geography
Artesia is located at 33°24′58"N 88°38′43"W (33.416077, -88.645249).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), of which 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) is land and 1.33% is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 498 people, 176 households, and 124 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 671.8 people per square mile (259.8/km²). There were 196 housing units at an average density of 264.4 per square mile (102.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 79.32% African American, 19.88% White, 0.20% Asian, 0.40% Pacific Islander, and 0.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.
There were 176 households out of which 39.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 30.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.50.
In the town the population was spread out with 33.7% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 86.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $18,438, and the median income for a family was $21,429. Males had a median income of $20,000 versus $13,750 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $8,716. About 42.2% of families and 43.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 60.0% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.