Como, Mississippi
Encyclopedia
Como is a town in Panola County
, Mississippi
, United States
which borders the Mississippi Delta
. The population was 1,310 as of the 2000 census. Wayne Drash, a CNN.com senior producer, described Como as "a hard-hit rural community" in a 2007 article.
, Napoleon Strickland
, Sid Hemphill, Jessie Mae Hemphill
and Othar Turner
were old time Hill Country musicians who lived in or near Como. Como is home of Jimbo Mathus
' Delta Recording Studio, which records artists from around the world. The town is also the home of blind sculptor Sharon McConnel-Dickerson, who created life castings of over 50 blues musicians. Luther Perkins
, iconic guitarist who played for singer Johnny Cash
, spent most of his childhood in Como.
Como is the birthplace of the notorious western outlaw
L.H. Musgrove
, who was sprung from jail and lynched by a vigilante mob in Denver
, Colorado
, in the fall of 1868.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), of which, 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²) of it is land and 0.53% is water.
It is 45 miles (72.4 km) south of Memphis, Tennessee
.
of 2000, there were 1,310 people, 461 households, and 352 families residing in the town. The population density
was 692.1 people per square mile (267.6/km²). There were 506 housing units at an average density of 267.3 per square mile (103.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 71.83% African American, 26.79% White, 0.08% Native American, 0.61% from other races
, and 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.15% of the population.
There were 461 households out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.7% were married couples
living together, 31.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.30.
In the town the population was spread out with 30.1% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 81.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $22,344, and the median income for a family was $25,000. Males had a median income of $28,333 versus $18,977 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $12,278. About 31.3% of families and 37.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 57.2% of those under age 18 and 29.6% of those age 65 or over.
operates the Como Post Office.
. Como Elementary School in Como, North Panola Junior High School in Como, and North Panola High School in Sardis
serve the community. Wayne Drash, a CNN.com senior producer, said in a 2007 article that one school in Como was considered to be among the lowest-performing in the United States.
Panola County, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 34,274 people, 12,232 households, and 9,014 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile . There were 13,736 housing units at an average density of 20 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...
which borders the Mississippi Delta
Mississippi Delta
The Mississippi Delta is the distinctive northwest section of the U.S. state of Mississippi that lies between the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers. The region has been called "The Most Southern Place on Earth" because of its unique racial, cultural, and economic history...
. The population was 1,310 as of the 2000 census. Wayne Drash, a CNN.com senior producer, described Como as "a hard-hit rural community" in a 2007 article.
History
Como's history includes some of the wealthiest people in Mississippi. It is said that at one time Como had more millionaires per capita than any other town. The Taylor, Swango and Wardlaw families still have descendants in the town. Mississippi Fred McDowellFred McDowell
Fred McDowell known by his stage name; Mississippi Fred McDowell, was an American Hill country blues singer and guitar player.-Career:...
, Napoleon Strickland
Napoleon Strickland
Napoleon Strickland was a fife and drum blues artist, and songwriter, and vocalist specializing in country blues, sometimes known as Napolian Strickland...
, Sid Hemphill, Jessie Mae Hemphill
Jessie Mae Hemphill
Jessie Mae Hemphill was an American award-winning electric guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist specializing in the primal, northern Mississippi country blues traditions of her family and regional heritage....
and Othar Turner
Othar Turner
Othar "Otha" Turner was one of the last well-known fife players in the vanishing American fife and drum blues tradition...
were old time Hill Country musicians who lived in or near Como. Como is home of Jimbo Mathus
Jimbo Mathus
Jimbo MathusBirthname: James H. Mathis, Jr.Born: August 1967 Birthplace: Oxford, MSGenres: American musicOccupations: Entertainer, singer, instrumentalist, songwriter, tankerman...
' Delta Recording Studio, which records artists from around the world. The town is also the home of blind sculptor Sharon McConnel-Dickerson, who created life castings of over 50 blues musicians. Luther Perkins
Luther Perkins
Luther Monroe Perkins was an American country music guitarist and a member of the Tennessee Three, the backup band for singer Johnny Cash. Perkins was an iconic figure in what would become known as rockabilly music...
, iconic guitarist who played for singer Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
, spent most of his childhood in Como.
Como is the birthplace of the notorious western outlaw
Outlaw
In historical legal systems, an outlaw is declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, this takes the burden of active prosecution of a criminal from the authorities. Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...
L.H. Musgrove
L.H. Musgrove
L. H. Musgrove was an outlaw of the American West who was sprung from jail in Denver, Colorado, and hanged by a vigilante mob. Over a number of years, he had been was charged with several murders and the theft of horses....
, who was sprung from jail and lynched by a vigilante mob in Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, in the fall of 1868.
Geography
Como is located at 34°30′48"N 89°56′29"W (34.513343, -89.941290).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 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), of which, 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²) of it is land and 0.53% is water.
It is 45 miles (72.4 km) south of Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
.
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 1,310 people, 461 households, and 352 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 692.1 people per square mile (267.6/km²). There were 506 housing units at an average density of 267.3 per square mile (103.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 71.83% African American, 26.79% White, 0.08% Native American, 0.61% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.15% of the population.
There were 461 households out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.7% 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, 31.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.30.
In the town the population was spread out with 30.1% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 81.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $22,344, and the median income for a family was $25,000. Males had a median income of $28,333 versus $18,977 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 $12,278. About 31.3% of families and 37.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 57.2% of those under age 18 and 29.6% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
The United States Postal ServiceUnited States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
operates the Como Post Office.
Education
The Town of Como is served by the North Panola School DistrictNorth Panola School District
The North Panola School District is a public school district based in Sardis, Mississippi .In addition to Sardis, the district also serves the town of Como and the Panola County portion of Crenshaw as well as rural areas in northern Panola County....
. Como Elementary School in Como, North Panola Junior High School in Como, and North Panola High School in Sardis
Sardis, Mississippi
Sardis is a town in Panola County, Mississippi, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 2,038.-Geography:Sardis is located at ....
serve the community. Wayne Drash, a CNN.com senior producer, said in a 2007 article that one school in Como was considered to be among the lowest-performing in the United States.