Flora, Mississippi
Encyclopedia
Flora is a town in Madison County
, Mississippi
, United States
. The population was 1,546 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Jackson
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,546 people, 575 households, and 416 families residing in the town. The population density
was 454.2 people per square mile (175.6/km²). There were 606 housing units at an average density of 178.0 per square mile (68.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 57.05% White, 42.04% African American, 0.65% Native American, 0.06% from other races
, and 0.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.32% of the population.
There were 575 households out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% were married couples
living together, 25.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 86.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $38,077, and the median income for a family was $41,324. Males had a median income of $31,786 versus $22,176 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,075. About 18.7% of families and 25.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 44.4% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.
.
Flora is also the home of Tri-County Academy. (k-3 thru Grade 12)
, which purports to be the only such forest east of the Mississippi River
.
103.9 FM and The Flora News, a monthly free community newspaper, The Flora News.
moved to Flora from nearby Yazoo City.
In June 2005, Flora had its municipal elections. Charles Scott Greaves defeated challenger Maria Sue Jones for the post of mayor. Mayor Greaves replaced outgoing mayor Jw Richardson, who decided not to run for reelection after holding the post for two terms. Current elected officials include Aldermen Mike Westbrook, Randy Grewe, L.V. Sumler, Les Childress, and Alderman-at-Large Jonathan Bates. The Flora City Clerk is Debbie Ross. The Flora City Attorney is Ronnie Kirk. The Flora Police Chief is Ernie Scarborough. Meetings of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen are generally held the second Tuesday evening of each month at 6:45 p.m. at city hall.
In the Spring of 2006, the United States Department Of Homeland Security
announced that Flora would be considered as a site for the construction of the National Agro and Biodefense Facility
, which is expected to be operating in the year 2011. As of the beginning of 2008, the town was still on the list of potential sites (along with four other candidate locations) for the facility, which would replace the existing animal disease research center at Plum Island, New York. The formal announcement for the new facility is expected to come out in 2008, with construction to begin shortly thereafter. If selected, the center would be located in Flora's Industrial Park
.
Madison County, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 74,674 people, 27,219 households, and 19,325 families residing in the county. The population density was 104 people per square mile . There were 28,781 housing units at an average density of 40 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 1,546 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Jackson
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Jackson metropolitan area
The Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan area in the central region of the U.S. state of Mississippi that covers five counties: Copiah, Hinds, Madison, Rankin, and Simpson. As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 497,197...
.
Geography
Flora is located at 32°32′35"N 90°18′43"W (32.543056, -90.311843).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 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²), all of it land.
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 1,546 people, 575 households, and 416 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 454.2 people per square mile (175.6/km²). There were 606 housing units at an average density of 178.0 per square mile (68.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 57.05% White, 42.04% African American, 0.65% Native American, 0.06% 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 0.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.32% of the population.
There were 575 households out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% 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, 25.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 86.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $38,077, and the median income for a family was $41,324. Males had a median income of $31,786 versus $22,176 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 $16,075. About 18.7% of families and 25.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 44.4% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The Town of Flora is served by the Madison County School DistrictMadison County School District (Mississippi)
The Madison County School District is a public school district based in Flora, Mississippi .In addition to Flora, the district serves the cities of Ridgeland and Madison, a small portion of Jackson that lies in Madison County, the community of Camden, and most rural areas in Madison County.-High...
.
Flora is also the home of Tri-County Academy. (k-3 thru Grade 12)
Attractions
Just outside of the Flora city limits lies a forest collection of petrified wood, the Mississippi Petrified ForestMississippi Petrified Forest
Mississippi Petrified Forest is a petrified forest located near Flora, Mississippi in the United States. It is currently privately owned and open for public visitation. The forest is believed to have been formed 36 million years ago when fir and maple logs washed down an ancient river channel to...
, which purports to be the only such forest east of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.
Media
Flora is served both by radio station WYABWYAB
WYAB 103.9 FM is a radio station serving the city of Jackson, Mississippi, including Madison County, Yazoo County, Rankin County, and Hinds County...
103.9 FM and The Flora News, a monthly free community newspaper, The Flora News.
Recent history
In April 2004, radio station WYABWYAB
WYAB 103.9 FM is a radio station serving the city of Jackson, Mississippi, including Madison County, Yazoo County, Rankin County, and Hinds County...
moved to Flora from nearby Yazoo City.
In June 2005, Flora had its municipal elections. Charles Scott Greaves defeated challenger Maria Sue Jones for the post of mayor. Mayor Greaves replaced outgoing mayor Jw Richardson, who decided not to run for reelection after holding the post for two terms. Current elected officials include Aldermen Mike Westbrook, Randy Grewe, L.V. Sumler, Les Childress, and Alderman-at-Large Jonathan Bates. The Flora City Clerk is Debbie Ross. The Flora City Attorney is Ronnie Kirk. The Flora Police Chief is Ernie Scarborough. Meetings of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen are generally held the second Tuesday evening of each month at 6:45 p.m. at city hall.
In the Spring of 2006, the United States Department Of Homeland Security
United States Department of Homeland Security
The United States Department of Homeland Security is a cabinet department of the United States federal government, created in response to the September 11 attacks, and with the primary responsibilities of protecting the territory of the United States and protectorates from and responding to...
announced that Flora would be considered as a site for the construction of the National Agro and Biodefense Facility
Plum Island Animal Disease Center
Plum Island Animal Disease Center is a United States federal research facility dedicated to the study of animal diseases. It is part of the DHS Directorate for Science and Technology....
, which is expected to be operating in the year 2011. As of the beginning of 2008, the town was still on the list of potential sites (along with four other candidate locations) for the facility, which would replace the existing animal disease research center at Plum Island, New York. The formal announcement for the new facility is expected to come out in 2008, with construction to begin shortly thereafter. If selected, the center would be located in Flora's Industrial Park
Industrial park
An industrial park is an area zoned and planned for the purpose of industrial development...
.