Iuka, Mississippi
Encyclopedia
Iuka is a city in Tishomingo County
, Mississippi
, United States
. The population was 3,059 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Tishomingo County
. Woodall Mountain
, the highest point in Mississippi, is located just south of Iuka.
Indian village that is thought to have been subordinate to the settlement at Underwood Village. The name "Iuka" comes from the name of one of the chieftains of the village.
Euro-American settlers arrived with the Memphis and Charleston Railroad
in 1857. Before the American Civil War
, the town boasted an all-female college, a boys' military academy, and a fine hotel. The Civil War brought widespread devastation when a major engagement here occurred on September 19, 1862. The Battle of Iuka
resulted in 1200 to 1500 killed or wounded. The dead Confederate
soldiers were buried in a long trench that eventually became Shady Grove Cemetery.
The first normal school
built in the former Confederacy after the Civil War, Iuka Normal Institute
, was built here. However, the town did not return to prosperity for many years. The building of Pickwick Landing Dam
and Pickwick Lake
by the Tennessee Valley Authority
brought activity back to the town.
In 1904, water from Iuka's mineral springs won first prize for the purest and best mineral water at the World's Fair
in St. Louis
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 9.7 square miles (25.1 km²), all land.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 3,059 people, 1,325 households, and 809 families residing in the city. The population density
was 316.6 people per square mile (122.3/km²). There were 1,550 housing units at an average density of 160.4 per square mile (62.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.14% White, 7.09% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.59% from other races
, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.21% of the population.
There were 1,325 households out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% were married couples
living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 36.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.77.
In the city the population was spread out with 19.5% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 26.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 76.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,082, and the median income for a family was $36,863. Males had a median income of $30,449 versus $20,658 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,261. About 16.0% of families and 20.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.6% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.
, a major U.S. aerospace and defense contractor.
Tishomingo County, Mississippi
As of the census of 2000 there were 19,163 people, 7,917 households, and 5,573 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile . There were 9,553 housing units at an average density of 22 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 3,059 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Tishomingo County
Tishomingo County, Mississippi
As of the census of 2000 there were 19,163 people, 7,917 households, and 5,573 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile . There were 9,553 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile...
. Woodall Mountain
Woodall Mountain
Woodall Mountain is the highest natural point in the state of Mississippi at 807 feet . It is located just off Mississippi Highway 25, south of Iuka. The summit is marked with a National Geodetic Survey triangulation station disk and three radio towers...
, the highest point in Mississippi, is located just south of Iuka.
History
Iuka is built on the site of a ChickasawChickasaw
The Chickasaw are Native American people originally from the region that would become the Southeastern United States...
Indian village that is thought to have been subordinate to the settlement at Underwood Village. The name "Iuka" comes from the name of one of the chieftains of the village.
Euro-American settlers arrived with the Memphis and Charleston Railroad
Memphis and Charleston Railroad
The Memphis and Charleston Railroad, completed in 1857, was the first railroad in the United States to link the Atlantic Ocean with the Mississippi River. Chartered in 1846 the railroad ran from Memphis, Tennessee to Stevenson, Alabama through the towns of Corinth, Mississippi and Huntsville,...
in 1857. Before the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the town boasted an all-female college, a boys' military academy, and a fine hotel. The Civil War brought widespread devastation when a major engagement here occurred on September 19, 1862. The Battle of Iuka
Battle of Iuka
The Battle of Iuka was fought on September 19, 1862, in Iuka, Mississippi, during the American Civil War. In the opening battle of the Iuka-Corinth Campaign, Union Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans stopped the advance of the army of Confederate Maj. Gen. Sterling Price.Maj. Gen. Ulysses S...
resulted in 1200 to 1500 killed or wounded. The dead Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
soldiers were buried in a long trench that eventually became Shady Grove Cemetery.
The first normal school
Normal school
A normal school is a school created to train high school graduates to be teachers. Its purpose is to establish teaching standards or norms, hence its name...
built in the former Confederacy after the Civil War, Iuka Normal Institute
Iuka Normal Institute
Iuka Normal Institute was a normal school founded in Iuka, Mississippi in 1882, reportedly the first normal school built south of the Mason-Dixon Line. It operated as a day school and boarding school, offering classes from first to tenth grades. In 1892, graduates of their tenth grade were deemed...
, was built here. However, the town did not return to prosperity for many years. The building of Pickwick Landing Dam
Pickwick Landing Dam
Pickwick Landing Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Tennessee River in Hardin County, in the U.S. state of Tennessee. The dam is one of nine dams on the river owned and operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority, which built the dam in the 1930s as part of a New Deal-era initiative to create a...
and Pickwick Lake
Pickwick Lake
Pickwick Lake is the reservoir created by Pickwick Landing Dam as part of the Tennessee Valley Authority. The lake stretches from Pickwick Landing Dam to Wilson Dam....
by the Tennessee Valley Authority
Tennessee Valley Authority
The Tennessee Valley Authority is a federally owned corporation in the United States created by congressional charter in May 1933 to provide navigation, flood control, electricity generation, fertilizer manufacturing, and economic development in the Tennessee Valley, a region particularly affected...
brought activity back to the town.
In 1904, water from Iuka's mineral springs won first prize for the purest and best mineral water at the World's Fair
Louisiana Purchase Exposition
The Louisiana Purchase Exposition, informally known as the Saint Louis World's Fair, was an international exposition held in St. Louis, Missouri, United States in 1904.- Background :...
in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
.
Geography
Iuka is located at 34°48′38"N 88°11′45"W (34.810633, -88.195759).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 city has a total area of 9.7 square miles (25.1 km²), all land.
Demographics
| City of Iuka Population by year http://eire.census.gov/popest/data/cities.php |
1990 - 3,122 2000 - 3,059 2004 - 2,969 (estimate) |
As of the census
Census
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 3,059 people, 1,325 households, and 809 families residing in the city. 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 316.6 people per square mile (122.3/km²). There were 1,550 housing units at an average density of 160.4 per square mile (62.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.14% White, 7.09% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.59% 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 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.21% of the population.
There were 1,325 households out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% 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, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 36.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.77.
In the city the population was spread out with 19.5% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 26.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 76.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,082, and the median income for a family was $36,863. Males had a median income of $30,449 versus $20,658 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 city was $17,261. About 16.0% of families and 20.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.6% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.
Schools
- Tishomingo County High School
- Iuka Middle School
- Iuka Elementary School
Industry
A Major employer in Iuka's industrial sector is Alliant TechsystemsAlliant Techsystems
Alliant Techsystems Inc., most commonly known by its ticker symbol, ', is one of the largest aerospace and defense companies in the United States with more than 18,000 employees in 22 states, Puerto Rico and internationally, and 2010 revenues in excess of an estimated...
, a major U.S. aerospace and defense contractor.
See also
- Battle of IukaBattle of IukaThe Battle of Iuka was fought on September 19, 1862, in Iuka, Mississippi, during the American Civil War. In the opening battle of the Iuka-Corinth Campaign, Union Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans stopped the advance of the army of Confederate Maj. Gen. Sterling Price.Maj. Gen. Ulysses S...
- Tennessee-Tombigbee WaterwayTennessee-Tombigbee WaterwayThe Tennessee–Tombigbee Waterway is a 234-mile man-made, artificial waterway that extends from the Tennessee River to the junction of the Black Warrior-Tombigbee River system near Demopolis, Alabama, United States. The Tenneessee-Tombigbee Waterway links commercial navigation from the nation’s...
- Rheta Grimsley JohnsonRheta Grimsley JohnsonRheta Grimsley Johnson is an award-winning reporter and columnist for King Features Syndicate of New York. Johnson travels the country in search of stories, frequently reporting from her native South, with datelines from Washington, D.C., to Iuka, Mississippi....
- Woodall MountainWoodall MountainWoodall Mountain is the highest natural point in the state of Mississippi at 807 feet . It is located just off Mississippi Highway 25, south of Iuka. The summit is marked with a National Geodetic Survey triangulation station disk and three radio towers...
- Yellow Creek Nuclear Power PlantYellow Creek Nuclear Power PlantThe Yellow Creek Nuclear Power Plant is a canceled nuclear power plant project near Iuka, Mississippi. It was originally planned to have two 1,285 MWe boiling water reactors built by General Electric and operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority ....