Laurel, Mississippi
Encyclopedia
Laurel is a city located in Jones County
in Mississippi
, a state
of the United States of America
. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 18,393 although a significant population increase has been reported following Hurricane Katrina
. Located in southeast Mississippi, southeast of Jackson
on Tallahala Creek, Laurel was founded in 1882 as a lumber town. An American Indian reservation is located in nearby Sandersville
.
Laurel is the principal city of the Laurel Micropolitan Statistical Area. Its major employers include Howard Industries
, Sanderson Farms, Masonite
, Family Health Center, Howse Implement, Thermo-Kool and South Central Regional Medical Center
. Laurel is home to the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art (Mississippi's oldest art museum).
, which has five campuses and a total enrollment of approximately 3,100. The Jones County School District
also provides education for Laurel-area students.
's Crescent train
connects Laurel with the cities of New York
, Philadelphia
, Baltimore, Washington
, Charlotte
, Atlanta
, Birmingham
and New Orleans
. The Amtrak station
is situated at 230 North Maple Street.
Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport
is located in an unincorporated area
in Jones County
, near Moselle
.
In addition, the fictional character Blanche DuBois
of Tennessee Williams' play A Streetcar Named Desire is described as having come from the Laurel area.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 15.8 square miles (40.9 km²), of which, 15.4 square miles (39.9 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it is water. The total area of Laurel is 2.09% water.
of 2000, there were 18,393 people, 6,925 households, and 4,542 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,192.3 people per square mile (460.2/km²). There were 7,804 housing units at an average density of 505.9 per square mile (195.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 40.64% White, 55.08% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 3.17% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. 3.87% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There has been a steady influx of Hispanic migrant labor in the last few years, most of them being employed at Howard Industries
, Sanderson Farms and independent labor. Companies in the area tend to recruit foreign workers due to the benefits of the federal government subsidizing
their cost for training of those on worker visas. Those on visas also tend to be paid substantially less. There has been some debate regarding the legal status of the majority of these workers, particularly after Immigration Customs and Enforcement arrested nearly 600 suspected illegal immigrants at the Howard Industries plant on August 26, 2008.
There were 6,925 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.2% were married couples
living together, 23.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 85.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,988, and the median income for a family was $30,185. Males had a median income of $27,077 versus $17,336 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,561. 28.9% of the population and 21.4% of families were below the poverty line. 37.5% of those under the age of 18 and 19.3% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
operates the Laurel Post Office and the Choctaw Post Office.
The Mississippi Department of Mental Health
South Mississippi State Hospital
Crisis Intervention Center is in Laurel.
Jones County, Mississippi
-History:Jones County, formed out parts of Covington and Wayne counties, was established on January 24, 1826 and was named for John Paul Jones. There are other counties named Jones, but it appears that this is the only one named for John Paul Jones...
in 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...
, a state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of the United States of America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 18,393 although a significant population increase has been reported following Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
. Located in southeast Mississippi, southeast of 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...
on Tallahala Creek, Laurel was founded in 1882 as a lumber town. An American Indian reservation is located in nearby Sandersville
Sandersville, Mississippi
Sandersville is a town in Jones County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 789 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sandersville is located at ....
.
Laurel is the principal city of the Laurel Micropolitan Statistical Area. Its major employers include Howard Industries
Howard Industries
Howard Industries is an electrical products manufacturer located in Laurel, Mississippi. Howard Industries was founded in 1968. Howard Industries is currently the world's largest manufacturer of distribution transformers, and is the largest employer in Laurel, as well as one of the largest in the...
, Sanderson Farms, Masonite
Masonite International
Masonite International Corporation is a company headquartered in Tampa, Florida, which employs over eleven thousand people worldwide. Masonite manufactures interior and exterior doors, door components, and door entry systems. It is one of the world's largest manufacturer and merchandiser of...
, Family Health Center, Howse Implement, Thermo-Kool and South Central Regional Medical Center
South Central Regional Medical Center
South Central Regional Medical Center is the only hospital located in Laurel, Mississippi. It is one of the largest employers in Laurel, Mississippi, employing nearly 2,500 people.-External links:*...
. Laurel is home to the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art (Mississippi's oldest art museum).
Officials
- Melvin Mack – Mayor elected as the first African American mayor of Laurel in 2005
- Dennis Keveryn – City Administrator
- Willie Lavonne Evans – Ward 1 Councilman
- Tony Wheat – Ward 2 Councilman
- Tony Thaxton – Ward 3 Councilman
- George Carmichael – Ward 4 Councilman
- Manuel L. Jones – Ward 5 Councilman
- Johnny Magee – Ward 6 Councilman
- Trey Chinn – Ward 7 Councilman
- Greg King – Fire Chief
Public schools
The City of Laurel is served by the Laurel School DistrictLaurel School District (Mississippi)
The Laurel School District is a public school district based in Laurel, Mississippi .-Schools:*Laurel High School Carl Michael Day, Principal; Jaymar Jackson, Asst. Principal; Brian Foster, Asst. Principal; Becky Sanders, Vocational Director*Laurel Middle School Jeannine Agee, Principal and Jason...
, which has five campuses and a total enrollment of approximately 3,100. The Jones County School District
Jones County School District (Mississippi)
The Jones County School District is a public school district based in Ellisville, Mississippi .In addition to Ellisville, the district also serves the towns of Sandersville and Soso.-Middle/High Schools:*Grades 7-12**Northeast Jones High School...
also provides education for Laurel-area students.
Private schools
- Immaculate Conception School (now closed)
- Laurel Christian School
- Laurel Christian High SchoolLaurel Christian High SchoolLaurel Christian High School is a Christian college preparatory school that was founded in 1982. It is located in Laurel, Mississippi . The school offers a Christian-based classical education that is built on the time-honored trivium: grammar, logic, and rhetoric...
- St. John's Day School http://www.stjohnsdayschool.com/ (part of the Episcopal Church)
Transportation
AmtrakAmtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
's Crescent train
Crescent (Amtrak)
The Crescent is a passenger train operated by Amtrak in the eastern part of the United States. It runs daily from Pennsylvania Station in New York City to New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans, Louisiana as train 19 and returns, on the same route, as train 20. Most of the route of...
connects Laurel with the cities of New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, Baltimore, Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
and New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. The Amtrak station
Laurel (Amtrak station)
The Laurel Amtrak Station, located in Laurel, Mississippi, is served by the passenger train. The street address is 230 North Maple Street, in the heart of downtown Laurel...
is situated at 230 North Maple Street.
Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport
Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport
Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport , nicknamed Airport City, is a public airport located in unincorporated Jones County, Mississippi, near Moselle, and approximately 10 miles north of Hattiesburg and 23 miles southwest of Laurel. The airport covers and has one runway. It is mostly used for...
is located in an unincorporated area
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Jones County
Jones County, Mississippi
-History:Jones County, formed out parts of Covington and Wayne counties, was established on January 24, 1826 and was named for John Paul Jones. There are other counties named Jones, but it appears that this is the only one named for John Paul Jones...
, near Moselle
Moselle, Mississippi
Moselle is an unincorporated community in southern Jones County, Mississippi, United States. It is located along U.S. Highway 11, north of Eastabuchie and southwest of Laurel...
.
Major highways
Interstate 59Interstate 59Interstate 59 is an Interstate Highway in the southern United States. Its southern terminus is near Slidell, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans, at an intersection with Interstate 10 and Interstate 12, its northern terminus is at Wildwood, Georgia, at an intersection with Interstate 24.The road's...
U.S. Route 84U.S. Route 84U.S. Route 84 is an east–west United States highway. It started as a short Georgia-Alabama route in the original 1926 scheme, but now extends all the way to Colorado. The highway's eastern terminus is a short distance east of Midway, Georgia, at an intersection with I-95. The road continues...
U.S. Route 11U.S. Route 11U.S. Route 11 is a north–south United States highway extending 1,645 miles across the eastern United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 90 in the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge in eastern New Orleans, Louisiana. The northern terminus is at the United...
U.S. Route 15U.S. Route 15U.S. Route 15 is a -long United States highway, designated along South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York. The route is signed north–south, from U.S. Route 17 Alternate in Walterboro, South Carolina to Interstate 86 and NY 17 in Painted Post, New York.US...
Famous natives and residents
Laurel is the birthplace and/or primary residence of many celebrities.- Jake Allen (born 1985), NFL player for the Cleveland BrownsCleveland BrownsThe Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
- Lance BassLance BassJames Lance Bass , best known as Lance Bass, is an American pop singer, dancer, actor, film and television producer, and author. He grew up in Mississippi and rose to fame as the bass singer for the American pop boy band 'N Sync. 'N Sync's success led Bass to work in film and television...
(born 1979), pop singer and member of 'N Sync'N SyncN Sync was an American boy band formed in Orlando, Florida, in 1995 and launched in Germany by BMG Ariola Munich, *NSYNC consisted of JC Chasez, Justin Timberlake, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick...
, born in Laurel - Marsha BlackburnMarsha BlackburnMarsha Wedgeworth Blackburn is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. She is a member of the Republican Party. The district stretches from the suburbs of Nashville to the suburbs of Memphis.-Early life, education and career:...
(born 1952), Congresswoman from Tennessee - Ralph BostonRalph BostonRalph Harold Boston is an American athlete. He was an all around athletic star, but he is best remembered for his successes in the long jump during the 1960s....
(born 1939), Olympic Gold Medalist - Jason CampbellJason CampbellJason Campbell is an American football quarterback for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
(born 1981), Oakland RaidersOakland RaidersThe Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
quarterback - Mary Elizabeth EllisMary Elizabeth EllisMary Elizabeth Ellis is an American actress and writer best known for her recurring role as "The Waitress" on the FX comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia...
, actress and daughter of local dentist Steve Ellis - Ed HintonEd HintonEdward Talmage "Ed" Hinton is currently a senior motorsports columnist for ESPN.com.Hinton attended the University of Mississippi and later The University of Southern Mississippi, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, graduating in 1970. He began working for the covering the NASCAR racing...
(born 1948), sportswriter - David Huff, singer, songwriter, recording artist with David and the GiantsDavid and the GiantsDavid and the Giants began as a rock band in Laurel, Mississippi; with the Huff brothers: David, Clay, and Ray—with Jerry Parker on drums, touring the Southeast during the 1960s. In 1977 they switched to a Christian rock format. They continued to sing and record together through 1999. Recording...
- Mark Augustus Landis (born 1955), art dealer, philanthropist, alleged donor of art forgeries to 43 museums in 20 states since 1987, used aliases Steven Gardiner and Father Arthur Scott, donor to Savannah College of Art and DesignSavannah College of Art and DesignSCAD, the Savannah College of Art and Design, is a private, accredited and degree-granting university with locations in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia, Hong Kong, and Lacoste, France.-History:...
, University of Southern Mississippi - Tom LesterTom LesterThomas William "Tom" Lester is an American actor and evangelist. He may be best remembered for his role as Oliver & Lisa Douglas's farmhand, Eb Dawson, in the television series Green Acres, and appeared in the movies Gordy and Benji.-Biography:Lester was born in Laurel, Mississippi...
(born 1938), actor who played "Eb" on the sitcom Green AcresGreen AcresGreen Acres is an American television series starring Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor as a couple who move from New York City to a country farm...
http://www.gollymisterdouglas.com/interviews/interviews.html - Mundell LoweMundell LoweMundell Lowe is an American jazz guitarist.Lowe was born in Laurel, Mississippi on 21 March 1922. In the 1930s he played country music and Dixieland jazz. He later played with big bands and orchestras, and on television in New York City. In the 1960s, Lowe composed music for films and television...
(born 1922), an American Jazz guitarist and music composer of film and television was born in Laurel. http://www.mswritersandmusicians.com/musicians/mundell-lowe.html - Doug Marlette (1949–2007), Pulitzer PrizePulitzer PrizeThe Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
-winning cartoonist, lived in Laurel as a child - Charles Marsh, a writer and professor at the University of VirginiaUniversity of VirginiaThe University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, lived in Laurel from 1967 until 1973 - Mary Mills (born 1940), professional golfer, U.S. Women's Open winner, born in Laurel
- Kenny PayneKenny PayneKenneth Victor Payne is a retired American professional basketball player and currently serves as an assistant men's basketball coach at the University of Kentucky. A 6'8" 195 lb small forward, Payne played college basketball at the University of Louisville and was a member of Louisville's 1986...
(born 1966), Former professional (NBA) basketball player and played on the 1986 NCAA National Championship team from Louisville. Assistant coach at the University of Oregon http://hoopedia.nba.com/index.php?title=Kenny_Payne - Chip PickeringChip Pickering"Charles Willis Pickering" redirects here. For this former congressman's father, see Charles W. Pickering.Charles Willis "Chip" Pickering, Jr. is a politician in the U.S. state of Mississippi. He represented as a Republican in the United States House of Representatives...
(born 1963), Former United States Congressman - Stacey Pickering (born 1968), State Auditor and cousin of Chip Pickering
- Clinton PortisClinton PortisClinton Earl Portis is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
(born 1981), Washington Redskins running back http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5937 - Parker PoseyParker PoseyParker Christian Posey is an American actress. She became known during the 1990s after a series of roles in several well-received independent films. As a result, she has often been referred to as the "Queen of the Indies"....
(born 1968), actress and daughter of local ChevroletChevroletChevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
retailer Chris Posey http://www.tv.com/parker-posey/person/3716/biography.html - George B. Price (born 1929), Brigadier GeneralBrigadier general (United States)A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
, U.S. Army, brother of Leontyne Price - Leontyne PriceLeontyne PriceMary Violet Leontyne Price is an American soprano. Born and raised in the Deep South, she rose to international acclaim in the 1950s and 1960s, and was one of the first African Americans to become a leading artist at the Metropolitan Opera.One critic characterized Price's voice as "vibrant",...
(born 1927), Internationally acclaimed opera star and leading soprano of the Metropolitan OperaMetropolitan OperaThe Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
http://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/index.cfm?fuseaction=showIndividual&entitY_id=3787&source_type=A - James StreetJames H. StreetJames Howell Street was a U.S. journalist, minister, and writer of Southern historical novels.Street was born in Lumberton, Mississippi, in 1903. As a teenager, he began working as a journalist for newspapers in Laurel and Hattiesburg, Mississippi...
(1903–1954), journalist, minister, and writer http://www.shs.starkville.k12.ms.us/mswm/MSWritersAndMusicians/writers/JamesStreet/StreetJames.html - Ray WalstonRay WalstonRay Walston was an American stage, television and film actor best known as the title character on the 1960s situation comedy My Favorite Martian. In addition, he is also remembered for his roles as Luther Billis in South Pacific , Mr. Applegate in Damn Yankees , J.J...
(1914–2001), actor (some sources claim he was born in New OrleansNew Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, where he spent his childhood) http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=9542216 - Lloyd WellsLloyd WellsLloyd Wells is an American jazz guitarist, now residing in Nashville, Tennessee. He is best known for his work on The Merv Griffin Show, The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Sesame Street, The Electric Company, The Ed Sullivan Show, and later as arranger and Music Director at Opryland USA theme...
, a country and jazz guitarist, grew up in Laurel and is an inductee of the Mississippi Music Hall of Fame. http://www.mswritersandmusicians.com/musicians/lloyd-wells.html - Frank Gardiner WisnerFrank WisnerFrank Gardiner Wisner was head of Office of Strategic Services operations in southeastern Europe at the end of World War II, and the head of the Directorate of Plans of the Central Intelligence Agency during the 1950s....
(1909–1965) head of Office of Strategic Services operations in southeastern Europe at the end of World War II, and head of the Directorate of Plans of the Central Intelligence Agency during the 1950s
In addition, the fictional character Blanche DuBois
Blanche DuBois
Blanche DuBois is a fictional character in Tennessee Williams' 1947 Pulitzer Prize-winning play A Streetcar Named Desire...
of Tennessee Williams' play A Streetcar Named Desire is described as having come from the Laurel area.
Geography
Laurel is located at 31°41'51" North, 89°8'22" West (31.697412, -89.139315).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 15.8 square miles (40.9 km²), of which, 15.4 square miles (39.9 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it is water. The total area of Laurel is 2.09% 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 18,393 people, 6,925 households, and 4,542 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 1,192.3 people per square mile (460.2/km²). There were 7,804 housing units at an average density of 505.9 per square mile (195.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 40.64% White, 55.08% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 3.17% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. 3.87% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There has been a steady influx of Hispanic migrant labor in the last few years, most of them being employed at Howard Industries
Howard Industries
Howard Industries is an electrical products manufacturer located in Laurel, Mississippi. Howard Industries was founded in 1968. Howard Industries is currently the world's largest manufacturer of distribution transformers, and is the largest employer in Laurel, as well as one of the largest in the...
, Sanderson Farms and independent labor. Companies in the area tend to recruit foreign workers due to the benefits of the federal government subsidizing
their cost for training of those on worker visas. Those on visas also tend to be paid substantially less. There has been some debate regarding the legal status of the majority of these workers, particularly after Immigration Customs and Enforcement arrested nearly 600 suspected illegal immigrants at the Howard Industries plant on August 26, 2008.
There were 6,925 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.2% 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, 23.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 85.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,988, and the median income for a family was $30,185. Males had a median income of $27,077 versus $17,336 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 $15,561. 28.9% of the population and 21.4% of families were below the poverty line. 37.5% of those under the age of 18 and 19.3% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
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 Laurel Post Office and the Choctaw Post Office.
The Mississippi Department of Mental Health
Mississippi Department of Mental Health
The Mississippi Department of Mental Health is a state agency of Mississippi, headquartered in Suite 1101 of the Robert E. Lee Building in Jackson...
South Mississippi State Hospital
South Mississippi State Hospital
The South Mississippi State Hospital is an acute care regional psychiatric facility of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health located in unincorporated Lamar County, Mississippi, near Purvis...
Crisis Intervention Center is in Laurel.
Media
- WDAM-TVWDAM-TVWDAM-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for the Pine Belt area of Southeastern Mississippi that is licensed to Laurel. It broadcast a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 7 from a transmitter at its studios on US 11 in Moselle near the Jones and Forrest County line. The station...
- The ReView of Jones County
- Laurel Leader-Call
- WBBNWBBNWBBN is a radio station licensed to the community of Taylorsville, Mississippi, and serving the Laurel-Hattiesburg area. The station is owned by Blakeney Communications, Inc...
(95.9 FM, "B-95")
External links
- City of Laurel
- History of Laurel's Jewish community (from the Institute of Southern Jewish Life)
- Scrapbook re: Laurel, Mississippi (MUM00404) owned by the University of Mississippi.