Marks, Mississippi
Encyclopedia
Marks is a city in Quitman County
, Mississippi
, United States
. As of the 2000 census
, the city population was 1,551. It is the county seat
of Quitman County
. Marks was named for Leopold Marks, a Jewish immigrant trader of the late 19th century whose market became one of the earliest centers of business in the area.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), all land.
in 1968.
The town of Marks was named after Leopold Marks (born 1851 - died 1910) who left Germany
to avoid conscription by the German army. He landed in New York in 1868. He knew no English and arrived with only 27 cents in his pockets.
Nonetheless, Leopold Marks was Quitman County's first representative to the state legislature and served in that capacity for eight years. In 1875 he married; his wife, Pauline Marks, was born in 1852 but her year of death is unknown.
Leopold Marks realized the potential of the Coldwater River region and the dense forests and the fertile banks of Cassidy's Bayou when he bought a small trading boat and peddled goods up and down the river area. He opened his store and began to buy land at $0.40 per acre. He also peddled jewelry across the county until he reached Friars Point, Mississippi
.
Prejudice at first kept him from obtaining the land grant that he sought. He was shot at several times. (Source: page 77-78 "Jews of Early Mississippi" published by University Press of Mississippi) He skirted the issue by forming the Marks Townsite Company and did manage to get the grant.
He encouraged the Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad to come into the area by giving the railroad company, without cost, the right-of-way through his plantation plus 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) of land. Leopold Marks' son, Henry Marks, donated land to the town of Marks to be used as a cemetery.
The official "founding" of the town is considered to be May 12, 1907; on May 12, 2007, the town celebrated its centennial.
of 2000, there were 1,551 people, 579 households, and 387 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,509.9 people per square mile (581.4/km²). There were 643 housing units at an average density of 625.9 per square mile (241.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 34.62% White, 64.67% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.19% Asian, and 0.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.39% of the population.
There were 579 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.0% were married couples
living together, 29.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.7% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 16.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 81.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,521, and the median income for a family was $27,153. Males had a median income of $25,100 versus $16,985 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $11,104. About 26.1% of families and 30.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.9% of those under age 18 and 27.7% of those age 65 or over.
Quitman County, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 10,117 people, 3,565 households, and 2,506 families residing in the county. The population density was 25 people per square mile . There were 3,923 housing units at an average density of 10 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...
. As of the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, the city population was 1,551. 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 Quitman County
Quitman County, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 10,117 people, 3,565 households, and 2,506 families residing in the county. The population density was 25 people per square mile . There were 3,923 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile...
. Marks was named for Leopold Marks, a Jewish immigrant trader of the late 19th century whose market became one of the earliest centers of business in the area.
Geography
Marks is located at 34°15′18"N 90°16′22"W (34.254918, -90.272784).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 1 square miles (2.6 km²), all land.
History
Marks is notable for being the starting point of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's Poor People's CampaignPoor People's Campaign
Organized by Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Poor People's Campaign addressed the issues of economic justice and housing for the poor in the United States King said, “We believe the highest patriotism demands the ending of the war and the opening of a...
in 1968.
The town of Marks was named after Leopold Marks (born 1851 - died 1910) who left Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to avoid conscription by the German army. He landed in New York in 1868. He knew no English and arrived with only 27 cents in his pockets.
Nonetheless, Leopold Marks was Quitman County's first representative to the state legislature and served in that capacity for eight years. In 1875 he married; his wife, Pauline Marks, was born in 1852 but her year of death is unknown.
Leopold Marks realized the potential of the Coldwater River region and the dense forests and the fertile banks of Cassidy's Bayou when he bought a small trading boat and peddled goods up and down the river area. He opened his store and began to buy land at $0.40 per acre. He also peddled jewelry across the county until he reached Friars Point, Mississippi
Friars Point, Mississippi
Friars Point is a town in Coahoma County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 1,480 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Friars Point is located at ....
.
Prejudice at first kept him from obtaining the land grant that he sought. He was shot at several times. (Source: page 77-78 "Jews of Early Mississippi" published by University Press of Mississippi) He skirted the issue by forming the Marks Townsite Company and did manage to get the grant.
He encouraged the Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad to come into the area by giving the railroad company, without cost, the right-of-way through his plantation plus 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) of land. Leopold Marks' son, Henry Marks, donated land to the town of Marks to be used as a cemetery.
The official "founding" of the town is considered to be May 12, 1907; on May 12, 2007, the town celebrated its centennial.
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 1,551 people, 579 households, and 387 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 1,509.9 people per square mile (581.4/km²). There were 643 housing units at an average density of 625.9 per square mile (241.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 34.62% White, 64.67% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.19% Asian, and 0.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.39% of the population.
There were 579 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.0% 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, 29.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.7% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 16.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 81.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,521, and the median income for a family was $27,153. Males had a median income of $25,100 versus $16,985 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 $11,104. About 26.1% of families and 30.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.9% of those under age 18 and 27.7% of those age 65 or over.