Sumrall, Mississippi
Encyclopedia
Sumrall is a town in Lamar County
, Mississippi
, United States
. It is part of the Hattiesburg, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area
. The population was 1,005 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), of which, 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²) of it is land and 0.46% is water.
For nearly 30 years the Newman Lumber Company was the main industry of the city. As the timber industry was a "cut out and get out" operation in this time period, when the mill depleted the profitable timber supply it ceased operation in 1931. Combined with the Great Depression, the shutdown of the mill had a marked impact on the town and left it with no large employer for nearly 20 years. In the 1949 the Movie Star Company opened a plant in nearby Purvis, and soon opened a similar plant in Sumrall which provided a stable employment for many local women until the 1990s. The population of the city remained flat or declined from 1940-2000. As the metropolitan area of Hattiesburg has expanded westward, Sumrall is now once again experiencing economic growth.
of 2000, there were 1,005 people, 406 households, and 265 families residing in the town. The population density
was 468.6 people per square mile (181.3/km²). There were 436 housing units at an average density of 203.3 per square mile (78.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 76.62% White, 22.29% African American, 10.3% Native American, 0.10% from other races
, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.70% of the population.
There were 406 households out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples
living together, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,800, and the median income for a family was $37,784. Males had a median income of $29,500 versus $16,786 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,715. About 13.3% of families and 18.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 25.4% of those age 65 or over.
.
Lamar County, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 39,070 people, 14,396 households, and 10,725 families residing in the county. The population density was 79 people per square mile . There were 15,433 housing units at an average density of 31 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...
. It is part of the Hattiesburg, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area
Hattiesburg metropolitan area
The Hattiesburg Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan area in southeastern Mississippi that covers three counties - Forrest, Lamar, and Perry...
. The population was 1,005 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Sumrall is located at 31°25′7"N 89°32′47"W (31.418678, -89.546486).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 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), of which, 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²) of it is land and 0.46% is water.
History
Sumrall was one of many new towns incorporated along the Mississippi Central Railroad during the first decade of the 20th Century. Prior to the arrival of the railroad, founder Daniel Sumrall operated a grist mill along Mill Creek. In 1890, the federal government established a post office in the community and named it Sumrall. The J. J. Newman Company, headed by Fenwick Peck, chose the site as a location for a large sawmill. Situated in the heart of South Mississippi's pine belt, the location was ideal for just such a large mill. Evidence of the quality of timber in the area is supported by a prize winning short leaf pine displayed at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis. The tree was 160 feet tall, measured 20 feet in circumference and was 6 feet eight inches in diameter. With the arrival of the railroad, the town grew quickly and petitioned for incorporation as a town; this wish was granted by the Mississippi Legislature on October 6, 1903. Some early residents wanted to change the name of the town, as although Daniel Sumrall was a Perry County, Mississippi native, he served in the Civil War as a Union soldier. The federal government had the final choice in the matter, as they refused to change the name of the post office, therefore making any change in name the city would make meaningless.For nearly 30 years the Newman Lumber Company was the main industry of the city. As the timber industry was a "cut out and get out" operation in this time period, when the mill depleted the profitable timber supply it ceased operation in 1931. Combined with the Great Depression, the shutdown of the mill had a marked impact on the town and left it with no large employer for nearly 20 years. In the 1949 the Movie Star Company opened a plant in nearby Purvis, and soon opened a similar plant in Sumrall which provided a stable employment for many local women until the 1990s. The population of the city remained flat or declined from 1940-2000. As the metropolitan area of Hattiesburg has expanded westward, Sumrall is now once again experiencing economic growth.
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 1,005 people, 406 households, and 265 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 468.6 people per square mile (181.3/km²). There were 436 housing units at an average density of 203.3 per square mile (78.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 76.62% White, 22.29% African American, 10.3% Native American, 0.10% 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 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.70% of the population.
There were 406 households out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% 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, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,800, and the median income for a family was $37,784. Males had a median income of $29,500 versus $16,786 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 $14,715. About 13.3% of families and 18.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 25.4% of those age 65 or over.
Sports
Sumrall High School won 3A State Championships in Baseball in 2008, 2009 and 2010. The 2009 team was undefeated, while the 2010 team lost a single game. They currently hold the state record in Mississippi for the consecutive number of high school baseball games won, with a streak of 67 games won between 2008 and 2010.Notable residents
- Sumrall is the hometown of Tom MaloneTom Malone (musician)Tom "Bones" Malone is an American jazz musician. As his nickname implies, he specializes on the trombone, but also plays trumpet, tuba, tenor sax, baritone sax, flutes, piccolo, and other instruments....
, Tom "Bones" Malone played tromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
in the Sumrall High SchoolHigh schoolHigh school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
band.
- Sumrall is the home town of authorAuthorAn author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and historianHistorianA historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
Reagan Grimsley, who has written Hattiesburg In Vintage Postcards, A History of the First Baptist Church, Sumrall, Mississippi, and Enriching Lives: A Pictorial History of Columbus State University.
- B.B. "Sixty" RayburnSixty RayburnBenjamin Burras Rayburn, Sr., known as B. B. "Sixty" Rayburn , was a veteran politician from Bogalusa, an incorporated city in Washington Parish in southeastern Louisiana in the United States...
, a 44-year member of the Louisiana State SenateLouisiana State LegislatureThe Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
(1951–1996) was born in Sumrall in 1916. He graduate from Sumrall High School. Thereafter, his family moved to Bogalusa, LouisianaBogalusa, LouisianaBogalusa is a city in Washington Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 13,365 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of the Bogalusa Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Washington Parish and is also part of the larger New Orleans–Metairie–Bogalusa...
.
- Sumrall is the hometown of Seth Miller. Seth is an American actor who has had roles in Transformers, Eagle Eye, and CSI:NY. He also serves on active duty as a U.S. Marine.
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