Gloster, Mississippi

Gloster is a town in central Amite County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 960 at the 2010 census.[3] It is part of the McComb, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Gloster
Town
Main Street of Gloster, 1948
Location of Gloster, Mississippi
Gloster Location in Mississippi Show map of Mississippi Gloster Gloster (the United States) Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 31°11′49″N 91°1′9″W
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
County	Amite
Government
• Mayor	Wayne Jerry Norwood
Area [1]
• Total	1.82 sq mi (4.72 km^2)
• Land	1.82 sq mi (4.72 km^2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km^2)
Elevation	423 ft (129 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	960
• Estimate  (2018)[2]	873
• Density	485.75/sq mi (187.56/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	39638
Area code(s)	601
FIPS code	28-27820
GNIS feature ID	0693304
Website	www.amitecounty.ms/cities/gloster.php

The community is located 2 miles (3.2 km) south of the Homochitto National Forest.

History

Gloster was incorporated on March 11, 1884.[4]

The Gloster Arboretum was established in 1965, and features a variety of plants and trees in a natural setting. The Arboretum attracts many visitors, and admission is free.[5]

In 1990, the Gloster Southern Railroad began freight service on a short-line railroad between Gloster and Slaughter, Louisiana. Service was discontinued in 2009, and by 2013 the track had been removed.

Gloster is home to Company E, Detachment 1, of the 155th Brigade Combat Team of the Mississippi Army National Guard.

Drax Biomass opererates a 450,000 metric ton per year wood pellet production facility in Gloster. The facility was expected to create 45 jobs, and is called Amite BioEnergy.[6]

Geography

Gloster is located at 31°11′49″N 91°1′9″W (31.196878, -91.019272).[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²), all land.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1890	1,142		—
1900	1,661		45.4%
1910	1,486		−10.5%
1920	1,079		−27.4%
1930	1,139		5.6%
1940	1,232		8.2%
1950	1,467		19.1%
1960	1,369		−6.7%
1970	1,401		2.3%
1980	1,726		23.2%
1990	1,323		−23.3%
2000	1,073		−18.9%
2010	960		−10.5%
Est. 2018	873	[2]	−9.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 324 people, 223 households, and 114 families residing in the town. The population density was 588.4 people per square mile (227.6/km²). There were 481 housing units at an average density of 263.8 per square mile (102.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 54.99% African American, 44.18% White, 0.56% from other races, and 0.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.77% of the population.

There were 422 households, out of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.7% were married couples living together, 29.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 30.4% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 77.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $19,922, and the median income for a family was $23,750. Males had a median income of $25,833 versus $17,222 for females. The per capita income for the town was $10,536. About 35.0% of families and 39.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 61.5% of those under age 18 and 22.4% of those age 65 or over.

The population was reported by the 2020 census to be 863 people.[10]

Education

The town of Gloster is served by the Amite County School District. Children are bused to schools in Liberty, Mississippi.

The Pine Hills Christian Academy is a private school that offers K-12 education.[11]

Notable people

• David Green, Mississippi state legislator and businessman
• Carl Augustus Hansberry, businessman and plaintiff in Hansberry v. Lee U.S. Supreme Court case. Father of playwright Lorraine Hansberry.
• William Leo Hansberry, scholar, uncle of playwright Lorraine Hansberry
• William F. Love, U.S. Representative from Mississippi
• T. T. Martin, evangelist and prominent figures in the anti-evolution movement in the 1920s; buried in Gloster
• Rita Martinson, member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from the 58th District[12]
• Frank A. McLain, U.S. Representative from Mississippi
• Leon Perry, former professional football running back[13]
• Barney Poole, American football player[14]
• Jim Poole, former end who played for seven seasons for the New York Giants and the Chicago Cardinals[14]
• Ray Poole, offensive and defensive end in the National Football League who played for the New York Giants from 1947 to 1952[14]
• Carey A. Randall, Major general in the Marine Corps; served as Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense from 1951-1960
• Lee Robinson, former NFL linebacker[15]
• E. M. Toler, physician and coroner who served in the Louisiana State Senate from East and West Feliciana parishes from 1944 to 1954; born in Gloster in 1874
• Linda T. Walker, federal magistrate; judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
• James W. Washington, Jr., African-American painter and sculptor
• Damien Wilson, NFL player for the Dallas Cowboys

See also

• List of towns in Mississippi

References

1. "2017 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Jan 6, 2019.
2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved February 22, 2020.
3. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Gloster town, Mississippi". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
4. "Gloster". Amite County. Archived from the original on 2013-05-17. Retrieved 2013-06-27.
5. Gloster Arboretum
6. "Drax Biomass Announces Wood Pellet Production Facility in Gloster, Miss". Mississippi Development Authority. Dec 13, 2012.
7. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
8. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
10. https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/gloster-ms-population
11. Pine Hills Christian Academy
12. "Rita Martinson's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
13. Football Register. Sporting News. 1983. p. 286. ISBN 978-0-89204-119-0.
14. David L. Porter (1995). Biographical Dictionary of American Sports: 1992-1995 supplement for baseball, football, basketball, and other sports. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 504. ISBN 978-0-313-28431-1.
15. "Lee Robinson". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 18 May 2020.

External links

• Gloster website
• Gloster Arboretum