Aberdeen, Mississippi

Aberdeen is the county seat of Monroe County, Mississippi, United States.[5] As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,612.

Aberdeen, Mississippi
City
Aberdeen City Hall (early 20th century)
Motto(s): 
"A Great Place To Live, Work And Play"
Location of Aberdeen, Mississippi
Aberdeen, Mississippi
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 33°49′28″N 88°32′59″W
CountryUnited States
StateMississippi
CountyMonroe
Government
 • MayorMaurice Howard
Area
 • Total12.37 sq mi (32.04 km2)
 • Land12.09 sq mi (31.31 km2)
 • Water0.28 sq mi (0.73 km2)
Elevation
240 ft (73 m)
Population
 • Total5,612
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
5,205
 • Density430.52/sq mi (166.23/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
39730
Area code(s)662
FIPS code28-00180
GNIS feature ID666129[4]
Websitehttp://cityofaberdeenms.com/

Located on the banks of the Tombigbee River, Aberdeen was one of the busiest Mississippi ports of the 19th century. Cotton was heavily traded in town, and for a time Aberdeen was Mississippi's second largest city. Today Aberdeen retains many historic structures from this period, with over 200 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. In the spring of each year, Aberdeen hosts pilgrimages to its historic antebellum homes. The most prominent of these antebellum homes is The Magnolias, which was built in 1850.

Located just outside the city, Aberdeen Lock and Dam forms Aberdeen Lake, a popular recreational area. Aberdeen Lock and Dam is part of the Tennessee-Tombigbee waterway system.

History
Barbershop in Aberdeen, 1907

In 1540, Hernando DeSoto's expedition was the first European expedition to travel through the vicinity of Aberdeen.

Aberdeen was first settled in 1834 and chartered as a town in 1837. In 1849, it became the county seat when Monroe County was formed.

On February 18, 1864 a skirmish occurred between the Union army and the Confederate army in Aberdeen.[6] Lieutenant Colonel Burgh and the Ninth Illinois Cavalry came into contact with rebel militias, driving them back and taking possession of Aberdeen. The battle resulted in the company 18 prisoners of war, as well as the destruction of confederate food supplies and machinery.[7]

In 1889, an African-American man called Keith Bowen was lynched by a mob after he "tried to enter a room where three white women were sitting."[8]

Hiram Revels, the first African-American United States Senator, died on January 16, 1901, while attending a church conference in Aberdeen.[9]

In 1914 Mayho Miller, an 18 year old Negro boy, was hanged by a mob.[10]

Aberdeen had a population of 3,708 in 1910.[11] Its population had risen to 5,920 by 1950.[12] Its population was 7,184 in 1980.[13]

Geography

According to the United States Geological Survey, variant names are Dundee and New Aberdeen.

East Aberdeen is located at 33°49′18″N 88°30′59″W, across the Tombigbee River from Aberdeen proper. Variant names for East Aberdeen are Howards Bluff, Howards Farm, Howards Ferry, Howards Store, Martins Bluff, and Murffs.[14]

According to the United States Census Bureau, Aberdeen has a total area of 11.0 square miles (28 km2), of which 10.7 square miles (28 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (2.19%) is water.

Failure of the Mississippi Highway 25 N/U.S. Route 45 S bridge over the Tombigbee River in Aberdeen during the 1955 floods.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Aberdeen has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[15]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18702,022—
18802,33915.7%
18903,44947.5%
19003,434−0.4%
19103,7088.0%
19204,0719.8%
19303,925−3.6%
19404,74620.9%
19505,29011.5%
19606,45021.9%
19706,5070.9%
19807,18410.4%
19906,837−4.8%
20006,415−6.2%
20105,612−12.5%
Est. 20195,205[3]−7.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[16]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 5,612 people living in the city. 69.2% were African American, 28.8% White, 0.1% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from some other race and 1.0% of two or more races. 1.0% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of the census[17] of 2000, there were 6,415 people, 2,398 households, and 1,661 families living in the city. The population density was 598.8 people per square mile (231.3/km2). There were 2,730 housing units at an average density of 254.8 per square mile (98.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 60.20% African American, 38.78% White, 0.09% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.06% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.56% of the population.

There were 2,398 households, out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.8% were married couples living together, 29.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.8% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 78.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 69.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,530, and the median income for a family was $27,611. Males had a median income of $27,857 versus $17,090 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,584. About 26.3% of families and 29.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.2% of those under age 18 and 26.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The City of Aberdeen is served by the Aberdeen School District.

Media

Radio stations

1240 WWZQ-AM[18] 105.3 WACR-FM

Infrastructure

Highways

Railroads

Notable people

The city of Aberdeen is the subject of the HGTV show Hometown Renovation, where local makeup artist and designer Billy Brasfield sets to redesign and renovate some of the city's houses and landmarks.[21]

The city is also the subject of a song by blues artist Bukka White, Aberdeen, Mississippi, later covered by guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd as Aberdeen.[22][23]

See also

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  2. "2010 City Population and Housing Occupancy Status". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Aberdeen
  5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2015-05-09. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  6. Theodore D. Strickler (1899). When and where We Met Each Other on Shore and Afloat: Battles, Engagements, Actions, Skirmishes, and Expeditions During the Civil War, 1861-1866, to which is Added Concise Data Concerning the Army Corps and Legends of the Army Corps Badges. W.C. Strickler. pp. 92–.
  7. Congressional Serial Set. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1891. pp. 715–.
  8. Lynching in America: Confronting the Legacy of Racial Terror: Second Edition: Report Summary (PDF). Montgomery, Alabama: Equal Justice Initiative. 2015. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-04-29. Retrieved 2017-05-16. In 1889, in Aberdeen, Mississippi, Keith Bowen was lynched after he allegedly tried to enter a room where three white women were sitting.
  9. Rowland, Dunbar. Encyclopedia of Mississippi history: comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions and persons, Volume 2. S. A. Brant, 1907.
  10. "Mississippi shows low lynching record during 1914". East Mississippi Times. January 15, 1915. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  11. The Farm Journal Complete Atlas of the World, 1912 Edition
  12. Encyclopædia Britannica Atlas, 1959 Edition, p. 298
  13. Encyclopædia Britannica, 1984 edition, p. 21
  14. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: East Aberdeen
  15. "Aberdeen, Mississippi Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  16. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  17. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  18. dvprez. "WWZQ 1240 AM". Ontheradio.net. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  19. Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896. Marquis Who's Who. 1967.
  20. "Steve Baylark". NFL Enterprises LLC. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
  21. "Shows". HGTV. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  22. "Booker White – Aberdeen Mississippi Blues HIFI". YouTube. 20 March 2006.
  23. "Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band – "Aberdeen" Official Music Video". YouTube. 3 February 2016.
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