Aberdeen is a city in Monroe County in the U.S. state of Mississippi. The population was 6,415 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Monroe County[1].
Located on the banks of the Tombigbee River, Aberdeen was one of the busiest Mississippi ports of the nineteenth 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.
Geography
Aberdeen is located at 33°49′30″N 88°32′37″W / 33.825°N 88.54361°W / 33.825; -88.54361. 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 / 33.82167°N 88.51639°W / 33.82167; -88.51639. It is located 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.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Aberdeen has a total area of 11.0 square miles (28.4 km²), of which, 10.7 square miles (27.7 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (2.19%) is water.
History
In 1540, Hernando DeSoto's expedition were the first Europeans to travel through Aberdeen.
Aberdeen was first setteld in 1834 and chartered as a town in 1837. In 1849, it became the county seat when Monroe County.
Hiram Revels, the first African-American United States Senator, died on January 16, 1901, while attending a church conference in Aberdeen.[2]
Transportation
Highways
Railroads
Natural features
Demographics
| Historical populations |
| Census |
Pop. |
|
%± |
| 1950 |
5,290 |
|
—
|
| 1960 |
6,450 |
|
21.9% |
| 1970 |
6,507 |
|
0.9% |
| 1980 |
7,184 |
|
10.4% |
| 1990 |
6,837 |
|
−4.8% |
| 2000 |
6,415 |
|
−6.2% |
| Est. 2006 |
6,172 |
|
−3.8% |
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 6,415 people, 2,398 households, and 1,661 families residing 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/sq mi (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.
Communication
Radio stations
1240 WWZQ-AM[4] 105.3 WACR-FM
Notable residents
- Stephen Adams, member of the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate[5]
- Moses Hardy, formerly oldest living American man, one of the oldest veterans of World War I.
- Blues musician Booker T. Washington White, more often known as Bukka White, was born in Aberdeen, Mississippi, in 1909.
- John Gregg, Confederate general in the Civil War.
- Eugene Sykes, Justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi from 1916 to 1925 and the first chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.
- Reuben Davis, Congressman and Confederte general.
See also
References
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/usamap.cfm. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ Rowland, Dunbar. Encyclopedia of Mississippi history: comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions and persons, Volume 2. S. A. Brant, 1907.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ http://www.ontheradio.net/radiostations/wwzqam.aspx
- ^ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Marquis Who's Who. 1967.
Hiram Rhodes Revels (September 27, 1827 – January 16, 1901) was the first African American to serve in the United States Senate. First President of what is now Alcorn State University. Hiram R. Revels died on January 16, 1901, while attending a church conference in Aberdeen, Mississippi
External links
