Gloster, MS

Gloster is a town in central Amite County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 897 at the 2020 census.

History

Gloster was incorporated on March 11, 1884.

It was largely founded as a railroad town. Gloster was named after the engineer who put the Yazoo and Mississippi Valley R.R. through in the 1880s.

Drax Biomass operates a per year wood pellet production facility in Gloster. The facility was expected to create 45 jobs, and is called Amite BioEnergy.

Economic revival

Governor Tate Reeves of Mississippi came down to Gloster to announc
Claw Forestry Services
will build a $200 million sawmill on about 50 acres comprising the former Georgia-Pacific mill site and the adjoining former elementary school property. The elementary school has been closed for many years. Mayor Jerry Norwood said the announcement is "one of the proudest moments in my life, and my proudest moment as mayor."

William VanDevender, chief executive officer of Claw, said once the plant is up and running, it should produce about 250 million board-feet of lumber a year, using about 1 million tons of logs annually, and make sales of more than $100 million a year. VanDevender and other Claw officials "recognize the quality of the workforce and the quality of the timber basket in Southwest Mississippi," Reeves said after the presentation. "This will benefit not just the 130 families that have workers at the plant, but boost timber owners across a four to five-county region."

Governor Reeves said, "he expects Southwest Mississippi Community College will play a large role in providing training for employees at the plant.

Gloster Forestry announced: "In connection with the new sawmill facility, efforts are underway to resume operation of the Gloster Southern Railroad to further revitalize industry and jobs in the underserved community."

Demographics

2020 census

According to the 2020 census, there were 897 people in Gloster.

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 897 people, 402 households, and 306 families residing in the town.

2000 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 960 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.

Education

It is in the Amite County School District.

Notable people

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See also

* List of towns in Mississippi

References

External links

Gloster website

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1884 establishments in Mississippi
populated places established in 1884
towns in Amite County, Mississippi
towns in McComb micropolitan area
towns in Mississippi