Water Valley is a city in
Yalobusha County, Mississippi
Yalobusha County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2010 census, the population was 12,678. It has two county seats, Water Valley and Coffeeville.
History
''Yalobusha'' is a Native American word, likely from th ...
, United States. The population was 3,392 at the
2010 census. It is the larger of two county seats in the rural county, and at one time was the center of railroad shops.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the
2020 United States Census
The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...
, there were 3,380 people, 1,336 households, and 818 families residing in the city.
2000 census
At the
2000 census there were 3,677 people in 1,470 households, including 961 families, in the city. The population density was 523.2 people per square mile (201.9/km). There were 1,675 housing units at an average density of 238.3 per square mile (92.0/km). The
racial makeup of the city was 57.87% White, 40.74% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.22% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.20%.
Of the 1,470 households 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were married couples living together, 23.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 31.8% of households were one person and 16.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.07.
The age distribution was 26.5% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.3 males.
The median household income was $23,777 and the median family income was $31,083. Males had a median income of $26,888 versus $20,127 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,324. About 23.7% of families and 26.9% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 37.5% of those under age 18 and 15.9% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The City of Water Valley is served by the
Water Valley School District.
Notable people
*
Hubert Creekmore (1907–1966), author
*
James A. Ford
James Alfred Ford (February 12, 1911–February 25, 1968) was an American archaeologist. He was born in Water Valley, Mississippi, in February 1911. While growing up in the region, where ancient earthwork mounds are visible, he became interested ...
(1911–1968), archaeologist
*
Lloyd L. Gaines
Lloyd Lionel Gaines (born 1911 – disappeared March 19, 1939) was the plaintiff in '' Gaines v. Canada'' (1938), one of the most important early court cases in the 20th-century U.S. civil rights movement. After being denied admission to the ...
, plaintiff in ''
Missouri ex rel. Gaines v. Canada
''Missouri ex rel. Gaines v. Canada'', 305 U.S. 337 (1938), was a United States Supreme Court decision holding that states which provided a school to white students had to provide in-state education to blacks as well. States could satisfy this ...
''
*
Kevin Horan, attorney and member of the
Mississippi House of Representatives
The Mississippi House of Representatives is the lower house of the Mississippi Legislature, the lawmaking body of the U.S. state of Mississippi. According to the state constitution of 1890, it is to comprise no more than 122 members elected fo ...
*
Casey Jones (1863–1900), railroad engineer
*
John William Meece
John William Meece (born June 3, 1843) was a member of the Mississippi Legislature in 1911.
He also served as a Sergeant for the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. After the war, Meece taught for several years in diff ...
, (1843–1924), member of the Mississippi Legislature in 1911
*
Bryant Mix (born 1974), NFL player
*
Ray Terrell
Raymond Willard Terrell ( – ) was a professional American football halfback and defensive back who played two seasons for the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Colts in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC).
Terrell attended the Univers ...
(1919–1997), World War II veteran and professional football player
References
External links
Water Valley Chamber of Commerce
{{authority control
Cities in Mississippi
Cities in Yalobusha County, Mississippi
County seats in Mississippi