French Camp is a town in Choctaw County,

Mississippi Mississippi () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee; to the east by Alabama; to the south by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Louisiana; and to the northwest by Arkansas. Miss ...

, United States. The population was 174 at the 2010 census, down from 393 in

2000 File:2000 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Protests against Bush v. Gore after the 2000 United States presidential election; Heads of state meet for the Millennium Summit; The International Space Station in its infant form as seen from S ...

History

The town dates back to circa 1810, when a Frenchman, Louis Lefleur, established a stand or trading post and inn, on the Natchez Trace. The Choctaw natives and others in the area called it the Frenchman's Camp. Later it was shortened to French Camp.

Geography

French Camp is located in western Choctaw County at (33.293936, -89.400248). It is bordered to the south by Attala County. The Natchez Trace Parkway passes through the town, crossing

Mississippi Highway 413 Mississippi Highway 413 (MS 413) is a state highway in Choctaw County, Mississippi, Choctaw and Montgomery County, Mississippi, Montgomery counties in central Mississippi. Though it is signed as a north–south highway, the route gener ...

just west of the center of town. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of t ...

, the town has a total area of , of which , or 0.81%, is water.

Demographics

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...

of 2000, there were 393 people, 68 households, and 42 families residing in the town. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical ...

was 398.1 people per square mile (153.3/km²). There were 74 housing units at an average density of 75.0 per square mile (28.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.37%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...

, 5.09%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 1.53% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 1.02% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties forme ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 1.27% of the population. There were 68 households, out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.4% were married couples living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.19. In the town, the population was spread out, with 48.6% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 13.5% from 25 to 44, 16.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 18 years. For every 100 females, there were 113.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males. The median income for a household in the town was $26,250, and the median income for a family was $27,188. Males had a median income of $13,750 versus $12,813 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the town was $5,047. (The lowest in Mississippi) About 17.1% of families and 64.5% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 70.5% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

The

United States Postal Service The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service, is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service in the U ...

operates the French Camp Post Office.

Education

The town of French Camp is served by the

Choctaw County School District The Choctaw County School District is a public school district based in Ackerman, Mississippi ( USA). The district's boundaries parallel that of Choctaw County. Schools *Choctaw County High School ( Choctaw County, Grades 7-12) *Choctaw County ...

and the private

French Camp Academy French Camp Academy (FCA) is an interdenominational Christian boarding home and academy in French Camp, Mississippi. It is intended to serve children and teenagers who need opportunities and resources not available in their home or peer environmen ...

. *French Camp Elementary School ::French Camp Elementary School, operated by the

is in French Camp. *French Camp Academy ::

, a Christian boarding school, is in the town.About Us
" French Camp Academy. Retrieved on March 12, 2010.

Points of interest

* Rainwater Observatory and Planetarium * French Camp Town Hall (also houses the French Camp Volunteer Fire Department)
French Camp Academy Campus

Natchez Trace Historic Village
including
Council House Cafe
* WFCA (FM)

Gallery

File:FrenchCampCityHallMS.JPG, French Camp Town Hall File:FrenchCampMSES.JPG, French Camp Elementary School File:FrenchcamppostofficeMS.JPG, French Camp Post Office File:OldFrenchCampPostOfficeMS.JPG, Old French Camp Post Office

References

External links

French Camp Historic District
{{authority control Towns in Choctaw County, Mississippi Towns in Mississippi