Philadelphia, Mississippi
City
Neshoba County courthouse in Philadelphia
Neshoba County courthouse in Philadelphia
Location of Philadelphia, Mississippi
Location of Philadelphia, Mississippi
Philadelphia, Mississippi is located in the United States
Philadelphia, Mississippi
Philadelphia, Mississippi
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 32°46′27″N 89°6′46″W / 32.77417°N 89.11278°W / 32.77417; -89.11278
CountryUnited States
StateMississippi
CountyNeshoba
Named forPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania[1]
Government
 • MayorJames Young
Area
[2]
 • Total12.22 sq mi (31.66 km2)
 • Land12.21 sq mi (31.63 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.04 km2)
Elevation
423 ft (129 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total7,118
 • Density582.92/sq mi (225.07/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
39350
Area code601
FIPS code28-56960
GNIS feature ID0675674
WebsiteCity of Philadelphia

Philadelphia is a city in and the county seat of Neshoba County,[3][4] Mississippi, United States. The population was 7,118 at the 2020 census.

History

Courthouse Square

Philadelphia is incorporated as a municipality; it was given its current name, after Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,[1] in 1903, two years before the railroad brought new opportunities and prosperity to the town. The history of the town and its influences- social, political and economic- can be seen in the many points of interest within and beyond the city limits. These range from the large ceremonial Indian mound and cave at Nanih Waiya, built approximately 1700 years ago and sacred to the Choctaw; to the still thriving Williams Brothers Store, a true old-fashioned general store founded in 1907 and featured in National Geographic in 1937 as a source of anything from "horse collars to straw hats."[5]

Murders of Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner

State of Mississippi roadside marker denoting the location where the 1964 murders of American civil rights workers Goodman, Chaney, and Schwerner took place

In the mid-20th century, Mississippi was a battleground of the civil rights movement as, like other states of the South, it had long disfranchised blacks and subjected them to racial segregation and Jim Crow laws. Philadelphia in June 1964 was the scene of the murders of civil rights workers James Chaney, a 21-year-old black man from Meridian, Mississippi; Andrew Goodman, a 20-year-old Jewish anthropology student from New York City; and Michael Schwerner, a 24-year-old Jewish CORE organizer and former social worker, also from New York. Their deaths demonstrated the risks that civil rights workers took to secure the constitutional rights of African Americans.

Ku Klux Klan members (including Cecil Price, a deputy sheriff of Neshoba County) released the three young men from jail, took them to an isolated spot, and killed them, then buried them in an earthen dam. It was some time after they disappeared before the bodies were discovered, as a result of an FBI investigation and national media attention.[6] The national outrage over their deaths helped procure support for Congressional passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The murders and related conspiracy gave rise to the "Mississippi Burning" trial, United States v. Price.

Reagan's visit

On August 3, 1980, Ronald Reagan gave his first post-convention speech at the Neshoba County Fair after being officially chosen as the Republican nominee for President of the United States. He said: "I believe in states' rights ... I believe we have distorted the balance of our government today by giving powers that were never intended to be given in the Constitution to that federal establishment." He went on to promise to "restore to states and local governments the power that properly belongs to them".[7]

Dupree's record breaker

Marcus Dupree played high school football for the Philadelphia High School Tornadoes from 1978 to 1981. He was an outstanding athlete who was widely recognized for his achievements.[8][9] Dupree scored 87 touchdowns total during his playing time in high school, breaking the record set by Herschel Walker by one.[10] In 1981, Marcus's final High School football game was played at Warriors Stadium of the tribal high school at the Choctaw Indian Reservation.[11] The author Willie Morris described the audience at Dupree's final high school game as "the most distinctive crowd I had ever seen ... four thousand or so people seemed almost an equal of mix of whites, blacks, and Indians ... "[12]

First black mayor

In May 2009, Philadelphia elected its first black mayor, James A. Young, a 53-year-old Pentecostal preacher and a former county supervisor.[13] He defeated Rayburn Waddell, a white, three-term incumbent, by 46 votes in the Democratic primary (there was no Republican challenger).[14] Jim Prince, publisher of the local The Neshoba Democrat newspaper said, "Philadelphia will always be connected to what happened here in 1964, but the fact that Philadelphia, Mississippi, with its notorious past, could elect a black man as mayor, it might be time to quit picking on Philadelphia, Mississippi."[13] Young's campaign staff credited Barack Obama's presidential campaign for increasing registration of black and young voters in Philadelphia, many of whom voted for Young.[14] His term began July 3, 2009.

2011 tornado

On April 27, 2011, the town and surrounding areas were ravaged during the 2011 Super Outbreak when an EF5 tornado with winds of up to 205 MPH carved a path through town. Despite its incredible strength at the top of the Enhanced-Fujita Scale, only three people died as a result. It would be one of four EF5 tornadoes to strike on that day, and one of two in the state of Mississippi (the town of Smithville further north was decimated a short while later). It also became the first F5/EF5 tornado to strike in Mississippi in 45 years.

Past Mayors

Portrait Name Term in office Length of service
1 Lee Johnston Catledge 1909
–
1910		 1 year
2 W. H. Jenkins 1910
–
Unknown		 Unknown
3 W. H. Jenkins 1913
–
Unknown		 Unknown
4 Samuel Hurd Spivey 1916
–
1916		 1 year
5 Joseph Eades Jolly 1917
–
Unknown		 Unknown
6 Samuel Hurd Spivey 1919
–
1920		 1 year
7 Ambrose Benjamin McCraw 1923
–
Unknown		 Unknown
8 Joseph Eades Jolly 1929
–
Unknown		 Unknown
9 John Kindred Gillis 1932
–
Unknown		 Unknown
10 Ethelbert Dees Stribling 1940
–
Unknown		 Unknown
11 Marshall Prince 1944
–
Unknown		 Unknown
12 Ethelbert Dees Stribling 1950
–
Unknown		 Unknown
13 Norman A. Johnson, Jr. 1953
–
1955		 2 years
14 Clayton Lewis 1956
–
1961		 5 years
15 Abner Davis Harbour 1961
–
1968		 7 years
Williams Brothers Store
Philadelphia, Mississippi seen from the east end of town.
Philadelphia - Neshoba County Library

Geography

Philadelphia is located at 32°46′27″N 89°6′46″W / 32.77417°N 89.11278°W / 32.77417; -89.11278 (32.774070, -89.112891).[15]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.6 square miles (27 km2), of which 10.6 square miles (27 km2) are land and 0.04-square-mile (0.10 km2) (0.19%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880101—
19101,209—
19201,66938.0%
19302,56053.4%
19403,71145.0%
19504,47220.5%
19605,01712.2%
19706,27425.1%
19806,4342.6%
19906,7585.0%
20007,3038.1%
20107,4772.4%
20207,118−4.8%
Source: 1910–2010[16]

2020 census

Philadelphia Racial Composition[17]
Race Num. Perc.
White 2,899 40.73%
Black or African American 3,615 50.79%
Native American 217 3.05%
Asian 54 0.76%
Other/Mixed 199 2.8%
Hispanic or Latino 134 1.88%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 7,118 people, 2,836 households, and 1,804 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census[18] of 2000, there were 7,303 people, 2,950 households, and 1,899 families residing in the city. The population density was 688.1 inhabitants per square mile (265.7/km2). There were 3,302 housing units at an average density of 311.1 per square mile (120.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 55.54% White, 40.12% African American, 2.01% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.55% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino were 1.51% of the population.

There were 2,950 households, out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% were married couples living together, 20.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.1% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,438, and the median income for a family was $30,756. Males had a median income of $30,731 versus $20,735 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,787. About 25.1% of families and 28.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.1% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Museums and other points of interest

Education

Philadelphia High School

Most of the City of Philadelphia is served by the Philadelphia Public School District. A portion is zoned to the Neshoba County School District.[19]

Media

The Neshoba Democrat is published in Philadelphia. It is a weekly newspaper that was established in 1881.[20]

Infrastructure

Public utilities

Cable television services for the city of Philadelphia are contracted to MetroCast Communications.[21] Electrical utilities, as well as water and sewer service, are provided by the City of Philadelphia as Philadelphia Utilities. The natural gas utility is CenterPoint Energy. AT&T is the local telephone service provider.

Notable people

References

  1. 1 2 "Philadelphia". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  2. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Profile for Philadelphia, Mississippi". ePodunk. Archived from the original on August 21, 2016. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ↑ Hildebrand, J.R. "Machines Come to Mississippi". The National Geographic Magazine. Vol. LXXII, no. Three (September 1937 ed.). Washington, D.C.: The National Geographic Society. p. 288. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  6. ↑ Lynching of Chaney, Schwerner & Goodman ~ Civil Rights Movement Archive
  7. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ↑ "Could Marcus Dupree make another run at pro football?". WLOX. September 27, 2010. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2011.
  9. ↑ Young, R.J. (November 9, 2010). "The story of Marcus Dupree". The Oklahoma Daily. Archived from the original on April 18, 2012.
  10. ↑ Deitch, Richard (November 9, 2010). "Marcus Dupree's doc; Howard Stern's most wanted sports guests". Sports Illustrated.
  11. ↑ Morris, Willie (1999). The Courting of Marcus Dupree. pp. 291–302. ISBN 9780878055852. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  12. ↑ Morris, Willie (October 1, 1992). The Courting of Marcus Dupree. University Press of Mississippi. ISBN 0-87805-585-1. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  13. 1 2 Lavandera, Ed (May 22, 2009). "Black mayor of Mississippi town brings 'atomic bomb of change'". CNN.
  14. 1 2 Brown, Robbie (May 21, 2009). "First Black Mayor in City Known for Klan Killings". The New York Times. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  15. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  16. ↑ Resident Population Data. "Resident Population Data - 2010 Census". 2010.census.gov. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  18. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  19. ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Neshoba County, MS" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 7, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022. - Text list
  20. ↑ "The Neshoba Democrat". The Neshoba Democrat. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
  21. ↑ "High Speed Internet, Cable TV, & Digital Phone". MetroCast. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  22. ↑ "'Blondy' was decades ahead of his time". msfame.com. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Former legislator laid to rest". The Neshoba Democrat. February 4, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  24. ↑ "C. Scott Bounds' Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Josh Boyd". hailstate.com. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Jenifer B. Branning". Mississippi State Senate. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Terry Burton's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  28. ↑ Rowland, Dunbar, ed. (1927). The Official and Statistical Register of the State of Mississippi. Jackson, Mississippi: State of Mississippi. p. 111.
  29. ↑ "Mike Dennis". msfame.com. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  30. ↑ Mississippi. Legislature (January 1, 1980). "Hand book : biographical data of members of Senate and House, personnel of standing committees [1980]". Mississippi Legislature Hand Books.
  31. ↑ "Grady Michael 'Mike' Eakes". The Daily Leader. August 15, 2005. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Tim Edwards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  33. ↑ "Greg Eiland". hailstate.com. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Derek George". fluidrev.com. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Lideatick Griffin". hailstate.com. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  36. ↑ "Jarquez Hunter". auburntigers.com. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  37. ↑ Goldstein, Richard (January 13, 2018). "Edgar Ray Killen, Convicted in '64 Killings of Rights Workers, Dies at 92". The New York Times.
  38. ↑ Brozan, Nadine (April 29, 2006). "Florence L. Mars, 83, Who Was Spurned for Rights Work, Dies". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  39. ↑ Ramsey, Marshall (April 28, 2021). "Mississippi Stories: Dick Molpus". Mississippi Today. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  40. ↑ "Northwest La. Football Coach Devone Payne Dies". Hattiesburg American. Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Associated Press. March 20, 1958. p. 4. Retrieved November 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com open access.
  41. ↑ "Payback: Gaming pioneer Redd looks back on a lifetime of giving to those in need". Las Vegas Sun. June 25, 2001. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  42. ↑ "Miss Georgia Tann Dies In Memphis". The Clarion-Ledger. Jackson, Mississippi. Associated Press. September 16, 1950. p. 3. Retrieved November 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com open access.
  43. ↑ "Gloria Williamson". Jackson Free Press. August 15, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  44. ↑ "WINSTEAD, William Arthur". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
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