quick facts
QUITMAN COUNTY
Quitman County, Mississippi is located in the upper northwest portion of the State. The county is boarded by Tunica County to the north, Tallahatchie County to the south, Panola and Tallahatchie Counties to the east, and Coahoma County to the west. The county has five municipalities: Crowder, Falcon, Lambert, Marks, and Sledge. The 2010 U.S. Census estimated the population of the county was 8,223 people.
The county only has access to four highways. The highways that are accessible from Quitman County include Mississippi State Highway 6, which connects Marks to Interstate 55 located 30 miles to the east. The highway is the primary transportation corridor. Other highways serving the area include Mississippi State Highway 3, 316, and U.S. Highway 278. None of the highways providing routes to Quitman County are four-lane. The highway system in Quitman County puts the county at an economically disadvantage due to economic development needing highly integrated transportation networks. The Interstate 69 proximity to the county will help with future resources for the county.
Total Population
6,327
Quitman County
Unemployment Rate
5.7%
Quitman County
High School Graduate or Higher
74.6%
Quitman County
Civilian Labor Force
2,453
Quitman County
DEMOGRAPHIC & ECONOMIC PROFILE
HISTORICAL SUMMARY
On February 1, 1877, Quitman County was formed and named after former governor, John A. Quitman. The county has a land surface of 406 miles or 1,052 square kilometers. Quitman County was carved from Coahoma, Panola, Tallahatchie, and Tunica Counties.
The county was known for its strong agriculture roots in the late 1800s to the early 1900s. The dominant crops were cotton and corn. Farmers began to realize the importance of diversifying their crops causing them to grow oats, wheat, sorghum, and tobacco. The mid to late 1900s the number of small farms declined as well as the population. The decline in farming created a rise in manufacturing. In recent years, manufacturing has declined causing a shift in employment.
DEMOGRAPHIC & ECONOMIC PROFILE
POPULATION TRENDS
The population of Quitman County in 2000 was 8,223 (2010 U.S. Census). The previous U.S. Census estimated that the population was 10,117 people in 2000. From 2000 to 2010 the population of Quitman County declined by 1,894 people. From 2000 to 2010 the population of the county declined by over 189 people per year.
AGE DISTRIBUTION
The largest age distribution for Quitman County is 15 to 19 years old according the 2010 U.S. Census. The age range represents 662 people (8.1%) in Quitman County.
EDUCATION
There is one public school district in Quitman County. The district has three schools and one vocational school. The 2011 enrollment for the district was 1,319.
The county does not have any post-secondary education facilities; Coahoma County Community College is 21 miles from the county.
POVERTY
The 2010 U.S. Census estimated 32.1% of the people in Quitman County lived in poverty. 44.1% of families with related children under the age of 18 years old lived in poverty. 53.4% of female households with children under the age of 18 years old fall below the poverty level.
% People Living in Poverty
% Families Living in Poverty
INCOME
PER CAPITA PERSONAL INCOME
Quitman County’s per capita personal income was $27,674 based on the 2010 Bureau of Economic Analysis. The PCPI ranked 39th in the state making the per capita personal income 89% of the state average, $31,071. Additionally, the PCPI was 69% of the national average, $39,937. In 2000, Quitman County had a PCPI of $15,021.
INCOME
The median household income for Quitman County was $24,169 (2010 U.S. Census). 15.5% of households in Quitman County made $15,000 to $24,999. Out of the 3,173 households in Quitman County, 3.3% received $100,000 to $149,999. Below is a pie chart with the total household income percentages for Quitman County: