West, Mississippi

West is a town in northeastern Holmes County, Mississippi, United States.[3] The population was 185 at the 2010 census,[4] down from 220 at the 2000 census. The Mayor of West, MS as of December 2020 is Michael Fancher.[5]

West, Mississippi
Town
Location of West, Mississippi
West, Mississippi Location in the United States
Coordinates: 33°11′49″N 89°46′38″W
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
County	Holmes
Government
• Mayor	Michael Fancher
Area [1]
• Total	0.56 sq mi (1.44 km^2)
• Land	0.56 sq mi (1.44 km^2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km^2)
Elevation	292 ft (89 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	185
• Estimate  (2019)[2]	149
• Density	267.03/sq mi (103.19/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	39192
Area code(s)	662
FIPS code	28-78680
GNIS feature ID	679466[3]

History

West made national news in 1989 when all-white East Holmes Academy, now closed but formerly located in West, initially refused to play a football game against Heritage Academy because Heritage had a black player. After seven East Holmes players quit the team, two board members resigned and the Mississippi Private School Association threatened to eject the school, East Holmes relented.[6]

Geography

West is bordered to the east by the Big Black River, which is also the Attala County line. West is the easternmost municipality in Holmes county.

U.S. Route 51 passes through the center of town, leading north 10 miles (16 km) to Vaiden and south 9 miles (14 km) to Durant. Interstate 55 passes 3 miles (5 km) west of town, with access from Exit 164 (Emory Road). I-55 leads south 70 miles (110 km) to Jackson, the state capital, and north 140 miles (230 km) to Memphis, Tennessee. Mississippi Highway 19 leads 17 miles (27 km) southeast from West to Kosciusko.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of West has a total area of 0.54 square miles (1.4 km²), all land.[4]

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	200		—
1900	196		—
1910	276		40.8%
1920	236		−14.5%
1930	370		56.8%
1940	402		8.6%
1950	354		−11.9%
1960	282		−20.3%
1970	305		8.2%
1980	253		−17.0%
1990	184		−27.3%
2000	220		19.6%
2010	185		−15.9%
2019 (est.)	149	[2]	−19.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]

As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 220 people, 94 households, and 64 families residing in the town. The population density was 394.6 people per square mile (151.7/km²). There were 113 housing units at an average density of 202.7 per square mile (77.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 56.36% White, 42.73% African American, 0.45% Asian, and 0.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.27% of the population.

There were 94 households, out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.7% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 25.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $25,625, and the median income for a family was $45,625. Males had a median income of $22,083 versus $12,396 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,398. About 14.9% of families and 20.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.9% of those under the age of eighteen and 31.2% of those 65 or over.

Education

The town of West is served by the Holmes County School District.

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: West
4. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): West town, Mississippi". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
5. holmescounty (2017-12-13). "Municipalities". holmescountyms.org. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
6. Weingarten, Paul (20 October 1989). "A Goal-line Stand For Prejudice". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
7. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
8. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.