Benoit, Mississippi Explained

Official Name:Benoit, Mississippi
Settlement Type:Town
Mapsize:250px
Pushpin Map:USA
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in the United States
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Mississippi
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Bolivar
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:2.56
Area Land Km2:2.52
Area Water Km2:0.03
Area Total Sq Mi:0.99
Area Land Sq Mi:0.97
Area Water Sq Mi:0.01
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:365
Population Density Km2:144.64
Population Density Sq Mi:374.74
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation M:43
Elevation Ft:141
Coordinates:33.6506°N -91.0086°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:38725
Area Code:662
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:28-05220
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:0666829

Benoit is a town in Bolivar County, Mississippi, United States. Per the 2020 Census, the population was 365.[2]

History

The 1956 movie Baby Doll was shot on location at the Burrus House in Benoit; many local residents played in minor roles.[3]

Geography

Benoit is located at 33.6506°N -91.0086°W (33.650500, -91.008560).[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.6km2, of which 0.03km2, or 1.23%, is water.[5]

Demographics

2020 census

Benoit town, Mississippi – Racial and ethnic composition
!Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)!Pop 2010[6] !Pop 2020[7] !% 2010!% 2020
White alone (NH)858217.82%22.47%
Black or African American alone (NH)38828281.34%77.26%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)000.00%0.00%
Asian alone (NH)000.00%0.00%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)000.00%0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH)000.00%0.00%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)000.00%0.00%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)410.84%0.27%
Total477365100.00%100.00%

2000 Census

As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 611 people, 193 households, and 153 families residing in the town. The population density was 627.2sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 211 housing units at an average density of 216.6sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the town was 21.28% White, 76.27% African American, 0.98% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.29% of the population.

There were 193 households, out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.6% were married couples living together, 42.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.7% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.17 and the average family size was 3.57.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 37.0% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 68.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $18,750, and the median income for a family was $18,929. Males had a median income of $30,357 versus $20,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $7,813. About 43.1% of families and 49.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 64.0% of those under age 18 and 18.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Benoit is served by the West Bolivar Consolidated School District.

Formerly the area had its own school, Ray Brooks School (formerly Nugent Center School), a K-12 school. It was at first a part of the Benoit School District,[9] until July 1, 2014, when that district was consolidated into West Bolivar Consolidated.[10] In 1986 students were moved to West Bolivar High School for high school classes, but they were moved back to Ray Brooks in 2000.[11] Ray Brooks closed in 2020.[12] Tamara Lopez of Delta News TV stated "Residents in Benoit had mixed reactions to the announcement, some angry others sad."[13]

Notable people

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. July 24, 2022.
  2. Web site: Benoit town, Mississippi. United States Census Bureau. April 15, 2022.
  3. http://www.tcm.com/thismonth/article/?cid=60084 Turner Classic Movies: Baby Doll.
  4. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. April 23, 2011. February 12, 2011.
  5. Web site: Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Benoit town, Mississippi. https://archive.today/20200212185712/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US2805220. dead. February 12, 2020. U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. January 22, 2014.
  6. Web site: P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Benoit town, Mississippi. United States Census Bureau.
  7. Web site: P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Benoit town, Mississippi. United States Census Bureau.
  8. Web site: U.S. Census website . . January 31, 2008 .
  9. "SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Bolivar County, MS." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on August 2, 2017. Note that the Benoit and Shaw districts have since consolidated into West Bolivar.
  10. "School District Consolidation in Mississippi ." Mississippi Professional Educators. December 2016. Retrieved on July 2, 2017. Page 2 (PDF p. 3/6).
  11. "Wilson hopes to break out the shoes'." Franklin County Times. January 10, 2002. Retrieved on July 3, 2017.
  12. Web site: Davis Betz. Kelsey. Another Delta town will lose its school as district navigates shrinking enrollment, consolidation. Mississippi Today. March 4, 2020. May 23, 2021.
  13. Web site: Lopez. Tamara. Ray Brooks School To Close. Delta News TV. March 5, 2020. May 23, 2021.