| County: | Pearl River County |
| State: | Mississippi |
| Seal: | Pearl River County ms seal.jpg |
| Founded: | 1890 |
| Seat Wl: | Poplarville |
| Largest City Wl: | Picayune |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 819 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 811 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 8.0 |
| Area Percentage: | 1.0 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 56145 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | auto |
| Web: | www.pearlrivercounty.net |
| Ex Image: | PearlRiverCountyCourthouse.jpg |
| Ex Image Cap: | Pearl River County Courthouse in Poplarville |
| District: | 4th |
| Time Zone: | Central |
| Named For: | Pearl River |
Pearl River County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. The population was 56,145 at the 2020 census.[1] Its county seat is Poplarville.[2]
Pearl River County comprises the Picayune, MS Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the New Orleans-Metairie-Hammond, LA-MS Combined Statistical Area.
Pearl River County is a dry county,[3] and as such, the sale, transportation, and even private possession of beverage alcohol is prohibited by law,[4] except within Picayune and Poplarville.[5]
Pearl River County was originally formed as Pearl County in 1872 from portions of Hancock and Marion Counties.[6] Because of low population density and a small tax base, Pearl County dissolved in 1878. Present-day Pearl River County was organized in 1890 by an act of the Mississippi Legislature utilizing the same land area as its predecessor Pearl County.[6]
On the night of April 24, 1959, Mack Charles Parker, an African-American accused of rape, was abducted from the Pearl River County jail in Poplarville by a mob[7] and shot to death. His body was found in the Pearl River 10 days later. The FBI investigated and even obtained confessions from some of the eight suspects.[8] However, the county prosecutor refused to present evidence to a state grand jury and a federal grand jury refused to indict. The case focused national attention on the persistence of lynching in the South[9] and helped accelerate the American Civil Rights Movement.
On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina inflicted heavy damage on the small town of Poplarville. The storm's most powerful, unofficially recorded gust of wind was reported at Pearl River Community College, at 135mi/h. On September 2, 2005, the 1st Battalion, 134th Field Artillery (Ohio Army National Guard) arrived at the National Guard armory in Poplarville to assist the community and Pearl River County in recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Initial efforts were the security of banks, pharmacies and gas stations as well as initial responses to rural emergencies. The unit stayed for three weeks ultimately checking on every family and structure in the county. On September 5, 2005, Poplarville played host to a visit by George W. Bush, Laura Bush, and Governor Haley Barbour to Pearl River Community College in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.[10]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and (1.0%) is water.[11] It is the fourth-largest county in Mississippi by land area.
Picayune's local newspaper is the Picayune Item.[12]
The local radio station is WRJW 1320-AM.[13]
Television and Radio stations of New Orleans and Biloxi/Gulfport listening areas are part of Picayune area.
| White (non-Hispanic) | 44,101 | 78.55% | |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 6,666 | 11.87% | |
| Native American | 256 | 0.46% | |
| Asian | 275 | 0.49% | |
| Other/Mixed | 2,563 | 4.56% | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2,284 | 4.07% |
As of the 2010 census Pearl River County had a population of 55,834. The ethnic and racial make-up of the population was 82.2% non-Hispanic white, 12.3% African-American, 0.6% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.1% non-Hispanic from some other race, 1.7% from two or more races (0.5% reporting being white and black) and 2.9% Hispanic or Latino.[15]
As of the census[16] of 2000, there were 48,621 people, 18,078 households, and 13,576 families residing in the county. The population density was 60/mi2. There were 20,610 housing units at an average density of 25/mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 85.55% White, 12.18% Black or African American, 0.50% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. 1.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 18,078 households, out of which 34.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.30% were married couples living together, 12.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.90% were non-families. 21.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.00% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 27.10% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,912, and the median income for a family was $35,924. Males had a median income of $30,370 versus $21,519 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,160. About 15.50% of families and 18.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.60% of those under age 18 and 12.50% of those age 65 or over.
School districts include:[19]
Former school districts:[20]
The county is in the service area of Pearl River Community College.[22]