Oktibbeha County

Oktibbeha County, Mississippi

Oktibbeha County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of 2000, the population was 42,902. Its county seat is Starkville. Oktibbeha is a Native American word meaning either bloody water (because of a battle fought on the banks) or possibly icy creek. Indian artifacts over 2000 years old have been found near the Indian mounds adjacent to Indian Mound Campground, just east of Starkville.

The Starkville Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Oktibbeha County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 462 square miles (1,196 km²), of which, 458 square miles (1,185 km²) of it is land and 4 square miles (11 km²) of it (0.91%) is water.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Noxubee County (southeast)
Winston County (south)
Choctaw County (west)
Webster County (northwest)
Clay County (north)
Lowndes County (east)

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 42,902 people, 15,945 households, and 9,264 families residing in the county. The population density was 94 people per square mile (36/km²). There were 17,344 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile (15/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 58.66% White, 37.43% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 2.53% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 1.07% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 15,945 households out of which 28.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.90% were married couples living together, 14.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.90% were non-families. 27.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the county the population was spread out with 21.00% under the age of 18, 29.60% from 18 to 24, 24.80% from 25 to 44, 16.00% from 45 to 64, and 8.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 99.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,899, and the median income for a family was $36,914. Males had a median income of $32,162 versus $20,622 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,998. About 18.00% of families and 28.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.30% of those under age 18 and 17.80% of those age 65 or over.