Tunica County, Mississippi

Tunica County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,782.[1] Its county seat is Tunica.[2] The county is named for the Tunica Native Americans. Most migrated to central Louisiana during the colonial period.

Tunica County
Tunica County Courthouse in Tunica
Tunica County Courthouse in Tunica
Map of Mississippi highlighting Tunica County
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Map of the United States highlighting Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°40′N 90°23′W / 34.66°N 90.38°W / 34.66; -90.38
Country United States
State Mississippi
Founded1836
Named forTunica-Biloxi tribe
SeatTunica
Largest townTunica Resorts
Area
 • Total
481 sq mi (1,250 km2)
 • Land455 sq mi (1,180 km2)
 • Water26 sq mi (70 km2)  5.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
9,782
 • Density20/sq mi (7.9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.tunicacountymississippi.com

Tunica County is part of the Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is located in the Mississippi Delta region.

Since the late 20th century, it is known for Tunica Resorts (formerly Robinsonville), an unincorporated community that is the site of six casino resorts. It is one of the top six destinations in the country in terms of gambling revenues.[3]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 481 square miles (1,250 km2), of which 455 square miles (1,180 km2) is land and 26 square miles (67 km2) (5.4%) is water.[4]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1840821
18501,31460.0%
18604,366232.3%
18705,35822.7%
18808,46157.9%
189012,15843.7%
190016,47935.5%
191018,64613.2%
192020,3869.3%
193021,2334.2%
194022,6106.5%
195021,664−4.2%
196016,826−22.3%
197011,854−29.5%
19809,652−18.6%
19908,164−15.4%
20009,22713.0%
201010,77816.8%
20209,782−9.2%
2023 (est.)9,234[5]−5.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[10]
 

2020 census

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Tunica County Racial Composition[11]
Race Num. Perc.
Black or African American 7,316 76.35%
White 1,853 19.34%
Native American 13 0.14%
Asian 27 0.28%
Other/Mixed 182 1.9%
Hispanic or Latino 191 1.99%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 9,782 people, 3,930 households, and 2,347 families residing in the county.

2010 census

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As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 10,778 people living in the county. 73.5% were Black or African American, 23.7% White, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.2% of some other race and 0.9% of two or more races. 2.3% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census

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As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 9,227 people, 3,258 households, and 2,192 families living in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile (7.7 people/km2). There were 3,705 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 70.15% Black or African American, 27.54% White, 0.11% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.96% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. 2.53% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,258 households, out of which 33.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.90% were married couples living together, 26.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.70% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.44.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 31.50% under the age of 18, 10.90% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 20.20% from 45 to 64, and 10.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 91.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $23,270, and the median income for a family was $25,443. Males had a median income of $25,244 versus $18,104 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,978. About 28.10% of families and 33.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 43.40% of those under age 18 and 32.50% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

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GreenTech Automotive received $6 million of incentive financing from the state of Mississippi and Tunica County to build an automotive plant in the county.[13][14] The facility was shut down in January 2017.[15] GreenTech had promised to invest $60 million in the manufacturing plant, but it produced few cars if any.[13] A Mississippi state auditor's review begun in 2016 found documentation reflecting only $3 million spent by GreenTech on automotive assembly equipment and parts.[13] While the company had promised to create 350 full-time jobs, it was found to never have created more than 94 active, full-time jobs in Mississippi at any time.[13][16]

In July 2017, the Mississippi state auditor demanded that GreenTech and its CEO Charlie Wang pay Mississippi $6 million because Greentech had not lived up to its promises to invest $60 million and create 350 jobs in Tunica County.[16][17] The auditor said: "I would venture that there isn’t really much of an operation in Tunica at all. This appears to have been a game of smoke and mirrors, and a corporate entity that never had any intention to deliver on the promises it made."[17] In November 2017, Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood sued the company for $3 million, plus forfeiture of land used for the Tunica factory.[16]

GreenTech declared bankruptcy in February 2018.[18][19] In a 2020 final settlement, it paid Mississippi and Tunica County only $575,000.[13]

Education

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Notable people

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Communities

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Town

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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Ghost towns

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Politics

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United States presidential election results for Tunica County, Mississippi[23]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 799 29.95% 1,837 68.85% 32 1.20%
2020 926 25.97% 2,580 72.37% 59 1.65%
2016 853 23.91% 2,667 74.77% 47 1.32%
2012 883 20.15% 3,475 79.30% 24 0.55%
2008 1,017 23.48% 3,279 75.69% 36 0.83%
2004 950 30.36% 2,140 68.39% 39 1.25%
2000 792 33.47% 1,539 65.05% 35 1.48%
1996 557 29.53% 1,263 66.97% 66 3.50%
1992 693 30.90% 1,451 64.69% 99 4.41%
1988 896 36.87% 1,510 62.14% 24 0.99%
1984 1,109 39.55% 1,621 57.81% 74 2.64%
1980 954 29.77% 2,198 68.58% 53 1.65%
1976 951 34.51% 1,695 61.50% 110 3.99%
1972 1,446 62.19% 858 36.90% 21 0.90%
1968 413 17.73% 1,133 48.65% 783 33.62%
1964 945 90.52% 99 9.48% 0 0.00%
1960 334 37.24% 323 36.01% 240 26.76%
1956 200 23.92% 470 56.22% 166 19.86%
1952 383 41.95% 530 58.05% 0 0.00%
1948 12 1.60% 23 3.07% 715 95.33%
1944 35 4.63% 721 95.37% 0 0.00%
1940 13 1.61% 795 98.39% 0 0.00%
1936 5 0.71% 701 99.29% 0 0.00%
1932 8 1.38% 573 98.62% 0 0.00%
1928 26 3.82% 654 96.18% 0 0.00%
1924 13 2.56% 495 97.44% 0 0.00%
1920 2 0.77% 256 98.84% 1 0.39%
1916 0 0.00% 173 100.00% 0 0.00%
1912 1 0.52% 188 97.41% 4 2.07%

See also

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National Register of Historic Places listings in Tunica County, Mississippi

References

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  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Tunica County, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Tunica Resorts" Archived February 5, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, American Gaming Association,
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  5. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  10. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  11. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. ^ a b c d e "Where Did $140 Million in GreenTech Money Go?," Bacon's Rebellion.
  14. ^ "GreenTech unveils Tunica car plans," DeSoto Times-Tribune.
  15. ^ Edelstein, Stephen (January 19, 2017). "GreenTech shutters its doors, closes its Mississippi factory". Green Car Reports. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  16. ^ a b c "Chinese investors sue McAuliffe, Rodham over green-car investments ," Politico.
  17. ^ a b "Mississippi demands $6.4M back from electric car maker, CEO," The Journal Record.
  18. ^ Oliver, Ned (February 27, 2018). "GreenTech files for bankruptcy". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
  19. ^ Yerak, Becky (February 28, 2018). "GreenTech Automotive Files for Bankruptcy". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  20. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Tunica County, MS" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 31, 2022. - Text list
  21. ^ "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Tunica town, MS" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 31, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  22. ^ "Welcome to Tunica Academy." Tunica Academy. Retrieved on March 2, 2011. "584 Academy Drive — Tunica, MS 38676"
  23. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
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34°40′N 90°23′W / 34.66°N 90.38°W / 34.66; -90.38

  NODES
Association 2
COMMUNITY 1
Note 2