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Kosciusko, Mississippi
City
Welcome sign located on Mississippi Highway 12
FlagLogo
Location of Kosciusko, Mississippi
Coordinates: 33°3′29″N 89°35′18″W / 33.05806°N 89.58833°W / 33.05806; -89.58833
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
County	Attala
Named for	Tadeusz Kościuszko
Area
• Total	7.55 sq mi (19.56 km)
• Land	7.54 sq mi (19.53 km)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.02 km)
Elevation	479 ft (146 m)
Population
• Total	7,114
• Density	943.38/sq mi (364.22/km)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	39090
Area code	662
FIPS code	28-38320
GNIS feature ID	0672213
Website	kosciusko.ms

Kosciusko (/ˌkɒsiˈʌskoʊ/ KAW-zee-ESS-koh) is a city in Attala County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 7,402 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Attala County.

History

Shortly before the War of 1812, David Choate, a French trader along with his wife, a Choctaw, opened the Choate Stand, an inn along the Natchez Trace. They chose a location near the intersection of the trace and a cross path that led to the Creek Indian Nation, where there was a natural spring to provide fresh water, at the approximate location of the current town square. Journals from the war of 1812 indicate that Andrew Jackson received supplies at Choate Stand. In 1850, the Choate family was forcibly removed to Indian Territory in Oklahoma by the Indian Removal Act, signed by Andrew Jackson. In 2017 Kosciusko inaugurated an annual Return to Redbud Springs Festival to honor this history.

The settlement was at one time named Red Bud Springs for a natural spring that was present in the city. Later, Redbud Springs was renamed Kosciusko, for General Tadeusz Kościuszko, a Polish officer who served with the Continental Army and assisted its military efforts during the American Revolution. His name has been anglicized as 'Kosciusko'.

Throughout the 19th century, cotton was the predominant crop, and remains important in the area.

In 1893, Central Mississippi College opened in Kosciusko, it was a private segregated school for African American students established by the local Baptist associations. Kosciusko was the location of Magnolia Bible College from 1976 to 2008.

Geography

Kosciusko is located along the Yockanookany River, 62 mi (100 km) northeast of Jackson.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.6 square miles (20 km), of which 7.5 square miles (19 km) is land and 0.13% is water.

Climate

The climate is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Kosciusko has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 7,114 people, 2,645 households, and 1,720 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,372 people, 2,885 households, and 1,906 families residing in the city. The population density was 977.8 inhabitants per square mile (377.5/km). There were 3,174 housing units at an average density of 421.0 per square mile (162.5/km). The racial makeup of the city was 53.66% White, 44.57% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.60% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.06% of the population.

There were 2,885 households, out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.2% were married couples living together, 21.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.2% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $21,737, and the median income for a family was $29,000. Males had a median income of $27,423 versus $16,487 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,478. About 20.9% of families and 24.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.9% of those under age 18 and 20.1% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Kosciusko has hosted the Central Mississippi Fair for over 100 years.

Kosciusko has been featured as part of the Mississippi Blues Trail since 2009.

Kosciusko is home to the Skipworth Performing Arts Center.

Kosciusko is home to The Guitar Academy.

Education

The city of Kosciusko is served by the Kosciusko School District and includes Kosciusko Senior High School.

Notable people

• Dave Barnes, singer-songwriter and musician for Razor & Tie
• Billy Ray Bates, professional basketball player
• Eva Webb Dodd, Anna Boyd Ellington, and Mary Comfort Leonard, founders of the Delta Gamma fraternity
• Clarence Harmon, former NFL running back for the Washington Redskins
• James Meredith, civil rights figure
• Charlie Musselwhite, blues harmonica player and band leader
• Jason Niles, lawyer, newspaper editor, and politician
• Topher Payne, playwright
• Blanche Colton Williams, author, editor, department head and professor of English literature, and pioneer in women's higher education.
• Oprah Winfrey, billionaire media entrepreneur and producer, actress, author, philanthropist, and former talk show host.
• Marc Woodard, former NFL linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles

Gallery

• Attala County Courthouse
• Illinois Central Depot in Kosciusko, 1920

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
2. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Kosciusko city, Mississippi". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. Cathey, Mike (July 7, 2019). "Choate family -- Natchez Trace to Choate Prairie, Indian Territory". McAlester News-Capital. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
5. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Government Printing Office. p. 177.
6. Hartshorn, W. N.; Penniman, George W., eds. (1910). An Era of Progress and Promise: 1863–1910. Boston, MA: Priscilla Pub. Co. p. 271. OCLC 5343815.
7. Education, United States Office of (1917). Negro Education: A Study of the Private and Higher Schools for Colored People in the United States. Vol. 2. U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 372–373.
8. "Kosciusko, Mississippi Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
9. "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
10. "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
11. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
12. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
14. "Central Mississippi Fair". Retrieved March 26, 2019.
15. Dees, Leslie N. (January 23, 2009) Kosciusko to be featured on Blues Trail. The Star Herald
16. "NBA Players: Billy Ray Bates Profile and Basic Stats". Retrieved February 28, 2017.
17. "Early Attala Residents: Jason Niles". Attala County, Mississippi. MS Gen Web. Archived from the original on August 10, 2021. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
18. Topher Payne - Mississippi Arts & Entertainment Center Archived 2015-12-10 at the Wayback Machine. Msarts.org (2013-11-21). Retrieved on 2015-12-25.

External links

• City of Kosciusko official website

v t e Municipalities and communities of Attala County, Mississippi, United States
County seat: Kosciusko
Cities	Kosciusko
Towns	Ethel McCool Sallis
Unincorporated communities	Hesterville McAdams Possumneck Williamsville Zama
Ghost towns	Sand Hill Valena
Indian reservation	Mississippi Choctaw Reservation‡
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Mississippi portal United States portal

• Kosciusko, Mississippi
• Cities in Attala County, Mississippi
• Cities in Mississippi
• County seats in Mississippi