Kosciusko, Mississippi

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.{{cite web |last1=Cathey |first1=Mike |title=Choate family -- Natchez Trace to Choate Prairie, Indian Territory |url=https://www.mcalesternews.com/opinion/columns/choate-family----natchez-trace-to-choate-prairie-indian-territory/article_f5e44e67-2c2a-5cfa-a003-50c0684c4fbb.html |publisher=McAlester News-Capital |access-date=10 August 2021 |date=July 7, 2019}}

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.{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Government Printing Office | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n176 177]}} His name has been anglicized as 'Kosciusko'.

Throughout the 19th century, cotton was the predominant crop, and remains important in the area.{{Citation needed|reason=This statement is very vague and broad. It needs to be narrowed and/or backed up by a citation.|date=December 2019}}

In 1893, Central Mississippi College opened in Kosciusko; it was a private segregated school for African American students established by the local Baptist associations.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uT4LPyzvEWUC |title=An Era of Progress and Promise: 1863–1910 |date= |publisher=Priscilla Pub. Co. |year=1910 |editor-last=Hartshorn |editor-first=W. N. |location=Boston, MA |pages=271 |language=en |oclc=5343815 |editor-last2=Penniman |editor-first2=George W.}}{{Cite book |last=Education |first=United States Office of |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hoFKAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA372 |title=Negro Education: A Study of the Private and Higher Schools for Colored People in the United States |date=1917 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |volume=2 |pages=372–373 |language=en}} Kosciusko was the location of Magnolia Bible College from 1976 to 2008.

Kosciusko is located along the Yockanookany River, {{convert|62|mi|km|abbr=on}} northeast of Jackson.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|7.6|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|7.5|sqmi|km2}} is land and 0.13% is water.

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=677422&cityname=Kosciusko%2C+Mississippi%2C+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Kosciusko, Mississippi Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|work=Weatherbase|access-date=21 July 2015}}

{{Weather box

| width = auto

| collapsed =

| single line = yes

| location = Kosciusko, Mississippi (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–2020)

| Jan record high F = 85

| Feb record high F = 85

| Mar record high F = 92

| Apr record high F = 98

| May record high F = 102

| Jun record high F = 109

| Jul record high F = 108

| Aug record high F = 109

| Sep record high F = 109

| Oct record high F = 98

| Nov record high F = 89

| Dec record high F = 84

| year record high F = 109

| Jan high F = 54.3

| Feb high F = 58.8

| Mar high F = 66.8

| Apr high F = 74.3

| May high F = 81.2

| Jun high F = 87.5

| Jul high F = 90.0

| Aug high F = 89.9

| Sep high F = 85.3

| Oct high F = 74.5

| Nov high F = 63.8

| Dec high F = 56.1

| year high F =

| Jan mean F = 43.7

| Feb mean F = 47.3

| Mar mean F = 54.8

| Apr mean F = 62.6

| May mean F = 70.7

| Jun mean F = 77.7

| Jul mean F = 80.5

| Aug mean F = 80.0

| Sep mean F = 74.4

| Oct mean F = 63.2

| Nov mean F = 52.5

| Dec mean F = 46.0

| year mean F =

| Jan low F = 33.0

| Feb low F = 35.9

| Mar low F = 42.8

| Apr low F = 50.9

| May low F = 60.1

| Jun low F = 67.8

| Jul low F = 70.9

| Aug low F = 70.0

| Sep low F = 63.6

| Oct low F = 51.8

| Nov low F = 41.1

| Dec low F = 35.8

| year low F =

| Jan record low F = -14

| Feb record low F = -9

| Mar record low F = 10

| Apr record low F = 24

| May record low F = 36

| Jun record low F = 41

| Jul record low F = 53

| Aug record low F = 50

| Sep record low F = 37

| Oct record low F = 20

| Nov record low F = 12

| Dec record low F = 0

| year record low F =

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 5.79

| Feb precipitation inch = 5.97

| Mar precipitation inch = 5.88

| Apr precipitation inch = 6.75

| May precipitation inch = 4.83

| Jun precipitation inch = 4.17

| Jul precipitation inch = 5.85

| Aug precipitation inch = 3.74

| Sep precipitation inch = 4.45

| Oct precipitation inch = 4.49

| Nov precipitation inch = 4.76

| Dec precipitation inch = 5.84

| year precipitation inch =

| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

| Jan precipitation days = 8.7

| Feb precipitation days = 8.8

| Mar precipitation days = 9.4

| Apr precipitation days = 7.1

| May precipitation days = 8.5

| Jun precipitation days = 8.5

| Jul precipitation days = 9.7

| Aug precipitation days = 7.6

| Sep precipitation days = 5.7

| Oct precipitation days = 6.0

| Nov precipitation days = 6.7

| Dec precipitation days = 9.2

| year precipitation days = 95.9

| Jan snow inch = 0.6

| Feb snow inch = 0.2

| Mar snow inch = 0.0

| Apr snow inch = 0.0

| May snow inch = 0.0

| Jun snow inch = 0.0

| Jul snow inch = 0.0

| Aug snow inch = 0.0

| Sep snow inch = 0.0

| Oct snow inch = 0.0

| Nov snow inch = 0.0

| Dec snow inch = 0.5

| year snow inch =

| unit snow days = 0.1 in

| Jan snow days = 0.3

| Feb snow days = 0.3

| Mar snow days = 0.0

| Apr snow days = 0.0

| May snow days = 0.0

| Jun snow days = 0.0

| Jul snow days = 0.0

| Aug snow days = 0.0

| Sep snow days = 0.0

| Oct snow days = 0.0

| Nov snow days = 0.0

| Dec snow days = 0.2

| year snow days = 0.8

| source = NOAA{{cite web

|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=jan

|title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|access-date = October 31, 2023}}{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00224776&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|access-date = October 31, 2023}}

}}

{{US Census population

|1890= 1394

|1900= 2078

|1910= 2385

|1920= 2258

|1930= 3237

|1940= 4291

|1950= 6753

|1960= 6800

|1970= 7266

|1980= 7415

|1990= 6986

|2000= 7372

|2010= 7402

|2020= 7114

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}

}}

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

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2000, there were 7,372 people, 2,885 households, and 1,906 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|977.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 3,174 housing units at an average density of {{convert|421.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. 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.

Kosciusko has hosted the Central Mississippi Fair for over 100 years.{{cite web |title=Central Mississippi Fair |url=https://www.natcheztracetravel.com/festivals-events/event/9-central-mississippi-fair.html |access-date=26 March 2019}}

Kosciusko has been featured as part of the Mississippi Blues Trail since 2009.Dees, Leslie N. (January 23, 2009) [https://web.archive.org/web/20110817015012/http://starherald.net/local/x889854244/Kosciusko-to-be-featured-on-Blues-Trail Kosciusko to be featured on Blues Trail]. The Star Herald

Kosciusko is home to the Skipworth Performing Arts Center.

Kosciusko is home to The Guitar Academy.

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

• Oprah Winfrey, entertainer and entrepreneur
• Dave Barnes, singer-songwriter and musician for Razor & Tie
• Billy Ray Bates, professional basketball player{{cite web|title=NBA Players: Billy Ray Bates Profile and Basic Stats|url=http://www.landofbasketball.com/nba_players/b/billy_ray_bates.htm|access-date=28 February 2017}}
• 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{{cite web |url=http://attala-county-history-genealogy.org/jason_niles.html |title=Early Attala Residents: Jason Niles |website=Attala County, Mississippi |publisher=MS Gen Web |access-date=2021-08-10 |archive-date=2021-08-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810142353/http://attala-county-history-genealogy.org/jason_niles.html |url-status=dead }}
• Topher Payne, playwright[http://www.msarts.org/index.cfm/artist-highlights/artist-highlight-topher-payne1 Topher Payne - Mississippi Arts & Entertainment Center] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210221109/http://www.msarts.org/index.cfm/artist-highlights/artist-highlight-topher-payne1/ |date=2015-12-10 }}. Msarts.org (2013-11-21). Retrieved on 2015-12-25.
• Blanche Colton Williams, author, editor, department head and professor of English literature, and pioneer in women's higher education
• Marc Woodard, former NFL linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles

File:Attala County Courthouse - Kosciusko, Mississippi (27832990031).jpg|Attala County Courthouse

File:KOSCIUSKO,MISSISSIPPI - 1920.jpg|Illinois Central Depot in Kosciusko, 1920

{{reflist}}

{{Portal|Mississippi}}

• [https://kosciusko.ms City of Kosciusko official website]

{{Attala County, Mississippi}}

{{Mississippi county seats}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Cities in Attala County, Mississippi

Category:Cities in Mississippi

Category:County seats in Mississippi