Lucedale, Mississippi

Lucedale was one of several settlements created after the Mobile, Jackson and Kansas City Railroad penetrated northern Jackson County (now George County) in the late 1890s.{{cite web | title = Mobile, Jackson & Kansas City Railroad | publisher = Mississippi Rails | url = https://www.msrailroads.com/MJ&KC.htm | accessdate = April 27, 2024}}{{cite book | last = Deese | first = Wynelle Scott | title = Musing Through Towns in Mississippi | publisher = Arcadia | year = 1999 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=l6uRLUXlWhwC&pg=PP1 | page = 105}}

Lucedale was founded in 1901, and was named after Gregory Marston Luce, who operated a lumber business there.{{Cite web| url=http://george.msghn.org/| title=About George County, Mississippi| publisher=George County Mississippi Genealogy & History Network| access-date=December 20, 2016}}{{Cite web| url=http://cityoflucedale.com/About-Us| title=About Us| publisher=City of Lucedale| access-date=December 20, 2016}}

In 1906, a black man was hanged from a telegraph pole near the Lucedale railroad depot by a crowd of 300, after allegedly assaulting a white woman.{{cite news | date = October 24, 1906 | title = Negro was lynched as guards sleped | url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-troy-messenger/18047329/ | work = The Troy Messenger}}

Mississippi's first execution by electrocution was administered to a convicted wife-killer in Lucedale in 1940, using the only portable electric chair ever employed in the United States.{{cite news | last = Perry | first = Brian | date = March 2, 2017 | title = Execution Options | url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/columbian-progress-2017-3-2-columbian-pr/20131795/ | work = Columbian-Progress}}{{cite web | last = Cabana | first = Donald A. | title = The History of Capital Punishment in Mississippi: An Overview | publisher = Mississippi Historical Society | date = October 2004 | url = https://www.mshistorynow.mdah.ms.gov/issue/history-of-capital-punishment-in-mississippi-an-overview}} The "death wagon" and chair had been on display outside the Mississippi capitol prior to arriving in Lucedale, and photos of the execution were published in state newspapers, the executioner commenting: "he died with tears in his eyes for the efficient care I took to give him a good clean burning".

According to the United States Census Bureau, Lucedale has a total area of {{convert|16.6|km2|order=flip}}, all land.

{{US Census population

|align=left

|1910= 797

|1920= 629

|1930= 834

|1940= 1204

|1950= 1631

|1960= 1977

|1970= 2083

|1980= 2429

|1990= 2592

|2000= 2458

|2010= 2923

|2020= 2869

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

}}

{{clear|left}}

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,869 people, 975 households, and 504 families residing in the city.

Lucedale Public Library is part of the Jackson-George Regional Library System.{{cite web | title = Locations | publisher = Jackson-George Regional Library System | url = https://jgrls.org/ | accessdate = April 27, 2024}}

{{Expand section|date=August 2013}}

Lucedale is served by the George County School District.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st28_ms/schooldistrict_maps/c28039_george/DC20SD_C28039.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: George County, MS|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2024-12-16}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st28_ms/schooldistrict_maps/c28039_george/DC20SD_C28039_SD2MS.txt Text list] As of 2010, the district spends US$6,732 per pupil—63% on instruction, 30% on support services, and 7% on other elementary and secondary expenditures—and 15 students existed for every full-time equivalent teacher.{{cite web|title=George County School District|url=http://www.education.com/schoolfinder/us/mississippi/district/george-county-school-district/|work=Education.com |access-date=11 August 2013|year=2006–2013}}

• Mississippi Highway 198 passes through the city as Main Street
• US 98
• Highway 63

Lucedale Police Department consists of a police chief, 11 patrolmen, and one investigator.{{cite web | title = Police Department | publisher = City of Lucedale | url = https://cityoflucedale.com/departments/police-department/ | accessdate = April 27, 2024}} Lucedale Fire Department was established in 1901, and consists of a fire chief, three firemen, and four volunteer firemen.{{cite web | title = Fire Department | publisher = City of Lucedale | url = https://cityoflucedale.com/departments/fire-department/ | accessdate = April 27, 2024}}

George Regional Hospital in Lucedale is a 50-bed, non-profit, community owned hospital serving George County, Greene County, Stone County, and northern Jackson County.{{cite web | title = George Regional Hospital | publisher = George Regional Health System | url = https://georgeregional.com/locations/george-regional-hospital/ | accessdate = April 27, 2024}}

• Ruthie Bolton, Olympic gold medalist basketball player{{cite web|title=About Ruthie Bolton-Holifield Memorabilia|url=http://www.sportsmemorabilia.com/player/Ruthie_Bolton-Holifield|work=SportsMemorabilia.com |access-date=11 August 2013|year=2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102121718/http://www.sportsmemorabilia.com/player/Ruthie_Bolton-Holifield|archive-date=2 November 2013}}
• Janice Lawrence Braxton, Olympic gold medalist basketball player{{cite web | last = Voepel | first = Mechelle | title = Hall Trio Leaves Lasting Legacy | publisher = ESPN | date =April 28, 2006 | url = https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/columns/story?id=2424703}}
• Ty Fryfogle, football wide receiver for the Indiana Hoosiers{{cite web |title=Ty Fryfogle |url=https://iuhoosiers.com/sports/football/roster/ty-fryfogle/14580 |website=Indiana Hoosiers |access-date=10 December 2020}}
• Carolyn Haines, author, also credited as Caroline Burnes{{cite web|title=Carolyn Haines|url=http://www.mswritersandmusicians.com/writers/carolyn-haines.html|publisher=Mississippi Writers & Musicians |access-date=11 August 2013|author=Nancy Jacobs|date=20 January 2010}}
• Annibel Jenkins, English professor, scholar
• Alonzo Lawrence, football defensive back{{cite news |last1=Rogers |first1=Justin |title=Rookie safety Alonzo Lawrence signed with Detroit Lions looking for a fresh start |url=https://www.mlive.com/lions/2012/05/alonzo_lawrence.html |access-date=10 December 2020 |work=MLive |date=17 May 2012}}
• Jake W. Lindsey, recipient of the Medal of Honor{{cite web | title = World War II, Medal of Honor, Recipients G-L | publisher = U.S. Army Center of Military History | date = July 15, 2013 | url = http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/wwII-g-l.html#LINDSEYJW| archive-url = https://archive.today/20080112043117/http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/wwII-g-l.html#LINDSEYJW| url-status = dead| archive-date = January 12, 2008}}
• Dee McCann, professional football player{{cite web | title = Dee McCann | publisher = WVU Stats | url = http://wvustats.com/football/player/2200 | access-date = February 11, 2014 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140222101337/http://wvustats.com/football/player/2200 | archive-date = February 22, 2014 }}
• Doug McLeod, member of the Mississippi House of Representatives{{cite web |title=Doug McLeod |url=http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/members/house/mcleod.xml |website=state.ms.us |publisher=State of Mississippi |access-date=10 December 2020}}
• Eric Moulds, professional football player{{cite news|title=Lucedale's Moulds named SEC football "legend"|url=http://www.gulflive.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/10/lucedales_moulds_named_sec_foo.html|access-date=11 August 2013|newspaper=The Mississippi Times|date=15 October 2010|author=Creg Stephenson}}
• John Nix, professional football player{{cite web | title = John Nix | publisher = Pro-Football | url = https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/N/NixxJo20.htm?redir | access-date = February 11, 2014}}
• Justin Steele, professional baseball player
• Claude Passeau, professional baseball player{{cite news|title=Claude Passeau, 94, A Standout Pitcher For the 1945 Cubs|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/02/sports/claude-passeau-94-a-standout-pitcher-for-the-1945-cubs.html|access-date=11 August 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=2 September 2003|author=Richard Goldstein}}
• McKinnley Jackson, professional football player

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Official website|http://cityoflucedale.com/ }}

{{George County, Mississippi}}

{{Mississippi county seats}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Cities in Mississippi

Category:Cities in George County, Mississippi

Category:County seats in Mississippi

Category:Cities in Pascagoula metropolitan area