Kilmichael, Mississippi

Kilmichael, Mississippi
Town
Sign for Kilmichael, Mississippi Sign for Kilmichael, Mississippi
Location of Kilmichael, Mississippi Location of Kilmichael, Mississippi
Kilmichael, Mississippi Location in the United States
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
County	Montgomery
Area
• Total	2.8 sq mi (7.2 km2)
• Land	2.8 sq mi (7.2 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	361 ft (110 m)
Population (2000)
• Total	830
• Density	298.7/sq mi (115.3/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	39747
Area code(s)	662
FIPS code	28-37560
GNIS feature ID	0672122

Kilmichael is a town in Montgomery County, Mississippi. The population was 830 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Kilmichael is located at (33.442175, -89.569761).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²), of which 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²) is land and 0.36% is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1900	227		—
1910	380		67.4%
1920	395		3.9%
1930	577		46.1%
1940	556		−3.6%
1950	511		−8.1%
1960	532		4.1%
1970	543		2.1%
1980	906		66.9%
1990	826		−8.8%
2000	830		0.5%
2010	699		−15.8%
Est. 2014	629		−10.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 830 people, 314 households, and 233 families residing in the town. The population density was 298.7 people per square mile (115.3/km²). There were 367 housing units at an average density of 132.1 per square mile (51.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 53.37% African American, 46.27% White, 0.24% Native American, and 0.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.96% of the population.

There were 314 households out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 23.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the town the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 80.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $24,712, and the median income for a family was $30,909. Males had a median income of $25,192 versus $18,281 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,457. About 24.8% of families and 25.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.7% of those under age 18 and 28.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Town of Kilmichael is served by the Montgomery County School District. Montgomery County Elementary School and Montgomery County High School are both located in Kilmichael. The school mascot is the Hornet. Colors are Green, Gold, and White. In 1989, Kilmichael High School and Duck Hill High School consolidated into one school. In 1990, the name was changed to Montgomery County High School. In 2004, Kilmichael Elementary and Duck Hill Elementary consolidated to form Montgomery County Elementary School.

Controversy

In 2001, the all-white board of aldermen cancelled town elections after citing a need for more time to implement election changes. Allegedly, the elections were delayed in order avoid electing black politicians. The Justice Department intervened under the Voting Rights Act and forced a special election, in which Kilmichael elected its first black mayor and three black aldermen.

National Recognition

Kilmichael native and 1988 Kilmichael High School graduate, Dr. Katrina Poe, was recognized nationally as "Country Doctor of the Year" by Staff Care, etc.. Patients and hospital staff nominated her for the award. Dr. Poe's story was highlighted on NBC Nightly News, the Today Show, USA Today and other forms of national, state, and local media. The national stories aired in January, 2006. Dr. Poe is a family physician at Kilmichael Hospital.

Kilmichael native Phyllis Land-Usher, a 1962 graduate of Kilmichael High School, has been serving the Indiana State Department of Education as the Assistant Superintendent of Education for several years prior to 2007. Land-Usher has been honored and recognized for her school improvement efforts in Indiana. As Assistant Superientendent, Land-Usher leads the Indiana Center for School Improvement and Performance.

Blues guitar legend B.B. King was reared in Kilmichael by his maternal grandmother, as his own mother was too poor to take care of him after his father abandoned the family when B.B. was only four years of age.