Clarksdale, Mississippi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Clarksdale, Mississippi | |
| Location of Clarksdale, Mississippi | |
| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Coahoma |
| Area | |
| - Total | 13.8 sq mi (35.9 km²) |
| - Land | 13.8 sq mi (35.8 km²) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²) |
| Elevation | 174 ft (53 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 20,645 |
| - Density | 1,491.8/sq mi (576.0/km²) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| - Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP codes | 38614, 38669 |
| Area code(s) | 662 |
| FIPS code | 28-13820 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0666084 |
Clarksdale is a city in Coahoma County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 20,645 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Coahoma CountyGR6. It is located on the banks of the Sunflower River.
Located in the Mississippi Delta, one of the birthplaces of the blues, Clarksdale is home to the internationally known Delta Blues Museum and "the crossroads", where some believe Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil at the stroke of midnight in exchange for the ability to play the blues. This legend was originated by fellow bluesman Son House in the 1960s.
Clarksdale is also the home of Morgan Freeman's five-star restaurant Madidi and his blues club Ground Zero.
Clarksdale was named in honor of founder and resident John Clark, brother-in-law of politician James Lusk Alcorn, whose plantation home is nearby.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
Clarksdale is located at (34.197888, -90.571941)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.9 square miles (35.9 km²), of which, 13.8 square miles (35.8 km²) of it is land and 0.07% is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 20,645 people, 7,233 households, and 5,070 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,491.8 people per square mile (575.9/km²). There were 7,757 housing units at an average density of 560.5/sq mi (216.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 29.95% White, 68.52% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.65% of the population.
There were 7,233 households out of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.7% were married couples living together, 30.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.38.
In the city, the population was spread out with 32.9% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 81.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,188, and the median income for a family was $26,592. Males had a median income of $26,881 versus $19,918 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,611. About 29.7% of families and 36.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.1% of those under age 18 and 31.4% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Education
[edit] Public schools
The city of Clarksdale is served by the Clarksdale Municipal School District. The district has nine schools with a total enrollment of 3,600 students.
[edit] Private schools
- Lee Academy
[edit] Music history
Clarksdale has been historically significant in the development of the blues, a form of music distinctively African American. More blues singers have come from the state of Mississippi, especially the Mississippi Delta than all of the other Southern States combined. These have included: Bo Carter, Son House, Robert Johnson, Charlie Patton, Muddy Waters, Skip James, Bukka White, Tommy Johnson, Mississippi John Hurt, Willie Brown, Big Joe Williams, Willie Dixon, Howlin Wolf, Albert King, John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Reed, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Big Bill Broonzy, Jimmy Rogers, Bo Diddley, Otis Rush, Otis Spann, and B.B. King. The Mississippi Blues Trail, now being implemented, is dedicating markers for historic sites such as Clarksdale's Riverside Hotel where Bessie Smith died after her auto accident on Highway 61.[1] The Riverside Hotel is just one of many historical blues sites in Clarksdale.[2]
The Delta Blues Museum is located in Clarksdale and is visited by people from all over the world. Close by are Ground Zero and Madidi, a blues club and restaurant co-owned by actor, Morgan Freeman. In-between, there is a blues music, art and information store called Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art. Cat Head tracks all live blues events in the area at http://www.cathead.biz
[edit] Notable people
- Nate Dogg
- Tennessee Williams
- Muddy Waters
- Sam Cooke
- John Lee Hooker
- Ike Turner
- Super Chikan
- Wright Thompson
- Charles L. Sullivan
- Earl L. Brewer
- Earl Barron
- Terrence Metcalf
- Squirrel Nut Zippers
- Big Jack Johnson
- Aaron Henry
[edit] References
- ^ Blues trail. Retrieved on 2007-02-09.
- ^ Clarkesdale Blues. Retrieved on 2007-02-09.
[edit] External links
- Clarksdale Blues - famous places
- Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale
- Clarksdale Press Register website
- sites in Coahoma County on the National Register of Historic Places
- History of Clarksdale's Jewish community (from the Institute of Southern Jewish Life)
- [1] Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art
- Clarksdale, Mississippi is at coordinates Coordinates:
Municipalities and communities of Coahoma County, Mississippi | ||
|---|---|---|
| County seat: Clarksdale | ||
| Cities | Clarksdale | |
| Towns | Coahoma | Friars Point | Jonestown | Lula | Lyon | |
| Unincorporated communities | Bobo | Dublin | Hillhouse | Mattison | Rena Lara | Rich | Rudyard | Sherard | Stovall | |
de:Clarksdale (Mississippi) fr:Clarksdale io:Clarksdale, Mississippi lmo:Clarksdale, Mississippi nl:Clarksdale (Mississippi) sv:Clarksdale vo:Clarksdale (Mississippi)
