Tippah County, Mississippi

Tippah County
County
The Tippah County courthouse in Ripley
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 34°46′N 88°55′W
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
Founded	1836
Named for	Chickasaw language word meaning "Cut off"
Seat	Ripley
Largest city	Ripley
Area
• Total	460 sq mi (1,200 km2)
• Land	458 sq mi (1,190 km2)
• Water	2.1 sq mi (5 km2)  0.5%
Population  (2020)
• Total	21,815
• Density	47/sq mi (18/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.co.tippah.ms.us

Tippah County is a county located on the northern border of the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,815. Its county seat is Ripley. The name "Tippah" is derived from a Chickasaw language word meaning "cut off." It was taken from the creek of the same name that flows across much of the original county from northeast to southwest before emptying into the Tallahatchie River. The creek probably was so named because it, and the ridges on either side, "cut off" the western part of the region from the eastern portion.

One of President Bill Clinton's great-grandfathers is buried here.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 460 square miles (1,200 km²), of which 458 square miles (1,190 km²) is land and 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²) (0.5%) is water.

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 72
• Mississippi Highway 2
• Mississippi Highway 4
• Mississippi Highway 15

Adjacent counties

• Hardeman County, Tennessee (north)
• Alcorn County (northeast)
• Prentiss County (southeast)
• Union County (south)
• Benton County (west)

National protected area

• Holly Springs National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1840	9,444		—
1850	20,741		119.6%
1860	22,550		8.7%
1870	20,727		−8.1%
1880	12,867		−37.9%
1890	12,951		0.7%
1900	12,983		0.2%
1910	14,631		12.7%
1920	15,419		5.4%
1930	18,658		21.0%
1940	19,680		5.5%
1950	17,522		−11.0%
1960	15,093		−13.9%
1970	15,852		5.0%
1980	18,739		18.2%
1990	19,523		4.2%
2000	20,826		6.7%
2010	22,232		6.8%
2020	21,815		−1.9%
2023 (est.)	21,287		−2.4%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013

2020 census

Tippah County Racial Composition

Race	Num.	Perc.
White	16,609	76.14%
Black or African American	3,447	15.8%
Native American	20	0.09%
Asian	24	0.11%
Other/Mixed	597	2.74%
Hispanic or Latino	1,118	5.12%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 21,815 people, 7,834 households, and 5,394 families residing in the county.

2000 census

At the 2000 census, there are 20,826 people, 8,108 households and 5,910 families residing in the county. The population density was 46 per square mile (18/km²). There were 8,868 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile (7.3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 81.85% White, 15.92% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.29% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. 2.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of 2000, there were 8,108 households, of which 33.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.20% were married couples living together, 11.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.10% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.00.

Age distribution was 25.00% under the age of 18, 10.10% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.20 males.

The median household income was $29,300, and the median family income was $34,547. Males had a median income of $27,505 versus $20,446 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,041 About 14.00% of families and 16.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.00% of those under age 18 and 23.30% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

• Ripley (county seat)

Towns

• Blue Mountain
• Dumas
• Falkner
• Walnut

Census-designated place

• Chalybeate

Unincorporated communities

• Brownfield
• Tiplersville
• Lake Mohawk
• Dry Creek
• Cotton Plant
• Camp Hill

Media

• TippahNews.com

Politics

United States presidential election results for Tippah County, Mississippi

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	7,984	83.24%	1,547	16.13%	60	0.63%
2020	8,054	79.73%	1,937	19.17%	111	1.10%
2016	7,240	78.19%	1,842	19.89%	178	1.92%
2012	6,717	73.30%	2,317	25.28%	130	1.42%
2008	6,937	71.33%	2,623	26.97%	165	1.70%
2004	6,174	66.57%	3,016	32.52%	85	0.92%
2000	5,381	64.04%	2,908	34.61%	114	1.36%
1996	3,249	46.80%	2,992	43.10%	701	10.10%
1992	4,444	50.85%	3,475	39.76%	820	9.38%
1988	4,593	60.41%	2,958	38.91%	52	0.68%
1984	4,706	64.46%	2,566	35.15%	29	0.40%
1980	3,338	44.97%	3,878	52.24%	207	2.79%
1976	1,887	30.08%	4,260	67.90%	127	2.02%
1972	3,937	85.87%	569	12.41%	79	1.72%
1968	589	10.02%	663	11.28%	4,627	78.70%
1964	2,482	71.82%	974	28.18%	0	0.00%
1960	486	16.80%	1,939	67.05%	467	16.15%
1956	287	9.71%	2,569	86.94%	99	3.35%
1952	511	15.08%	2,878	84.92%	0	0.00%
1948	66	3.07%	425	19.75%	1,661	77.18%
1944	126	4.73%	2,539	95.27%	0	0.00%
1940	63	2.73%	2,248	97.27%	0	0.00%
1936	19	1.16%	1,625	98.84%	0	0.00%
1932	52	2.56%	1,972	97.24%	4	0.20%
1928	298	16.98%	1,457	83.02%	0	0.00%
1924	96	6.19%	1,411	90.91%	45	2.90%
1920	237	19.52%	955	78.67%	22	1.81%
1916	82	5.00%	1,547	94.33%	11	0.67%
1912	34	2.89%	1,056	89.87%	85	7.23%

Education

The county has two school districts: North Tippah School District and South Tippah School District.

Northeast Mississippi Community College is the community college for Tippah County.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Tippah County, Mississippi

External links

• Tippah County - Official site.