Corinth, Mississippi
From Free net encyclopedia
Corinth is a city located in Alcorn County, Mississippi. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 14,054. It is the county seat of Alcorn CountyTemplate:GR. Its zip codes are 38834 and 38835.
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History
Corinth was founded in 1853 as Cross City, so-called because it served as a junction for the Mobile & Ohio and Memphis & Charleston railroads. It was the town's early newspaper editor, W.E. Gibson, who suggested the name of Corinth, named for the city in Greece that also served as a crossroads.
Corinth's location at the junction of two railroads made it strategically important to the Confederacy during the American Civil War. Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard retreated to Corinth after the Battle of Shiloh, pursued by Union Major General Henry W. Halleck. General Beauregard abandoned the town when General Halleck approached, letting it fall into the Union's hands. Since Halleck approached so cautiously, digging entrenchments at every stop for over a month, this action has been known as the Siege of Corinth.
The Union sent Maj. Gen. William Rosecrans to Corinth as well, concentrated their forces in the city. The Second Battle of Corinth took place on October 3–4, 1862, when Confederate Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn attempted to retake the city. The Confederate troops won back the city, but were quickly forced out again when the Union troops were reinforced.
Locales on the National Register of Historic Places
- Battery Williams (also known as Fort Williams)
- Battle of Corinth, Confederate Assault Position
- Coliseum Theatre - built in the early 20th century in the Colonial Revival style
- Corinth National Cemetery
- Downtown Corinth Historic District
- Dr. Joseph M. Bynum House - a home in the Late Gothic Revival style built in the late 19th century
- Federal Siege Trench (also known as Harper Road Trench)
- Fort Robinette (also known as Battery Robinette) - site of the Civil War Interpretive Center
- Jacinto Courthouse (also called the Old Tishomingo County Courthouse) - built in the mid-19th century in the Federal style
- L.C. Steele House
- Midtown Corinth Historic District
- Moores Creek site - a prehistoric Native American site from 3000 to 3500 B.C.
- Old U.S. Post Office
- Rienzi Commercial Historic District
- Thomas F. Dilworth House
- Union Battery F, Battle of Corinth
- Union Earthworks
- Veranda House (also known as the Curlee House) - built in 1857, it served as headquarters for Confederate generals during the Battle of Corinth
Geography
Corinth is located at 34°56'14" North, 88°30'55" West (34.937228, -88.515261)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 79.2 km² (30.6 mi²). 78.9 km² (30.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.43% water.
Communities near Corinth
- Eastview, Tennessee - 9.85 statute miles
- Farmington, Mississippi - 3.97 statute miles
- Guys, Tennessee - 7.24 statute miles
- Kossuth, Mississippi - 8.21 statute miles
- Michie, Tennessee - 9.75 statute miles
- Ramer, Tennessee - 10.92 statute miles
Rivers and streams
- Bridge Creek
- Elam Creek
- Phillips Creek
- Turner Creek
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 14,054 people, 6,220 households, and 3,800 families residing in the city. The population density was 178.2/km² (461.5/mi²). There were 7,058 housing units at an average density of 89.5/km² (231.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 76.28% White, 21.60% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.84% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. 1.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 6,220 households out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 85.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,436, and the median income for a family was $35,232. Males had a median income of $29,027 versus $21,071 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,452. 22.2% of the population and 18.2% of families were below the poverty line. 26.2% of those under the age of 18 and 23.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Education
Public Schools
- Corinth School District
- Alcorn Alternative School
- Alcorn Central Elementary - grades K-4, with enrollment of 520
- Alcorn Central Middle School - grades 5-8 with an enrollment of 539
- Alcorn Central High School - grades 9-12 with an enrollment of 515
- Biggersville Elementary - grades K-6 with an enrollment of 161
- Biggersville High School grades 7-12 with an enrollment of 236
- Corinth High School - grades 9-12 with an enrollment of 473
- Corinth Junior High School - grades 7-8 with an enrollment of 265
- East Corinth Elementary School - grades 2-4 with an enrollment of 445
- Kossuth Elementary School - grades K-4 with an enrollment of 562
- Kossuth High School - grades 9-12 with an enrollment of 438
- Kossuth Middle School - grades 5-8 with an enrollment of 499
- South Corinth Elementary School - grades 5-6 with an enrollment of 278
- West Corinth Elementary School - grades K-1 with an enrollment of 347
Libraries
- Corinth Public Library - part of the Northeast Regional Library System
Museums
Health care
- Magnolia Regional Health Center
Transportation
Highways
- U.S. Highway 45 - runs north-south from Lake Superior to the Gulf of Mexico
- U.S. Highway 72 - runs east-west from Chattanooga, Tennessee to Memphis, Tennessee
- Mississippi State Highway 2 - runs southwest from the Tennessee state line to Ripley, Mississippi
- Mississippi State Highway 145
Air travel
Crime
2001
| Type | number | per 100,000 |
| Murder | 0 | 0 |
| Rape | 6 | 42.1 |
| Robbery | 11 | 77.2 |
| Assault | 55 | 386 |
| Burglary | 173 | 1214.1 |
| Larceny | 597 | 4189.8 |
| Auto theft | 41 | 287.8 |
Media
Newspapers
FM & AM radio stations
- WXRZ 94.3 - owned by Telesouth Communications, Inc.
- WADI 95.3 - owned by Power Valley Communications, Inc.
- WKCU 1350 - owned by Telesouth Communications, Inc.
- WCMA 1230 - owned by Power Valley Communication, Inc.
Trivia
The lowest temperature ever recorded in Mississippi occurred here on January 30, 1966 reaching -19 degrees Fahrenheit.
External links
- Corinth National Cemetery
- Corinth Chamber of Commerce
- Crossroads Arena
- Corinth Tourism and Visitor Bureau
Reference
- Brieger, James. Hometown, Mississippi. (1997). ISBN 1886017-27-1
