Aberdeen is the county seat of Monroe County, Mississippi, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,612. Located on the banks of the Tombigbee River, Aberdeen was one of the busiest Mississippi ports of the 19th century. Cotton was heavily traded in town, and for a time Aberdeen was Mississippi's second largest city. Today Aberdeen retains many historic structures from this period, with over 200 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. In the spring of each year, Aberdeen hosts pilgrimages to its historic antebellum homes. The most prominent of these antebellum homes is The Magnolias, which was built in 1850. Located just outside the city, Aberdeen Lock and Dam forms Aberdeen Lake, a popular recreational area. Aberdeen Lock and Dam is part of the Tennessee-Tombigbee waterway system.
History
In 1540, Hernando DeSoto's expedition was the first European expedition to travel through the vicinity of Aberdeen. Aberdeen was first settled in 1834 and chartered as a town in 1837. In 1849, it became the county seat when Monroe County was formed. On February 18, 1864 a skirmish occurred between the Union army and the Confederate army in Aberdeen. Lieutenant Colonel Burgh and the Ninth Illinois Cavalry came into contact with rebel militias, driving them back and taking possession of Aberdeen. The battle resulted in the company 18 prisoners of war, as well as the destruction of confederate food supplies and machinery. In 1889, an African-American man called Keith Bowen was lynched by a mob after he "tried to enter a room where three white women were sitting." Hiram Revels, the first African-American United States Senator, died on January 16, 1901, while attending a church conference in Aberdeen. In 1914 Mayho Miller, an 18 year old Negro boy, was hanged by a mob. Aberdeen had a population of 3,708 in 1910. Its population had risen to 5,920 by 1950. Its population was 7,184 in 1980.
Geography
According to the United States Geological Survey, variant names are Dundee and New Aberdeen. East Aberdeen is located at, across the Tombigbee River from Aberdeen proper. Variant names for East Aberdeen are Howards Bluff, Howards Farm, Howards Ferry, Howards Store, Martins Bluff, and Murffs. According to the United States Census Bureau, Aberdeen has a total area of, of which is land and is water. N/U.S. Route 45 S bridge over the Tombigbee River in Aberdeen during the 1955 floods.
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 5,612 people living in the city. 69.2% were African American, 28.8% White, 0.1% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from some other race and 1.0% of two or more races. 1.0% were Hispanic or Latino of any race. As of the census of 2000, there were 6,415 people, 2,398 households, and 1,661 families living in the city. The population density was 598.8 people per square mile. There were 2,730 housing units at an average density of 254.8 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 60.20% African American, 38.78% White, 0.09% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.06% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.56% of the population. There were 2,398 households out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.8% were married couples living together, 29.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.14. In the city, the population was spread out with 29.8% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 78.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 69.7 males. The median income for a household in the city was $23,530, and the median income for a family was $27,611. Males had a median income of $27,857 versus $17,090 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,584. About 26.3% of families and 29.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.2% of those under age 18 and 26.7% of those age 65 or over.
The city of Aberdeen is the subject of the HGTV show Hometown Renovation, where local makeup artist and designer Billy Brasfield sets to redesign and renovate some of the city's houses and landmarks. The city is also the subject of a song by blues artist Bukka White, Aberdeen, Mississippi, later covered by guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd as Aberdeen.
