Hinds County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2010 census, the population was 245,285, making it the most populous county in Mississippi. Its county seats are Raymond and Jackson, the state capital. The county is named for General Thomas Hinds, a hero of the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812. Hinds County is a central part of the Jackson, MS Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is a professional, educational, business and industrial hub in the state. It is bordered on the northwest by the Big Black River and on the east by the Pearl River. It is one county width away from the Yazoo River and the southern border of the Mississippi Delta. In the 19th century, the rural areas of the county were devoted to cotton plantations worked by enslavedAfrican Americans and depended on agriculture well into the 20th century. From 1877 to 1950, this county had 22 lynchings, the highest number in the state. Mississippi has the highest total number of lynchings of any state.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. It is the third-largest county in Mississippi by land area and fifth-largest by total area.
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 245,285 people living in the county. 69.1% were Black or African American, 28.4% White, 0.8% Asian, 0.2% Native American, 0.7% of some other race and 0.9% of two or more races. 1.5% were Hispanic or Latino. As of the census of 2000, there were 250,800 people, 91,030 households, and 62,355 families living in the county. The population density was 288 people per square mile. There were 100,287 housing units at an average density of 115 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 61.12% Black or African American, 37.31% White, 0.12% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. 0.79% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 91,030 households, out of which 34.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.10% were married couples living together, 22.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.50% were non-families. Of all households, 26.70% were made up of individuals, and 8.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.22. In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.90% under the age of 18, 12.10% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 20.10% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.50 males. The median income for a household in the county was $33,991, and the median income for a family was $40,525. Males had a median income of $30,930 versus $24,593 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,785. About 16.10% of families and 19.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.60% of those under age 18 and 15.10% of those age 65 or over. Hinds County has the thirteenth highest per capita income in the State of Mississippi.
