Jump to content

Drew, Mississippi

Coordinates:33°48′36″N90°31′50″W/ 33.81000°N 90.53056°W/33.81000; -90.53056
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Money, Mississippi
Location of Drew, Mississippi
Location of Drew, Mississippi
Money, Mississippi is located in the United States
Money, Mississippi
Money, Mississippi
Location in the United States
Coordinates:33°48′36″N90°31′50″W/ 33.81000°N 90.53056°W/33.81000; -90.53056
CountryUnited States
StateMississippi
CountySunflower
Government
• MayorMelanie Ann Townsend
Area
• Total1.12 sq mi (2.91 km2)
• Land1.12 sq mi (2.91 km2)
• Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
135 ft (41 m)
Population
• Total1,852
• Density1,650.62/sq mi (637.33/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6(Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)UTC-5(CDT)
ZIP codes
38737-38738
Area code662
FIPS code28-20020
GNISfeature ID0669383

Drewis a city inSunflower County,Mississippi,United States. The population was 1,927 at the 2010 census. Drew is in the vicinity of several plantations and theMississippi State Penitentiary,aMississippi Department of Correctionsprison for men. It is noted for being the site of several racist murders, including thelynchingofJoe Pullenin 1923 and ofEmmett Tillin 1955.

History

[edit]

When theYellow Dog Railroadwas extended through what is now Drew, the post office was moved from the Promised Land Plantation to the Drew location. The settlement and the post office were named for Miss Drew Daniel, daughter of Andrew Jackson Daniel.[2]

A school called the Little Red Schoolhouse was built by matching funds from theRosenwald Fundin 1928. In the 21st century it received a grant for renovation of the large school.[3]

In the 1920s, a man namedJoe Pullenwaslynchednear Drew after killing at least three members and wounding other members of a posse seeking him after he shot and killed another man.[4]

One historian wrote that the white residents of Drew had "traditionally been regarded as the most recalcitrant in the county on racial matters."[5]The author wrote that whites in Drew were "considered the most recalcitrant of Sunflower County, and perhaps the state."[6]He also claimed that Drew's proximity to theMississippi State Penitentiarymade Drew "a dangerous place to be black", and claimed that during the 1930s and 1940s many police officers arbitrarily shot blacks, saying that they appeared to look like escaped prisoners.[6]That historian also claimed that during theCivil Rights Movement,when attempts were made to moveFannie Lou Hamer's movement for poor people fromRulevilleto Drew, the organizers "faced stiff resistance".Mae Bertha Carter,an activist during theCivil Rights Movement,was from Drew.[5]

In 1955, 14-year-old African-American teenagerEmmett Louis Tillwas abducted, tortured, and shot to death in a barn near Drew. The killing attracted national attention. Some locals have raised money to purchase the barn for a memorial.[7]

Geography

[edit]

According to theUnited States Census Bureau,the city has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2), all land. Because of its small size, Billy Turner ofThe Times-Picayunesaid "[y]ou can travel all over town in a few minutes."[8]Drew is in the vicinity of several plantations and theMississippi State Penitentiary(Parchman), aMississippi Department of Correctionsprison for men.[9]

Drew, in northernSunflower County,[10]is located onU.S. Route 49W,on the route betweenJacksonandClarksdale.[11]Drew is 8 miles (13 km) south of the Mississippi State Penitentiary,[12]and it is north ofRuleville.[5]Cleveland, Mississippiis 12 miles (19 km) from Drew. Drew is north ofYazoo City.[8]

Many houses in Drew are government-owned. Some houses sold for $6,000 to $8,000 in the year until 2008. Some Drew residents stated in 2008 that, if put on the market, some houses would sell for over $120,000.[8]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1900195
191027842.6%
1920721159.4%
19301,37390.4%
19401,57915.0%
19501,6816.5%
19602,14327.5%
19702,57420.1%
19802,528−1.8%
19902,349−7.1%
20002,4343.6%
20101,927−20.8%
20201,852−3.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]
Train depot in Drew, 1976
The Drew Town Square
Manning Boulevard, named after Archie Manning
Water tower in Drew

2020 census

[edit]
Drew Racial Composition[14]
Race Num. Perc.
White 198 10.69%
Black or African American 1,573 84.94%
Native American 5 0.27%
Asian 3 0.16%
Other/Mixed 44 2.38%
HispanicorLatino 29 1.57%

As of the2020 United States Census,there were 1,852 people, 729 households, and 503 families residing in the city.

2010 census

[edit]

As of the2010 United States Census,there were 1,927 people living in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 82.7% Black, 16.0% White, 0.2% Native American, 0.2% Asian and 0.2% from two or more races. 0.7% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census

[edit]

As of thecensus[15]of 2000, there were 2,434 people, 811 households, and 606 families living in the city. The population density was 2,172.6 inhabitants per square mile (838.8/km2). There were 922 housing units at an average density of 823.0 per square mile (317.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 25.27%White,73.58%African American,0.12%Native American,0.16%Asian,0.37% fromother races,and 0.49% from two or more races.HispanicorLatinoof any race were 1.56% of the population.

There were 811 households, out of which 42.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.3% weremarried couplesliving together, 35.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.2% were non-families. 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 3.51.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 36.6% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 16.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $19,167, and the median income for a family was $20,469. Males had a median income of $22,351 versus $18,693 for females. Theper capita incomefor the city was $8,569. About 36.1% of families and 40.5% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 54.6% of those under age 18 and 23.0% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

[edit]

At one time, Drew was the locality in the United States that had the mostcotton gins.In 2008, it only had one cotton gin. Billy Turner ofThe Times-Picayunesaid "[t]here's some corn, some beans, but mostly, there's no business."[8]By 2012 theSuperValugrocery store had closed. Melanie Townsend, a woman quoted in a 2012Bolivar Commercialarticle, said that since the grocery store closed, few employment opportunities were available in Drew and that theDrew School Districtwas the largest employer in the area.[10]

Education

[edit]

Drew was first served by the predominantly African-AmericanDrew School District.[16][17]The City of Drew is currently served by theSunflower County Consolidated School District.Elementary and middle school students attend schools in Drew: A. W. James Elementary School (K-5) and Drew Hunter Middle School (6-8).[18]High school students attendRuleville Central High SchoolinRuleville.[19]

TheNorth Sunflower Academyis in anunincorporated areaof Sunflower County,[20]about 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Drew.[21]The school originated as asegregation academy,[22] Mississippi Delta Community Collegehas the Drew Center in Drew.[23]

The Sunflower County Library operates the Drew Public Library.[24]

Transportation

[edit]

Ruleville-Drew Airportis inunincorporatedSunflower County, between Drew andRuleville.[25]The airport is jointly operated by the cities of Drew and Ruleville.[26]

Notable people

[edit]

References

[edit]
  • Moye, J. Todd (2004).Let the People Decide: Black Freedom and White Resistance Movements in Sunflower County, Mississippi, 1945–1986.Chapel Hill:University of North Carolina Press.ISBN978-0-8078-5561-4.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^"2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files"(TXT).United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJuly 24,2022.
  2. ^Promised Land or Sandy Bayou, A compendium of early history of the town of Drew and its immediate vicinity,Written & Edited by Elizabeth A Wilson. Printed by Buford Brothers Printing, Inc. Copyright 1976. pg. 12
  3. ^""Rosenwald" film details century-old partnership for rural black education ".Southern Jewish Life Magazine.Archived fromthe originalon February 2, 2019.RetrievedFebruary 1,2019.
  4. ^Contemporaneous Pennsylvania news report on Joe Pullen,Google,Accessed June 23, 2023.
  5. ^abcMoye, p.28.
  6. ^abMoye, p.128.
  7. ^abThompson, Wright (July 22, 2021)."His name was Emmett Till".The Atlantic.RetrievedJuly 24,2021.
  8. ^abcdTurner, Billy. "The hometown Archie once knew is no more."The Times-Picayune.Saturday January 26, 2009. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  9. ^Wallace, Belinda Deneen."The Intolerable Burden".The Journal of Negro Education(Winter (northern hemisphere) 2005 ed.). Archived from the original on June 29, 2007.RetrievedJuly 22,2010.{{cite journal}}:CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  10. ^abWright, Chance. "Students protest merger."The Bolivar Commercial.April 8, 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2012.
  11. ^McGill, Ralph. "The Valid Voice."The Toledo Blade.Saturday June 15, 1963. Page 6. Retrieved fromGoogle News(4 of 16) on March 4, 2011.
  12. ^Buntin, John. "Down on Parchman Farm."Governing Magazine.July 27, 2010. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  13. ^"Census of Population and Housing".Census.gov.RetrievedJune 4,2015.
  14. ^"Explore Census Data".data.census.gov.RetrievedDecember 7,2021.
  15. ^"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 31,2008.
  16. ^"Drew School District Audited Financial Statements For the Year Ended June 30, 2005Archived2012-03-09 at theWayback Machine."Office of the State Auditor, State of Mississippi. 12 (18/82). Retrieved on July 20, 2010.
  17. ^"Schools in Drew School District."Greatschools.net. Retrieved on July 20, 2010.
  18. ^"Handbook 2012-2013."(Archive) Sunflower County School District. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  19. ^Amy, Jeff. "Mississippi to return Okolona schools to local control; district merger ends Drew High School[permanent dead link]."Associated PressatThe Republic.May 17, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  20. ^"Home."North Sunflower Academy.Retrieved on August 10, 2010.
  21. ^"Driving directionsArchived2011-07-14 at theWayback Machine."North Sunflower Academy.Retrieved on August 10, 2010.
  22. ^Moye, J. Todd.Let the People Decide: Black Freedom and White Resistance Movements in Sunflower County, Mississippi, 1945-1986.UNC Press Books,2004.243.Retrieved fromGoogle Bookson March 2, 2011. "Sunflower County's two other segregation academies— North Sunflower Academy, between Drew and Ruleville, andCentral Delta Academyin Inverness— both sprouted in a similar fashion. "ISBN0-8078-5561-8,ISBN978-0-8078-5561-4.
  23. ^"Off Campus Centers."Mississippi Delta Community College.Retrieved July 20, 2010.
  24. ^"Sunflower County Library DirectoryArchivedAugust 16, 2017, at theWayback Machine."Sunflower County Library. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
  25. ^FAA Airport Form 5010 for M37PDF- Retrieved on September 23, 2010.
  26. ^"Poplarville, Hattiesburg among airports receiving grantsArchived2012-02-28 at theWayback Machine."WDAM.March 12, 2010. Retrieved on September 23, 2010.
  27. ^Ravo, Nick. "Mae Bertha Carter, 76, Mother Who Defied Segregation Law."The New York Times.May 6, 1999. Retrieved on March 30, 2012.
  28. ^"Boo Boo Davis Albums and Discography".AllMusic.RetrievedJune 25,2023.
  29. ^Didinger, Ray. "NFL Notebook: Archie Manning earns Bagnell award."Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia. Sunday August 14, 2011. Retrieved on September 2, 2011." He thought it was good fortune to be drafted by a team so close to home (Drew, Miss.)[...] "
  30. ^Jon Pareles (December 22, 2000)."Pops Staples, Patriarch of the Staple Singers, Dies at 85".The New York Times.RetrievedFebruary 18,2008.
[edit]