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41-598: Ruleville is a city in Sunflower County , Mississippi , United States, in the Mississippi Delta region. The population was 3,007 at the 2010 census. It is the second-largest community in the rural county. Ruleville was described as "surrounded by a fine fertile country and timber lands". Development of the settlement followed construction of the Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad , which established

82-579: A "death county". Therefore, the State of Mississippi originally performed executions of condemned criminals in their counties of conviction. By the 1950s residents of Sunflower County were still opposed to the concept of housing the execution chamber at MSP. In September 1954, Governor Hugh White called for a special session of the Mississippi Legislature to discuss the application of the death penalty. During that year, an execution chamber

123-479: A female householder with no husband present, and 24.10% were non-families. 21.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.50. In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.90% under the age of 18, 14.00% from 18 to 24, 30.30% from 25 to 44, 18.10% from 45 to 64, and 9.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age

164-420: A state-record 506 yards and six touchdowns during a Sept. 2000 football game against Gentry High School . In Sept. 2006, tragedy struck the school when one of its students, Robert Cassidy, was paralyzed from the chest down on the opening kickoff of a football game against Gentry High School. Cassidy's injuries garnered an outpouring of support from the community. On July 1, 2012, nearby Drew School District

205-499: A stop here. The village was laid out in 1898 by J. W. Rule, for whom it was named. In September 1899 the official petition to Governor Anselm J. McLaurin to incorporate contained 98 names of the 'citizens and electors of Sunflower County...[who] reside in the village' noting that 150 people currently lived inside the village. The rural area was being developed for cotton plantations after the American Civil War. Ruleville

246-400: A tornado caused extensive damage to classrooms and the gymnasium, with 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water flooding. Principal Jimmy Smith estimated $ 1 million as a "conservative" estimate of damage, and Mayor Harvey Springer added that looters had entered the school. Dorothy Burton served as principal from circa 1999 to her retirement in spring 2002. Noah Ingram, a student at RCHS, rushed for

287-645: Is Indianola . Sunflower County comprises the Indianola, MS Micropolitan Statistical Area , which is included in the Cleveland -Indianola, MS Combined Statistical Area . It is located in the Mississippi Delta region. Mississippi State Penitentiary (Parchman Farm) is located in Sunflower County. Sunflower County was created in 1844. The land mass encompassed most of Sunflower and Leflore Counties as we know them today. The first seat of government

328-474: Is in an unincorporated area of Sunflower County, about 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Ruleville. The school originated as a segregation academy , founded to evade orders to integrate the public schools. Delta State University is located ten miles away in Cleveland . During the Civil Rights Movement, 1964 was Freedom Summer , organizing for voter registration and education, and adding to

369-658: Is jointly operated by the two cities. Mississippi Delta Community College has a main campus in Moorhead and other locations. Between 2010 and 2012, the State of Mississippi had taken over all three Sunflower County school districts and put them under the conservatorship of the Mississippi Department of Education , due to academic and financial reasons. In February 2012, the Mississippi Senate voted 43–4 to pass Senate Bill 2330, to consolidate

410-415: The 2010 United States Census , there were 29,450 people living in the county. 72.9% were black or African American , 25.4% white , 0.3% Asian , 0.2% Native American , 0.6% of some other race and 0.5% of two or more races . 1.4% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). As of the census of 2000, there were 34,369 people, 9,637 households, and 7,314 families living in the county. The population density

451-552: The Civil Rights Movement that expanded beginning in the 1950s, Fannie Lou Hamer , a farm worker, started a movement for poor people. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5 km), of which 2.5 square miles (6.5 km) is land and 0.39% is water. Ruleville is along U.S. Route 49W . Ruleville is about 15 miles (24 km) from

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492-518: The Mississippi River , about 40 miles (64 km) west of the hill section of Mississippi, 100 miles (160 km) north of Jackson , and about 100 miles (160 km) south of Memphis, Tennessee . The county reached its peak population in 1930. After that, population declined from 1940 to 1990. There was considerable migration out of the rural county, especially as mechanization reduced the need for farm labor. Both whites and blacks left

533-564: The Mississippi State Penitentiary (Parchman). As of the 2020 United States Census , there were 2,642 people, 986 households, and 521 families residing in the city. As of the 2010 United States Census , there were 3,007 people living in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 85.3% black, 12.8% white, 0.1% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from some other race and 0.5% from two or more races. 0.7% were Hispanic or Latino of any race. As of

574-488: The University of Mississippi Medical Center's Diabetes Telehealth Network and Mississippi Sports Medicine Center. Larson, Kate Clifford "Walk With Me, a biography of Fannie Lou Hamer" Oxford University Press 2021 Sunflower County, Mississippi Sunflower County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi . As of the 2020 census , the population was 25,971. Its largest city and county seat

615-404: The census of 1990, there were 32,341 people. The racial makeup of the county was 71.89% Black or African American , 26.40% White or European American , 0.12% Native American , 0.60% Asian , 0.50% from other races , and 0.28% from two or more races. 1.31% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. As of the census of 1980, there were 30,402 people. The racial makeup of

656-481: The census of 2000, there were 3,234 people, 1,020 households, and 774 families living in the city. The population density was 1,278.3 inhabitants per square mile (493.6/km). There were 1,096 housing units at an average density of 433.2 per square mile (167.3/km). The racial makeup of the city was 80.77% black , 18.65% white , 0.43% Asian , 0.06% Native American , 0.03% from other races , and 0.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.87% of

697-583: The poverty line , including 39.50% of those under age 18 and 24.10% of those age 65 or over. Sunflower County has the ninth-lowest per capita income in Mississippi and the 72nd-lowest in the United States. The Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) is responsible for the state's correctional services, probation services, and parole services. MDOC operates the Mississippi State Penitentiary (MSP; colloquially known as 'Parchman Farm') in

738-578: The unincorporated community of Parchman in Sunflower County and a probation and parole office in the Courthouse Annex in Indianola . MSP, a prison for men, is the location of the State of Mississippi male death row and the State of Mississippi execution chamber. Around the time of MSP's opening in 1901, Sunflower County residents objected to having executions performed at MSP because they feared that Sunflower County would be stigmatized as

779-679: The Horace Stansel Memorial Library in Ruleville. Ruleville-Drew Airport is in unincorporated Sunflower County, between Ruleville and Drew . The airport is jointly operated by the cities of Ruleville and Drew. The North Sunflower Medical Center is a rural critical access hospital located in Ruleville, with 95 beds and approximately 500 employees. The medical center includes a surgical center, sleep center and outpatient rehabilitation unit. The center partners with other facilities to provide specialty care, including

820-848: The Mississippi Department of Education will have them consolidated into one school district serving the entire county. As of July 1, 2012, the Drew School District was consolidated with the Sunflower County School District. The Central Delta Academy in Inverness closed on May 21, 2010. Three of the private schools (Indianola Academy, North Sunflower, and Central Delta) originated as segregation academies . Pillow Academy in unincorporated Leflore County , near Greenwood , enrolls some students from Sunflower County. It originally

861-546: The People Decide: Black Freedom and White Resistance Movements in Sunflower County, Mississippi, 1945-1986 , said "Sunflower County has always been overwhelmingly rural." At the end of the 20th century, the county had just four "main towns of any size". 33°37′N 90°36′W  /  33.61°N 90.60°W  / 33.61; -90.60 Thomas E. Edwards, Sr. High School The school serves communities of Sunflower County , including

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902-482: The State Board of Education approved the consolidation of the Drew School District and the Sunflower County School District, and if Senate Bill 2330 is approved, Indianola School District will be added. In May 2012 Governor of Mississippi Phil Bryant signed the bill into law, requiring all three districts to consolidate. SB2330 stipulates that if a county has three school districts all under conservatorship by

943-404: The average family size was 3.55. In the city, the population was spread out, with 31.3% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 80.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.5 males. The median income for a household in the city

984-480: The cities of Drew , Moorhead , Ruleville, and the Sunflower County portion of Shaw ; the towns of Doddsville , Inverness , and Sunflower ; and several unincorporated communities including Rome , and the employee residences of nearby Mississippi State Penitentiary . The principal is Eric Lakes. Ruleville Central High School was originally named Ruleville Colored School. In the early 1930s, noted Mississippi artist Bailey Magnet created bas-relief sculptures for

1025-413: The county has a total area of 707 square miles (1,830 km ), of which 698 square miles (1,810 km ) is land and 9.2 square miles (24 km ) (1.3%) is water. Sunflower County is the longest county in Mississippi. The traveling distance from the southern boundary at Caile to its northern boundary at Rome is approximately 71 miles. The center of the county is about 30 miles (48 km) east of

1066-443: The county was 73.88% Black or African American , 24.45% White or European American , 0.15% Native American , 0.80% Asian , 0.52% from other races , and 0.28% from two or more races. 1.32% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. As of the census of 2000, there were 9,637 households, out of which 38.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.30% were married couples living together, 28.40% had

1107-531: The county. Many African Americans migrated north or west to industrial cities to escape the social oppression and violence of Jim Crow , especially moving in the Great Migration during and after World War II, when the defense industry on the West Coast attracted many. As of the 2020 United States Census , there were 25,971 people, 8,322 households, and 5,292 families residing in the county. As of

1148-436: The curriculum in the local segregated schools for blacks. The "Ruleville Freedom School" was established to try to provide an alternative to the second-class education that had been provided to black students. It tried to prepare students to be part of change and a democratic society, to prepare for the civil freedom that the movement supported and would press the political system to provide. The Sunflower County Library operates

1189-417: The early days of Sunflower County. After the U.S. Civil War , across several decades African Americans migrated to Sunflower County to work in the Mississippi Delta . In 1870, 3,243 black people lived in Sunflower County. This increased to 12,070 in 1900, making up 75% of the residents in Sunflower County. Between 1900 and 1920, the black population almost tripled. According to the U.S. Census Bureau ,

1230-409: The population. There were 1,020 households, out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.5% were married couples living together, 34.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.1% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and

1271-597: The school. The city of Ruleville was home to civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer . After her death in 1977, an overflow memorial service accommodating people who could not attend the primary memorial service at a church was held at Ruleville Central, with over 1,500 people in attendance. Andrew Young , the United States Ambassador to the United Nations , spoke at the RCHS service. In 1998,

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1312-579: The three school districts into one school district. The bill went to the Mississippi House of Representatives . The Greenwood Commonwealth said that the county was an "easy target" for school merging due to the difficulties in all three school districts, and that the scenario "doesn't leave them with much leverage to argue in favor of the status quo . And because none of them does well, none of them can object to assuming someone else's headaches. All three are beset with them." Later that month,

1353-748: Was $ 21,351, and the median income for a family was $ 23,036. Males had a median income of $ 25,104 versus $ 21,063 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 11,664. About 29.5% of families and 36.0% of the population were below the poverty line , including 47.7% of those under age 18 and 27.4% of those age 65 or over. The City of Ruleville is served by the Sunflower County Consolidated School District . Schools serving Ruleville and in Ruleville include Ruleville Central Elementary School, Ruleville Middle School, and Thomas E. Edwards, Sr. High School (formerly Ruleville Central High School). North Sunflower Academy

1394-417: Was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 115.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 120.00 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 24,970, and the median income for a family was $ 29,144. Males had a median income of $ 26,208 versus $ 19,145 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 11,365. About 24.60% of families and 30.00% of the population were below

1435-418: Was 50 people per square mile (19 people/km ). There were 10,338 housing units at an average density of 15 units per square mile (5.8 units/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 69.86% Black or African American , 28.88% White , 0.09% Native American , 0.40% Asian , 0.48% from other races , and 0.28% from two or more races. 1.30% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. As of

1476-593: Was Clayton, located near Fort Pemberton. Later the county seat was moved to McNutt , also in present-day Leflore County. When Sunflower and Leflore counties were separated in 1871, the new county seat for Sunflower County was moved to Johnsonville. This village was located where the north end of Mound Bayou empties into the Sunflower River . In 1882 the county seat was moved to Eureka, which was later renamed Indianola. Boyer Cemetery , located in Boyer , goes back to

1517-485: Was a segregation academy. The Sunflower County Library provides library services. The administration is in Indianola , and the system operates libraries in Drew , Indianola, Inverness , Moorhead , and Ruleville . The Enterprise-Tocsin , a newspaper based out of Indianola , is distributed throughout Sunflower County. The Bolivar Commercial is also distributed in Sunflower County. J. Todd Moye, author of Let

1558-399: Was consolidated into the Sunflower County School District. As a result, the Sunflower County School District's attendance boundary expanded, and the high school division of Drew Hunter High School was closed, with its high school students rezoned to Ruleville Central. Notable teaching staff include former Olympic basketball player Lusia Harris . As well, veteran teacher Cordina Barber

1599-412: Was established as an important cotton shipping point on the railroad. By the early 1900s, Ruleville had telephone and telegraph facilities, about 20 businesses, two white churches and one black church, a water works system, an electric light plant, three public gins, and excellent public schools for the white population. The population in 1900 was 336. The Bank of Ruleville was established in 1903. During

1640-450: Was installed at MSP. In December 2011, Sunflower County's unemployment rate was 16.2%. The Mississippi statewide rate was 9.9%, and the U.S. overall unemployment rate was 8.3%. As of 2012 it was one of the poorest counties in the United States. Two airports are located in unincorporated Sunflower County. Indianola Municipal Airport , near Indianola , is operated by the city. Ruleville-Drew Airport , between Drew and Ruleville ,

1681-466: Was the recipient of a Shine-A-Light award from Black Entertainment Television in recognition of her work with the schools' Parent Teacher Student Association to organize a two-day student boycott in March 2010 to draw attention to the school's conditions. In 2018 the district announced that the school will be renamed for Thomas Edwards, after a previous superintendent. Every member of the board voted for

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