County population in 2016: 23,007 (19% urban, 81% rural); it was 20,940 in 2000County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 3,143 County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 3,231 County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 6,240 Renter-occupied apartments: 1,898 (it was 1,371 in 2000)
% of renters here:
18%
State:
30%
Land area: 583 sq. mi.
Water area: 2.7 sq. mi.
Population density: 39 people per square mile (low).
Mar. 2016 cost of living index in Leake County: 79.6 (low, U.S. average is 100)
Estimated median household income in 2016: $33,644 ($27,055 in 1999)
This county:
$33,644
Mississippi:
$41,754
Median contract rent in 2016 for apartments: $439 (lower quartile is $277, upper quartile is $563)
This county:
$439
State:
$560
Estimated median house or condo value in 2016: $84,267 (it was $50,400 in 2000)
Leake:
$84,267
Mississippi:
$113,900
Lower value quartile - upper value quartile: $44,632 - $156,095 Median monthly housing costs for homes and condos with a mortgage: $884 Median monthly housing costs for units without a mortgage: $338
Institutionalized population: 1,845
Single-family new house construction building permits:
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2016: $731 (0.7%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2016: $459 (0.7%)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2016: 25.3%
Leake County:
25.3%
Mississippi:
20.8%
(13.7% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 35.9% for Black residents, 39.2% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 28.9% for American Indian residents, 90.0% for other race residents, 65.2% for two or more races residents)
Median age of residents in 2016: 36.0 years old
(Males: 34.7 years old, Females: 37.8 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 44.0 years old, Black residents: 30.8 years old, American Indian residents: 23.7 years old, Asian residents: 10.5 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 11.0 years old, Other race residents: 33.6 years old)
Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Leake County is $386 a month. Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $455 a month. Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $547 a month.
Notable locations in this county outside city limits:
Notable locations in Leake County: Kellis Store (A), Moscow Recreational Vehicle Park (B), Damascus Volunteer Fire Department (C), Kemper County Volunteer Fire District 3 Station (D), Preston Fire Department (E), Porterville Volunteer Fire Department (F), 3 Mile Corner Volunteer Fire Department (G). Display/hide their locations on the map
Churches in Leake County include: New Hope Church (A), Persimmon Chapel (B), Persimmon Ridge Church (C), Pilgrim Rest Church (D), Pleasant Grove Church (E), Pleasant Hill Church (F), Pleasant Ridge Church (G), Providence Church (H), Porterville Methodist Church (I). Display/hide their locations on the map
Cemeteries: Chamberlin Cemetery (1), Cherry Cemetery (2), Chisholm Cemetery (3), Mount Olive Cemetery (4), Cole Cemetery (5), Jerusalem Cemetery (6), McDonald Cemetery (7). Display/hide their locations on the map
Streams, rivers, and creeks: Big Scooba Creek (A), Bendix Creek (B), Chamberlin Creek (C), Cap Branch (D), Blackwater Creek (E), Pawticfaw Creek (F), Snoody Creek (G), Tallachula Creek (H), Frilloby Creek (I). Display/hide their locations on the map
Current college students: 436 People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 77.6% People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 12.7%
Number of foreign born residents: 333 (5.4% naturalized citizens)
Leake County:
1.4%
Whole state:
2.0%
Year of entry for the foreign-born population
2010 or later: 0
2000 to 2009: 135
1990 to 1999: 146
1980 to 1989: 25
1970 to 1979: 6
Before 1970: 34
Note: State values scaled to Leake County population
Mean travel time to work (commute): 32.6 minutes
Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 61.0%
Housing units in structures:
One, detached: 6,614
One, attached: 108
Two: 130
3 or 4: 127
5 to 9: 70
10 to 19: 84
20 to 49: 28
50 or more: 14
Mobile homes: 2,345
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 15
Housing units in Leake County with a mortgage: 2,419 (54 second mortgage, 24 home equity loan, 0 both second mortgage and home equity loan) Houses without a mortgage: 3,617
Here:
40.0% with mortgage
State:
50.1% with mortgage
Religion statistics for Leake County
Religion
Adherents
Congregations
Evangelical Protestant
10,164
61
Mainline Protestant
1,105
13
Black Protestant
966
5
Catholic
900
1
Other
102
2
None
10,568
-
Leake County Religion Details
Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Food Environment Statistics:
Number of grocery stores: 5
Leake County:
2.19 / 10,000 pop.
State:
2.08 / 10,000 pop.
Number of supercenters and club stores: 1
Here:
0.44 / 10,000 pop.
Mississippi:
0.24 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (with gas): 15
Leake County:
6.56 / 10,000 pop.
Mississippi:
6.36 / 10,000 pop.
Number of full-service restaurants: 8
This county:
3.50 / 10,000 pop.
State:
5.03 / 10,000 pop.
Adult diabetes rate:
Leake County:
12.2%
Mississippi:
12.3%
Adult obesity rate:
Leake County:
34.1%
State:
33.1%
Low-income preschool obesity rate:
Here:
24.5%
State:
14.4%
Agriculture in Leake County:
Average size of farms: 148 acres Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $162,481 Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $61.52 The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 99.25% Average total farm production expenses per farm: $120,229 Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 13.42% Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $55,707 The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 96.23% Average age of principal farm operators: 57 years Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 19.33 Corn for grain: 278 harvested acres All wheat for grain: 80 harvested acres Upland cotton: 995 harvested acres Vegetables: 20 harvested acres Land in orchards: 16 acres
Tornado activity:
Leake County historical area-adjusted tornado activity is significantly below Mississippi state average. It is 1870176.5 times below overall U.S. average. Tornadoes in this county have caused 4 fatalities and 67 injuries recorded between 1950 and 2004. On 4/2/1982, a category 3 (max. wind speeds 158-206 mph) tornado killed 3 people and injured 40 people and caused between $5,000,000 and $50,000,000 in damages.
Earthquake activity:
Leake County-area historical earthquake activity is near Mississippi state average. It is 80% smaller than the overall U.S. average.
On 1/18/1999 at 07:00:53, a magnitude 4.8 (4.8 MB, 4.0 LG, Depth: 0.6 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 139.6 miles away from Leake County center On 10/24/1997 at 08:35:17, a magnitude 4.9 (4.8 MB, 4.2 MS, 4.9 LG, Depth: 6.2 mi) earthquake occurred 172.8 miles away from the county center On 3/25/1976 at 00:41:20, a magnitude 5.0 (4.9 MB, 5.0 LG, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 206.1 miles away from the county center On 11/7/2004 at 11:20:21, a magnitude 4.4 (4.4 MB, 4.3 MW, 4.0 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi) earthquake occurred 92.9 miles away from the county center On 6/24/1975 at 11:11:36, a magnitude 4.5 (4.5 MB) earthquake occurred 119.1 miles away from Leake County center On 5/4/1991 at 01:18:54, a magnitude 5.0 (4.4 MB, 4.6 LG, 5.0 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi) earthquake occurred 265.6 miles away from the county center Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)
Most recent natural disasters:
Mississippi Severe Storms and Flooding, Incident Period: March 09, 2016 to March 29, 2016, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-4268: March 25, 2016, FEMA Id: 4268, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
Mississippi Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, Incident Period: April 28, 2014 to May 03, 2014, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-4175: April 30, 2014, FEMA Id: 4175, Natural disaster type: Storm, Tornado, Flood
Mississippi Hurricane Isaac, Incident Period: August 26, 2012 to September 11, 2012, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-4081: August 29, 2012, FEMA Id: 4081, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Mississippi Hurricane Katrina, Incident Period: August 29, 2005 to October 14, 2005, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1604: August 29, 2005, FEMA Id: 1604, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Mississippi Hurricane Dennis, Incident Period: July 10, 2005 to July 15, 2005, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1594: July 10, 2005, FEMA Id: 1594, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Mississippi Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding, Incident Period: April 06, 2003 to April 25, 2003, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1459: April 24, 2003, FEMA Id: 1459, Natural disaster type: Storm, Tornado, Flood
Mississippi Severe Storms and Tornadoes, Incident Period: November 24, 2001 to December 17, 2001, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1398: December 07, 2001, FEMA Id: 1398, Natural disaster type: Storm, Tornado
Mississippi Severe Storms & Flooding, Incident Period: April 03, 2001 to April 05, 2001, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1365: April 17, 2001, FEMA Id: 1365, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
Mississippi Severe Winter Storms, Ice and Freezing Rain, Incident Period: December 23, 1998 to December 26, 1998, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1265: January 25, 1999, FEMA Id: 1265, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm, Freeze
Mississippi High Winds, Severe Storm, Tornadoes, Incident Period: November 21, 1992 to November 22, 1992, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-968: November 25, 1992, FEMA Id: 968, Natural disaster type: Storm, Tornado, Wind
5 other natural disasters have been reported since 1953.
The number of natural disasters in Leake County (15) is near the US average (13). Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 13 Emergencies Declared: 2
Causes of natural disasters: Storms: 9, Floods: 8, Tornadoes: 7, Hurricanes: 3, Freezes: 2, Drought: 1, Heavy Rain: 1, Wind: 1, Winter Storm: 1 (Note: Some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (11%)
Material moving occupations (9%)
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (9%)
Management occupations (9%)
Production occupations (9%)
Transportation occupations (8%)
Office and administrative support occupations (17%)
Production occupations (12%)
Sales and related occupations (11%)
Food preparation and serving related occupations (10%)
Education, training, and library occupations (9%)
Management occupations (6%)
Personal care and service occupations (6%)
Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents (%):
Guatemala (38%)
Mexico (35%)
El Salvador (18%)
Vietnam (8%)
Ireland (0%)
Denmark (0%)
Norway (0%)
Most common first ancestries reported in Leake County (%):
American (10%)
Irish (5%)
English (4%)
German (2%)
Italian (1%)
African (1%)
Scotch-Irish (1%)
Means of transportation to work:
Drove a car alone: 4,241 (76.8%)
Carpooled: 935 (16.9%)
Bus or trolley bus: 37 (0.7%)
Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 67 (1.2%)
Walked: 93 (1.7%)
Worked at home: 144 (2.6%)
Owners and renters by unit type in %
Breakdown of mean house values by ages of householders ($)
People in group quarters in Leake County, Mississippi in 2000:
316 people in state prisons
251 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)
182 people in nursing homes
6 people in mental (psychiatric) hospitals or wards
People in group quarters in Leake County, Mississippi in 2010:
1,197 people in correctional facilities intended for juveniles
331 people in local jails and other municipal confinement facilities
177 people in correctional residential facilities
140 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities
Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2010 was $37,976.
4.65% of this county's 2011 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2010 ($29,019 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
4.65%
Mississippi average:
6.70%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
3.72% relocated from other counties in Mississippi ($24,645 average AGI)
0.93% relocated from other states ($4,374 average AGI)
Leake County:
0.93%
Mississippi average:
2.79%
Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries
Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2010 and 2011:
6.16% of this county's 2010 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2011 ($26,014 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
6.16%
Mississippi average:
6.88%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
5.00% relocated to other counties in Mississippi ($21,424 average AGI)
1.15% relocated to other states ($4,593 average AGI)
Leake County:
1.15%
Mississippi average:
2.96%
Percentage of residents relocating to other counties or countries
Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2010 and 2011:
Births per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 16.1 Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 17.1
Births per 1000 population in Leake County
Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 12.2 Deaths per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 11.7 Deaths per 1000 population from 2007 to 2014: 10.7
Deaths per 1000 population in Leake County
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 10.1 Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2006: 12.6
Infant deaths per 1000 live births in Leake County
Population without health insurance coverage in 2013: 26.5% Persons under 19 years old without health insurance coverage in 2013: 11.7%
Percentage of population without health insurance coverage in Leake County
Percentage of population without health insurance coverage in Leake County
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2007: 3,866 (2,882 aged, 984 disabled) Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2007: 1,016 (16%)
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Aged persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Disabled persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Most common underlying causes of death in Leake County, Mississippi in 1999 - 2014:
Congestive heart failure (292)
Bronchus or lung, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (262)
Stroke, not specified as haemorrhage or infarction (143)
Cardiovascular disease, unspecified (142)
Essential (primary) hypertension (116)
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, so described (107)
Alzheimer's disease, unspecified (102)
Atherosclerotic heart disease (94)
Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 21% Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 18%
Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 4.48 Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 3,300 Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 309 Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 39,711
General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1,746 Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1,122
Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 15 Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 49
Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 9
Crimes per 100,000 population in 1996: 1
Household type by relationship:
Households: 23,007
In family households: 19,497 (2,202 male householders, 3,458 female householders)
3,570 spouses, 7,473 children (7,128 natural, 140 adopted, 204 stepchildren), 1,481 grandchildren, 433 brothers or sisters, 62 parents, 430 other relatives, 398 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 2,734 (1,275 male householders (1,156 living alone)), 1,280 female householders (1,220 living alone)), 196 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 765
Size of family households: 2,464 2-persons, 1,299 3-persons, 990 4-persons, 558 5-persons, 123 6-persons, 197 7-or-more-persons.
Size of nonfamily households: 2,374 1-person, 163 2-persons, 19 3-persons.
3,001 married couples with children.
1,957 single-parent households (212 men, 1,745 women).
93.2% of residents of Leake speak English at home.
3.6% of residents speak Spanish at home (50% speak English very well, 15% speak English well, 36% speak English not well).
0.1% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (100% speak English very well).
0.3% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (66% speak English very well, 28% speak English well, 6% speak English not well).
3.4% of residents speak other language at home (53% speak English very well, 46% speak English well, 1% speak English not well).
In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $140,073,000 ($6,280 per capita) Department of Defense expenditure: $2,440,000 Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $57,165,000 Federal other direct payments to individuals: $36,766,000 Federal direct payments not to individuals: $749,000 Federal grants: $40,018,000 Federal procurement contracts: $683,000 ($14,000 Department of Defense) Federal salaries and wages: $4,692,000 ($549,000 Department of Defense) Federal Government direct loans: $490,000 Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $12,033,000 Federal Government insurance: $3,798,000
Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 1,942
Here:
86 per 1000 residents
State:
78 per 1000 residents
Deaths: 1,327
Here:
59 per 1000 residents
State:
51 per 1000 residents
Net international migration: +66
Here:
+3 per 1000 residents
State:
+4 per 1000 residents
Net internal migration: +852
Here:
+38 per 1000 residents
State:
-4 per 1000 residents
Population growth in Leake County
Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 0.91 millions of gallons per day (all from ground)
Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here:
5.6
State:
6.1
Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here:
4.6
State:
4.6
Year house built
2014 or later: 0
2010 to 2013: 231
2000 to 2009: 1,074
1990 to 1999: 1,725
1980 to 1989: 1,775
1970 to 1979: 2,136
1960 to 1969: 941
1950 to 1959: 498
1940 to 1949: 303
1939 or earlier: 708
Note: State values scaled to Leake population
Rooms in houses/apartments in Leake County, Mississippi
Note: State values scaled to Leake County population
no vehicle: 320
1 vehicle: 1,353
2 vehicles: 2,566
3 vehicles: 1,078
4 vehicles: 388
5+ vehicles: 292
no vehicle: 325
1 vehicle: 1,193
2 vehicles: 498
3 vehicles: 66
4 vehicles: 99
5+ vehicles: 0
90% of Leake County residents lived in the same house 1 years ago. Out of people who lived in different houses, 36% lived in this county. Out of people who lived in different counties, 78% lived in Mississippi.
Leake County:
89.6%
State average:
86.6%
Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:
This state: 19,907
Other state: 2,657
Northeast: 204
Midwest: 605
South: 1,581
West: 267
Year Householders Moved Into Unit
Most commonly used house heating fuel in Leake County
Click here to upload your Leake County photos (outside city limits)
36.0 years
37.2 years
(49.6%)
(50.4%)
, Bleckley County, Georgia 
, Noxubee County 
, Upson County, Georgia 
