Alligator, Mississippi

Alligator is a town in Bolivar County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 208 at the 2010 census.[4]

Alligator, Mississippi
Town
Location of Alligator, Mississippi
Alligator, Mississippi Location in the United States
Coordinates: 34°5′19″N 90°43′14″W[1]
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
County	Bolivar
Area [2]
• Total	1.04 sq mi (2.70 km^2)
• Land	0.98 sq mi (2.55 km^2)
• Water	0.06 sq mi (0.15 km^2)
Elevation	157 ft (48 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	208
• Estimate  (2019)[3]	187
• Density	189.85/sq mi (73.30/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	38720
Area code(s)	662
FIPS code	28-00940
GNIS feature ID	0666222

In 2009, Tommie "Tomaso" Brown was elected Alligator's first black mayor. He defeated Robert Fava, the mayor since 1979.[5]

History

The town takes its name from Alligator Lake, a lake in the town which once had a large alligator population.[6]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.04 square miles (2.70 km²), of which 0.98 square miles (2.55 km²) is land and 0.058 square miles (0.15 km²), or 5.48%, is water.[4]

Demographics

As of the census of 2000,[7] there were 220 people, 77 households, and 58 families residing in the town. The population density was 223.7 people per square mile (86.7/km²). There were 81 housing units at an average density of 82.3 per square mile (31.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 20.91% White, 77.27% African American, and 1.82% from two or more races.

There were 77 households, out of which 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.1% were married couples living together, 35.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.4% were non-families. 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.27.

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1920	263		—
1930	278		5.7%
1940	206		−25.9%
1950	214		3.9%
1960	227		6.1%
1970	280		23.3%
1980	256		−8.6%
1990	187		−27.0%
2000	220		17.6%
2010	208		−5.5%
2019 (est.)	187	[3]	−10.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]

In the town, the population was spread out, with 39.1% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $16,667, and the median income for a family was $17,083. Males had a median income of $21,875 versus $14,063 for females. The per capita income for the town was $9,567. About 41.5% of families and 47.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 69.3% of those under the age of eighteen and 35.3% of those sixty five or over.

Education

Alligator is served by the North Bolivar Consolidated School District.

It was also in the former North Bolivar School District.[9] On July 1, 2014 the North Bolivar School District consolidated with the Mound Bayou Public School District to form the North Bolivar Consolidated School District.[10]

Notable people

• Charles Bennett, defensive end in the National Football League who played for the Miami Dolphins[11]
• Tony Bennett, professional football player
• Jack Butler, author
• Fred Coe, television producer and director
• Johnny Drummer, Chicago blues and soul blues singer, keyboardist, drummer, harmonica player, and songwriter[12]
• Matt Duff, former Major League Baseball pitcher[13]

References

1. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
4. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Alligator town, Mississippi". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on 2020-02-12. Retrieved 2014-01-23.
5. Harnden, Toby (June 4, 2009). "Down the Mississippi: Barack Obama effect ends white rule in Deep South town". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2009-07-13.
6. Quimby, Myron J. (1969). Scratch Ankle, U.S.A.: American Place Names and Their Derivation. Cranbury, New Jersey: A.S. Barnes and Company, Inc. p. 21. ISBN 049806638X.
7. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
8. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved 2015-06-04.
9. "SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Bolivar County, MS." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on May 25, 2018.
10. "School District Consolidation in Mississippi Archived 2017-07-02 at the Wayback Machine." Mississippi Professional Educators. December 2016. Retrieved on July 2, 2017. Page 2 (PDF p. 3/6).
11. "Charles Bennett". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
12. Karen Hanson (2007). Today's Chicago Blues. Lake Claremont Press. p. 145. ISBN 978-1-893121-19-5.
13. "Former Rebel Pitcher Gets Call Up From St. Louis". Ole Miss Sports. Retrieved 18 May 2020.