# Lee County, Mississippi

Lee County is a county in U.S. state of Mississippi. At the 2020 census, the population was 83,343. Its county seat is Tupelo. Lee County is included in the Tupelo Micropolitan Statistical Area.

## History

Lee County was established by the Mississippi Legislature on October 26, 1866, and named for General Robert E. Lee, General in Chief of the Armies of the Confederate States. It was formed from Itawamba and Pontotoc counties; therefore, the record and list of early settlers mentioned in those counties embrace a great number who were residents of what is present day Lee County.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 453 square miles (1,170 km$^2$), of which 450 square miles (1,200 km$^2$) is land and 3.2 square miles (8.3 km$^2$) (0.7%) is water.

### Major highways

* Interstate 22
* U.S. Highway 45
* U.S. Highway 78
* U.S. Route 278
* Natchez Trace Parkway
* Mississippi Highway 6
* Mississippi Highway 145
* Mississippi Highway 178
* Mississippi Highway 363
* Mississippi Highway 245
* Mississippi Highway 371
* Mississippi Highway 370

### Adjacent counties

* Prentiss County (north)
* Itawamba County (east)
* Monroe County (southeast)
* Chickasaw County (southwest)
* Pontotoc County (west)
* Union County (northwest)

### National protected areas

* Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site
* Natchez Trace Parkway (part)
* Tupelo National Battlefield

## Demographics
### 2020 census

Lee County Racial Composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White | 52,854 | 63.42% |
| Black or African American | 24,131 | 28.95% |
| Native American | 94 | 0.11% |
| Asian | 920 | 1.1% |
| Pacific Islander | 25 | 0.03% |
| Other/Mixed | 2,491 | 2.99% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2,828 | 3.39% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 83,343 people, 30,378 households, and 21,437 families residing in the county.

### 2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 75,755 people, 29,200 households, and 20,819 families residing in the county. The population density was 168 inhabitants per square mile (65/km$^2$). There were 31,887 housing units at an average density of 71 per square mile (27/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 73.66% White, 24.51% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. 1.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 29,200 households, out of which 36.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.60% were married couples living together, 14.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.05. In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.70% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 21.80% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.50 males. The median income for a household in the county was $36,165, and the median income for a family was $43,149. Males had a median income of $31,039 versus $22,235 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,956. About 10.50% of families and 13.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.90% of those under age 18 and 15.50% of those age 65 or over. Lee County has the ninth highest per capita income in the state of Mississippi.

## Communities
### Cities

* Baldwyn (partly in Prentiss County)
* Saltillo
* Tupelo (county seat)
* Verona
* Nettleton (Partly in Monroe County)
* Guntown
---Towns---
* Plantersville
* Shannon
* Sherman (partly in Pontotoc County and Union County)

### Census-designated places

* Mooreville

### Unincorporated communities

* Barrett Ridge
* Belden
* Brewer
* Eggville
* Jug Fork

## Education

Lee County is served by the Baldwyn, Lee County, Nettleton, and Tupelo school districts.

## Politics

Lee County has been a Republican stronghold since the mid-1980s. The last Democratic presidential candidate who carried this county was Jimmy Carter in the election of 1980.
United States presidential election results for Lee County, Mississippi :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 24,339 | 68.87% | 10,616 | 30.04% | 383 | 1.08% |
| 2020 | 24,207 | 65.51% | 12,189 | 32.98% | 558 | 1.51% |
| 2016 | 22,220 | 67.51% | 10,029 | 30.47% | 664 | 2.02% |
| 2012 | 22,415 | 63.49% | 12,563 | 35.58% | 328 | 0.93% |
| 2008 | 22,694 | 64.91% | 12,021 | 34.39% | 245 | 0.70% |
| 2004 | 20,254 | 66.11% | 10,127 | 33.05% | 258 | 0.84% |
| 2000 | 15,551 | 61.97% | 9,142 | 36.43% | 401 | 1.60% |
| 1996 | 11,815 | 54.48% | 8,438 | 38.91% | 1,433 | 6.61% |
| 1992 | 12,231 | 54.36% | 7,710 | 34.27% | 2,560 | 11.38% |
| 1988 | 13,767 | 66.42% | 6,604 | 31.86% | 357 | 1.72% |
| 1984 | 13,312 | 67.47% | 6,208 | 31.46% | 210 | 1.06% |
| 1980 | 8,326 | 44.08% | 10,047 | 53.19% | 516 | 2.73% |
| 1976 | 7,366 | 45.10% | 8,504 | 52.07% | 463 | 2.83% |
| 1972 | 10,730 | 82.60% | 1,632 | 12.56% | 629 | 4.84% |
| 1968 | 2,522 | 18.45% | 1,912 | 13.99% | 9,232 | 67.55% |
| 1964 | 5,165 | 68.19% | 2,409 | 31.81% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 1,550 | 23.34% | 3,653 | 55.01% | 1,438 | 21.65% |
| 1956 | 929 | 18.01% | 3,883 | 75.30% | 345 | 6.69% |
| 1952 | 2,002 | 32.42% | 4,174 | 67.58% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 82 | 2.13% | 636 | 16.54% | 3,128 | 81.33% |
| 1944 | 230 | 6.15% | 3,509 | 93.85% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 120 | 3.05% | 3,814 | 96.93% | 1 | 0.03% |
| 1936 | 42 | 1.16% | 3,585 | 98.84% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 129 | 3.36% | 3,704 | 96.51% | 5 | 0.13% |
| 1928 | 367 | 11.75% | 2,757 | 88.25% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 152 | 5.48% | 2,621 | 94.52% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1920 | 302 | 15.38% | 1,652 | 84.11% | 10 | 0.51% |
| 1916 | 91 | 5.12% | 1,683 | 94.60% | 5 | 0.28% |
| 1912 | 39 | 2.62% | 1,390 | 93.54% | 57 | 3.84% |