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= <unk> <unk> =

<unk> <unk> ( <unk> <unk> , <unk> <unk> ) is a fictional character in the <unk> manga and anime series created by <unk> <unk> . In the anime and manga , <unk> is a ninja affiliated with the village of <unk> . He is a member of Team 10 , a group of ninja consisting of himself , <unk> <unk> , <unk> <unk> , and team leader <unk> <unk> . <unk> is portrayed as a lazy character , unwilling to apply his prodigious intelligence ; <unk> has noted that he likes <unk> due to his <unk> nature . Outside of the <unk> anime and manga , <unk> has appeared in four of the feature films in the series , as well as several other media relating to the series , including video games and original video animations .

Numerous anime and manga publications have commented on <unk> 's character . Many reviewers commented on his <unk> and intelligence , and noted his transformation into a leader ; Anime News Network celebrated <unk> 's emergence as " an unlikely hero " in the <unk> storyline . <unk> has also been highly popular with the <unk> reader base , placing high in several popularity polls . Merchandise based on <unk> has been released , including action figures , key chains , and patches .

= = Creation and conception = =

<unk> <unk> has noted that he likes <unk> due to his <unk> nature despite being a genius , and contrasted him against <unk> <unk> 's intelligent but <unk> personality . <unk> also <unk> remarked that he would marry <unk> if he were a girl , noting that <unk> would likely be successful in life . When designing <unk> 's Part II appearance , <unk> wanted to give <unk> a unique appearance despite drawing him with a vest that several other ninja wear in the series . As a result , he drew his forehead protector on his arm in order to not obscure his hair .

= = Appearances = =

= = = In <unk> = = =

<unk> first major appearance in the series is during the <unk> <unk> , bi @-@ yearly exams for ninja who wish to advance in rank . He is part of Team 10 alongside <unk> <unk> and <unk> <unk> . He is a highly <unk> person , and he attempts to go through life with minimum effort . Contrary to his lazy tendencies , <unk> is extremely intelligent ; his teacher , <unk> <unk> , determined that <unk> 's <unk> was over 200 . <unk> 's abilities are based on the Shadow <unk> <unk> ( <unk> , <unk> no <unk> , English TV : " Shadow Possession <unk> " ) , the signature technique of his clan , with which he <unk> his shadow with an opponent 's shadow , making them <unk> and forced to mimic <unk> 's movements . As the series progresses , <unk> becomes able to manipulate his shadow in new ways . By Part II of the series , <unk> is capable of utilizing multiple shadow @-@ based techniques at once and can lift his shadow from the ground in order to interact with physical objects ; for instance , he can <unk> enemies with the shadow <unk> or use them to throw weapons .

<unk> approaches the exams with a sense of apathy ; when he battles the <unk> ninja <unk> , he defeats her but forfeits his match to her , due to his <unk> being low . Despite this loss , he is the only ninja among his peers to be promoted to the rank of <unk> , as the <unk> of the exams were impressed by the insight and intelligence he demonstrated against <unk> . As a <unk> , <unk> is appointed the leader of a team to prevent <unk> <unk> from <unk> to the village of <unk> . Although <unk> 's team manages to defeat the <unk> ninja barring their way , <unk> manages to escape .

In Part II of the series , <unk> is assigned the task of locating two members of the criminal organization <unk> . While his team manages to find their targets , the immortal <unk> member <unk> kills <unk> <unk> during the course of the battle despite <unk> 's best efforts . After <unk> 's funeral , <unk> sets out with the surviving members of Team 10 to avenge their mentor with the aid of <unk> <unk> . As the other deal with <unk> 's partner <unk> , <unk> <unk> <unk> by defeating <unk> and making sure the <unk> member 's body is never found . Following the fight , <unk> vows to protect <unk> <unk> and <unk> 's newborn daughter . He is later assigned to the Fourth Division alongside <unk> and <unk> . He is named a <unk> general under <unk> . In the series <unk> , stating his personal desire during the series of final battles , <unk> becomes advisor to the Seventh <unk> <unk> after marrying <unk> and gaining a son in <unk> <unk> .

= = = Appearances in other media = = =

Besides the <unk> anime and manga , <unk> is featured in seven of the featured films in the series : in the second film , he aids <unk> <unk> and <unk> <unk> in fighting against <unk> , a <unk> idealist seeking to rule the world with a power called <unk> ; in the fourth , <unk> appears in a brief sequence , fighting against a large group of stone soldiers ; in the fifth , <unk> is sent alongside <unk> and <unk> in search of the base of the Land of Sky , who plans to invade <unk> ; in the sixth , <unk> , alongside <unk> and <unk> battle the <unk> beast summoned by <unk> ; in the eight , <unk> <unk> in the battle against the demon <unk> ; in the ninth , the Limited <unk> universe presents a <unk> <unk> , the exact opposite of his teammate , <unk> , who becomes the team strategist instead ; and in the tenth , <unk> leads the team consisting of himself , <unk> , <unk> , <unk> , and <unk> <unk> that is sent to rescue <unk> 's younger sister , <unk> , who was kidnapped by <unk> <unk> . He is also present in the third original video animation , in which he <unk> in a tournament . <unk> is a playable character in nearly all <unk> video games , including the Clash of <unk> series and the Ultimate <unk> series . In some games , he utilizes variations of his Shadow <unk> <unk> not seen in the anime or manga . <unk> <unk> : <unk> <unk> <unk> ! <unk> 2 marks the first appearance of <unk> in his Part II appearance in a video game .

A light novel titled <unk> <unk> : A Cloud Drifting in Silent Darkness , written by <unk> <unk> and illustrated by <unk> , stars <unk> as the main character and narrator . The novel is set two years after the Fourth <unk> War , focusing on <unk> 's assignment as organizer of the newly formed <unk> Union to capture a rogue ninja who rules over the distant Land of Silence and attempts to establish a new world order ruled by the common people . It also explores his growing relationship with <unk> , culminating in him struggling to name his child with her , years after the end of the novel .

= = Reception = =

<unk> has ranked highly in the Weekly Shōnen Jump popularity polls for the series , continuously placing in the top ten and reaching fourth place in one poll . The last such poll was in 2011 , in which <unk> was in ninth place , behind <unk> and ahead of <unk> . Merchandise based on <unk> has also been released , including action figures , key chains , and patches in both his Part I and Part II appearance . <unk> customers voted him as their sixteenth favorite black haired male anime character . <unk> CEO Hiroshi <unk> referred to <unk> as one of his favorite characters from <unk> .

Several publications for manga , anime , video games , and other related media have commented on <unk> 's character . IGN stated that <unk> was one of their favorite characters in the series , and referred to him as " the poster child for any card @-@ carrying member of Generation X " due to his general lack of enthusiasm and his unwillingness to utilize his potential . In a review of episode 110 , IGN praised how <unk> managed to transcend his lazy nature in order to take on the mantle of a leader when assigned to lead a team in order to retrieve <unk> <unk> and agreed that the decision to make him <unk> was fair . Anime News Network also commented on this development , calling <unk> 's emergence as " an unlikely hero " one of the highlights of the arc . In a subsequent review of episode 135 , in which the mission to retrieve <unk> has failed and the members of <unk> 's team were critically injured , IGN lauded the " great moment " in the episode in which <unk> began to cry after learning his friends will recover , and declared that he will be a better leader for the sake of his friends . <unk> Entertainment 's Justin Rich celebrated his " sheer <unk> " , calling him " one of the most fascinating characters in the series " and " one of the few truly brilliant fighters in <unk> anime " . <unk> <unk> , another reviewer from the same site , noted about his battle with <unk> during the <unk> <unk> that it was " one of the better fights involving the supporting players " .

= Meridian , Mississippi =

Meridian is the sixth largest city in the state of Mississippi , in the United States . It is the county seat of Lauderdale County and the principal city of the Meridian , Mississippi <unk> Statistical Area . Along major highways , the city is 93 mi ( 150 km ) east of Jackson , Mississippi ; 154 mi ( <unk> km ) west of Birmingham , Alabama ; 202 mi ( 325 km ) northeast of New Orleans , Louisiana ; and 231 mi ( 372 km ) southeast of Memphis , Tennessee .

Established in 1860 , at the intersection of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad and Southern Railway of Mississippi , Meridian 's economy was built on the railways and goods transported on them , and it became a strategic trading center . During the American Civil War , General William <unk> Sherman burned much of the city to the ground in the Battle of Meridian ( February , 1864 ) .

<unk> after the war , the city entered a " Golden Age " it become the largest city in Mississippi between 1890 and 1930 , and a leading center for manufacturing in the South , with 44 trains arriving and departing daily . Union Station , built in 1906 , is now a multi @-@ modal center , giving access to the Meridian Transit System , <unk> <unk> , and <unk> , averaging 242 @,@ 360 passengers per year . Although the economy slowed with the decline of the railroad industry , the city has diversified , with healthcare , military , and manufacturing employing the most people in 2010 . The population within the city limits , according to 2008 census estimates , is 38 @,@ 232 , but a population of 232 @,@ 900 in a 45 @-@ mile ( 72 km ) radius and 526 @,@ 500 in a 65 @-@ mile ( 105 km ) radius , of which 104 @,@ 600 and 234 @,@ 200 people respectively are in the labor force , feed the economy of the city .

The area is served by two military facilities , Naval Air Station Meridian and Key Field , which provide over 4 @,@ 000 jobs . <unk> Meridian is home to the Regional Counter @-@ <unk> Training Academy ( <unk> ) and the first local Department of Homeland Security in the state . Key Field is named after brothers Fred and Al Key , who set a world endurance flight record in 1935 . The field is now home to the 186th Air <unk> Wing of the Air National Guard and a support facility for the <unk> Aviation Brigade of the Army National Guard . Rush Foundation Hospital is the largest non @-@ military employer in the region , employing 2 @,@ 610 people .

Among the city 's many arts organizations and historic buildings are the Riley Center , the Meridian Museum of Art , Meridian Little Theatre , and the Meridian Symphony Orchestra . Meridian was home to two Carnegie libraries , one for whites and one for African Americans . The Carnegie Branch Library , now demolished , was one of a number of Carnegie libraries built for blacks in the Southern United States during the segregation era .

The city has been selected as the future location of the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Center ( <unk> ) . <unk> <unk> , the " Father of Country Music " , was born in Meridian . Highland Park houses a museum which displays <unk> of his life and career , as well as railroad equipment from the steam @-@ engine era . The park is also home to the Highland Park <unk> <unk> , a National Historic Landmark . It is the world 's only two @-@ row stationary <unk> menagerie in existence . Other notable natives include Miss America 1986 Susan <unk> , James <unk> – an activist who was killed in the Mississippi civil rights workers murders in 1964 , and Hartley <unk> , founder of <unk> <unk> headquartered in Meridian . The federal <unk> was the site of the 1966 @-@ 1967 trial of suspects in the murder of <unk> and two other activists ; it was the first time a white jury convicted a white official of a civil rights killing .

= = History = =

Previously inhabited by the <unk> Native Americans , the area now called Meridian was obtained by the United States under the terms of the Treaty of Dancing <unk> Creek in 1830 during the period of Indian <unk> . After the treaty was ratified , European @-@ American settlers began to move into the area .

After receiving a federal land grant of about 2 @,@ 000 acres ( <unk> ha ) , Richard <unk> , the first settler of Meridian , began offering free land to newcomers to attract more settlers to the region and develop the area . Most of <unk> 's land was bought in 1853 by Lewis A. <unk> , a lawyer from Alabama . John T. Ball , a merchant from <unk> County , bought the remaining 80 acres ( 0 @.@ 32 km2 ) . <unk> and Ball , now known as the founders of the city , began laying out lots for new development on their respective land sections .

There was much competition over the proposed name of the settlement . Ball and the more industrial residents of the city supported the name " Meridian , " believing the term to be synonymous with " junction " ; the more agrarian residents of the city preferred " <unk> " ( meaning " mad river " in a Native American language ) , from the name of a nearby creek ; and <unk> proposed " <unk> City . " Ball erected a station house on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad – the sign on which would alternate between " Meridian " and " <unk> " each day . Eventually the continued development of the railroads led to an influx of railroad workers who overruled the others in the city and left " Meridian " on the station permanently . The town was officially incorporated as Meridian on February 10 , 1860 .

Meridian was a small village at the start of the American Civil War in 1861 . Its strategic position at the railroad junction led to the Confederate construction of several military installations to support the war . During the Battle of Meridian in 1864 , General William <unk> Sherman led troops into the city , destroying the railroads in every direction , as well as an arsenal and immense <unk> ; his forces burned much of the buildings to the ground . Sherman is reported to have said afterwards , " Meridian , with its depots , store @-@ houses , arsenal , hospitals , offices , hotels , and <unk> no longer exists . " Despite the destruction , the railroad lines in the city were rapidly repaired , back in operation 26 working days after the battle . Race relations remained tense during the Reconstruction era , with the riot of 1871 following a fire that damaged many businesses .

The town <unk> in the aftermath of the Civil War , and experienced its " Golden Age " from 1880 to 1910 . The railroads in the area provided for a means of transportation and an influx of industries , which caused a population boom . As the population rose , commercial activity increased in the downtown area . Between 1890 and 1930 , Meridian was the largest city in Mississippi and a leading center for manufacturing in the South . Many of the city 's historic buildings were built during and just after this era , including the Grand Opera House in 1890 , the <unk> School in 1894 , two Carnegie libraries in 1913 , and the <unk> Building , Meridian 's tallest skyscraper , in 1929 .

The city continued to grow thanks to a commission government 's efforts to bring in 90 new industrial plants in 1913 and a booming automobile industry in the 1920s . Even through the stock market crash of 1929 and the following Great Depression , the city continued to attract new businesses . With <unk> becoming popular in the culture during the depth of the Depression , the S. H. Kress & Co. building , built to " provide luxury to the common man , " opened in downtown Meridian , as did the Temple Theater , which was used as a movie house . The federal <unk> was built in 1933 as a <unk> project .

After a brief <unk> of the economy at the end of the Depression , the country entered World War II , which renewed the importance of railroads . The rails were essential to transport gasoline and scrap metal to build military vehicles , so Meridian became the region 's rail center again . This renewed prosperity continued until the 1950s , when the automobile and Interstate Highway System became more popular than passenger rails . The decline of the railroad industry caused significant job losses , resulting in a population decline as workers left for other areas .

During the American Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s , Meridian was home to a Council of <unk> <unk> ( <unk> ) office and several other activist organizations . James <unk> and other local residents , along with Michael <unk> , his wife Rita , and Andrew Goodman , volunteers from the North , worked to create a community center , holding classes to help prepare African Americans in the area to regain the power to vote . Whites in the area resented the activism , and racial tension often resulted in violence . In June 1964 , <unk> , <unk> , and Goodman went to <unk> County , Mississippi , to meet with members of a black church that had been bombed and burned . The three disappeared that night on their way back to Meridian . Following a massive FBI investigation , their murdered bodies were found two months later , buried in an earthen dam .

Seven <unk> , including a deputy sheriff , were convicted in the federal <unk> in Meridian of " <unk> the victims of their civil rights " and three were acquitted in the Mississippi civil rights workers murders trial . It was the first time that a white jury had convicted " a white official in a civil rights killing . " In 2005 , the case was reopened by the state , which brought charges in the case for the first time . Edgar Ray <unk> was convicted of <unk> and sentenced to 60 years in prison . Meridian later honored <unk> by renaming a portion of 49th Avenue after him and holding an annual memorial service .

Starting in the 1960s and following the construction of highways that made <unk> easier , residents began to move away from downtown in favor of new housing subdivisions to the north . After strip commercial interests began to move downtown , the city worked to designate several areas as historic districts in the 1970s and 80s to preserve the architectural character of the city . The Meridian Historic <unk> and Landmarks Commission was created in 1979 , and the Meridian Main Street program was founded in 1985 .

Meridian Main Street organized several projects to <unk> downtown , including the construction of a new Amtrak Station in 1997 based on the design of the historic train station used during Meridian 's Golden Age ; it had been demolished . Other projects included the renovation of the <unk> Building in 2001 and <unk> 's Restaurant in 2002 , as well as support for integrated urban design . Meridian Main Street , along with The Riley Foundation , helped renovate and adapt the historic Grand Opera House in 2006 for use as the " Mississippi State University Riley Center for Education and the Performing Arts . "

After ownership of the Meridian Main Street was transferred to the Alliance for Downtown Meridian in late 2007 , the two organizations , along with the Meridian Downtown Association , spearheaded the downtown <unk> effort . The Alliance serves as an umbrella organization , allowing the other two organizations to use the its support staff and housing , and in turn the Alliance serves as a liaison between the organizations . Plans were underway to renovate the <unk> Building , but newly elected Mayor <unk> Barry killed the plans in early 2010 . Today , the Alliance helps to promote further development and restoration downtown ; its goal is to assist businesses such as specialty shops , restaurants , and bars because these help downtown become more active during the day and at night . The Meridian Downtown Association is primarily focused on increasing foot traffic downtown by organizing special events , and the Meridian Main Street program supports existing businesses downtown .

= = = Hotels = = =

Given Meridian 's site as a railroad junction , its travelers have attracted the development of many hotels . Even before Meridian reached its " Golden Age , " several large hotels , including the Great Southern and the Grand Avenue hotels , were built before the start of the 20th century . With the growth of the railroads and the construction of the original Union Station in 1906 , many hotels were constructed for passengers and workers . The <unk> Hotel was constructed in 1905 , and the Terminal Hotel was constructed in 1910 . Hotel Meridian was constructed in 1907 , and Union Hotel was built in 1908 . Union Hotel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 , and both Hotel Meridian and Grand Avenue Hotel were listed as contributing properties to the Meridian Urban Center Historic District .

As the city grew , the hotels reflected ambitions of the strong economy , as evidenced by the eleven @-@ story skyscraper Lamar Hotel built in 1927 . Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 , the Lamar Hotel was adapted for use as a county annex building . In 1988 it was listed as a Mississippi Landmark .

The <unk> Young Hotel was built in 1931 . A staple in the African @-@ American business district that developed west of the city 's core , the hotel was one of the only places in the city during the years of segregation where a traveling African American could find a room .

As the city suburbs developed in the 1960s and ' 70s , most hotels moved outside of downtown . <unk> of the Riley Center in 2006 has increased demand and a push for a new downtown hotel . The <unk> Building has been proposed for redevelopment for this purpose , but restoration efforts stalled with a change in city administrations . The <unk> Preservation Society was formed in 2013 to raise public awareness and support for the building 's renovation , featuring tours of the first floor and anniversary events .

= = = Historic districts = = =

Meridian has nine historic districts that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places . The Meridian Downtown Historic District is a combination of two older districts , the Meridian Urban Center Historic District and the Union Station Historic District . Many architectural styles are present in the districts , most from the late 19th and early 20th centuries , including Queen Anne , Colonial Revival , Italianate , Art Deco , Late Victorian , and <unk> . The districts are :

1 East End Historic District — roughly bounded by 18th St , 11th <unk> , 14th St , 14th <unk> , 5th St , and 17th <unk> .

2 Highlands Historic District — roughly bounded by 15th St , 34th <unk> , 19th St , and 36th <unk> .

3 Meridian Downtown Historic District — runs from the former Gulf , Mobile and Ohio Railroad north to 6th St between 18th and 26th <unk> , excluding <unk> Survey Block 71 .

4 Meridian Urban Center Historic District — roughly bounded by 21st and 25th <unk> , 6th St , and the railroad .

5 Union Station Historic District — roughly bounded by 18th and 19th <unk> , 5th St , and the railroad .

6 <unk> Historic District — roughly bounded by 33rd <unk> , 30th <unk> , 14th St , and 8th St.

7 Mid @-@ Town Historic District — roughly bounded by 23rd <unk> , 15th St , 28th <unk> , and 22nd St.

8 <unk> Springs Road Historic District — roughly bounded by 29th St , 23rd <unk> , 22nd St , and 29th <unk> .

9 West End Historic District — roughly bounded by 7th St , 28th <unk> , Shearer 's Branch , and 5th St.

= = Government and infrastructure = =

Meridian has operated under the mayor @-@ council or " strong mayor " form of government since 1985 . A mayor is elected every four years by the population at @-@ large . The five members of the city council are elected every four years from each of the city 's five wards , considered single @-@ member districts . The mayor , the chief executive officer of the city , is responsible for <unk> and leading the day @-@ to @-@ day operations of city government . The city council is the legislative arm of the government , setting policy and annually adopting the city 's operating budget .

City Hall , which has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places , is located at <unk> 23rd Avenue . The current mayor is Percy <unk> . Members of the city council include Dr. George M. Thomas , representative from Ward 1 , Kenneth Dustin <unk> , representative from Ward 2 , Barbara Henson , representative from Ward 3 , Kim Houston , representative from Ward 4 , and Randy <unk> , representative from Ward 5 . The council clerk is Pam <unk> . In total , the city employs 570 people .

The city established a Department of Homeland Security ( <unk> ) shortly after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 , becoming the only local <unk> in the state . The team <unk> an area of nine counties . Upon receiving $ 2 @.@ 5 million in grants from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and other organizations , the department began training law enforcement offices from other Southern states in passenger rail rescue as well as offering civilian classes in basic <unk> , Boy Scout first aid and hunting , and firearms training . The <unk> helps during times of crisis such as Hurricane Ivan in September 2005 , when the department helped establish and support shelters for 700 <unk> . The city now serves as the leader of one of the task forces in the Mississippi <unk> , a combination of three nine @-@ county teams .

<unk> by police chief Lee <unk> since 2009 , the Meridian Police Department consists of 115 full @-@ time officers as well as part @-@ time and reserve staff available . In 2009 , the department 's Criminal Investigations Division responded to 4000 cases , 2000 of which were <unk> . In 2000 , <unk> crimes were reported , up slightly from 2008 crimes the preceding year . Meridian has been described as " the <unk> city in Mississippi with more than 30 @,@ 000 people . " The East Mississippi <unk> <unk> is located in unincorporated Lauderdale County , near Meridian . It is operated by the <unk> Group on behalf of the Mississippi Department of <unk> . The chief of the Meridian Fire Department is Anthony Clayton . The fire department responded to more than 1600 calls in 2009 , including 123 structural fires and <unk> emergency service calls .

The Mississippi Department of Mental Health operates the East Mississippi State Hospital in Meridian .

The United States Postal Service operates the Meridian , North Meridian , and the West Meridian Station post offices .

In state politics , the Mississippi Senate district map divides the city into three sections . The northern tip of the city is in the 31st State Senate District and seats Terry Clark Burton ( R ) . A strip of the city from the southwest corner up to the northeast corner comprises part of the 32nd State Senate District and seats Sampson Jackson , II ( D ) . The western and southeastern portions of the city lie in the 33rd State Senate District and seats <unk> Carmichael ( R ) . In the Mississippi House of Representatives districts , the city is divided into four districts . The southern and eastern portions of the city reside in House District 81 and are represented by Steven A. <unk> ( R ) . The city 's core makes up the entirety of House District 82 and is represented by <unk> L. Jones ( D ) . Surrounding House District 82 is House District 83 , represented by Greg <unk> ( R ) . The western section of the city , along with a small section in the north , lie in House District 84 and are represented by <unk> Campbell ( R ) .

On the national level , the city is located in Mississippi 's 3rd congressional district , represented by Gregg Harper ( R ) , who has been in office since 2009 . Lauderdale County , home to Meridian , has voted for the Republican candidate in every United States presidential election since 1972 . Prior to the shift to the Republican Party , white area voters supported Democratic Party candidates , as for decades since the late nineteenth century , it was a one @-@ party state .

= = Demographics = =

The city 's growth has reflected the push and pull of many social and economic factors . The total population increased in each census from the city 's founding until 1970 , although varying from rates as high as 165 % to as low as 0 @.@ 2 % . In the 1970 census the population decreased , then slightly increased by 1980 , after which the population slowly declined , increasing again since the turn of the 21st century . Between 1980 and 2000 , the population declined more than 14 % . As of the census of 2000 , the city 's population was 39 @,@ 968 , and the population density was <unk> @.@ 9 inhabitants per square mile ( <unk> @.@ 0 / km2 ) . In 2008 , the city was the sixth largest in the state . The population increased as of 2010 .

Meridian is the principal city in the Meridian <unk> area , which as of 2009 consisted of three counties – Clarke , <unk> , and Lauderdale – and had a population of 106 @,@ 139 . There is a population of 232 @,@ 900 in a 45 @-@ mile ( 72 km ) radius and 526 @,@ 500 in a 65 @-@ mile ( 105 km ) radius .

While the overall population growth of the city has varied , there has been a steady growth in the number and percentage of non @-@ white residents . The only decline in this group was between 1960 and 1970 , when the city 's overall population declined markedly . In the 2010 Census , the racial makeup of the city was 61 @.@ 55 % African American , 35 @.@ 71 % White , 0 @.@ 9 % Asian , 0 @.@ 2 % Native American , < 0 @.@ 02 % Pacific Islander , 0 @.@ 59 % from other races , and 0 @.@ 89 % from two or more races . Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1 @.@ 75 % of the population .

According to the 2000 Census , of the 17 @,@ 890 housing units inside city limits , 15 @,@ <unk> were occupied , 10 @,@ <unk> of them by families . 31 @.@ 1 % of occupied households had children under the age of 18 , 36 @.@ 2 % were married couples living together , 23 @.@ 3 % consisted of a female <unk> with no husband present , and 37 @.@ 2 % were non @-@ families . 33 @.@ 2 % of all households were made up of individuals , and 14 @.@ 0 % had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older . The average household size was 2 @.@ 39 and the average family size was 3 @.@ 06 . The average household size has steadily decreased since 1970 , when it was 3 @.@ 04 . Meridian 's median age has increased from 30 @.@ 4 in 1970 to 34 @.@ 6 in 2000 .

The median income for a household in the city was $ 25 @,@ <unk> , and the median income for a family was $ 31 @,@ <unk> . Males had a median income of $ 29 @,@ <unk> versus $ 19 @,@ 702 for females . The per capita income for the city was $ 15 @,@ 255 . About 24 @.@ 6 % of families and 28 @.@ 6 % of the population were below the poverty line , including 40 @.@ 8 % of those under age 18 and 22 @.@ 0 % of those age 65 or over .

= = = Religion = = =

The population of Meridian and its surrounds is fairly <unk> , with 65 @.@ 2 % of Lauderdale County identifying as affiliated with some type of religious congregation , compared with the national average of 50 @.@ 2 % . Of the affiliated in 2000 , 30 @,@ <unk> ( 59 @.@ 0 % ) were in the Southern Baptist Convention , 9 @,@ <unk> ( 18 @.@ 6 % ) were with the United Methodist Church , and 1 @,@ <unk> ( 3 @.@ 7 % ) were associated with the Catholic Church .

<unk> Jews from Germany and eastern Europe were influential in commercial development of the city , building businesses and services . Congregation Beth Israel was founded in 1868 , just before the city 's " Golden Age . " Meridian once had the largest Jewish community in the state , with 575 Jewish people living in the city in 1927 . Today , fewer than 40 Jews live in Meridian , most of whom are elderly .