Mississippi’s 15 Fastest Growing Counties

We don’t have the official Census numbers regarding counties yet, but I took a look at the 2009 estimates which should be very close to the actual numbers we will soon see. Below is a chart of the 15 fastest growing counties in the state, which probably aren’t a surprise to many people. The middle column is reflective of population growth dating back to the 2000 Census. I also included the 2008 vote for John McCain in this counties, which show that the Republican won at least 55 percent of the vote in 14 of the 15 counties, and he won 65 percent plus in nine of them. The only county that doesn’t fit the mold is Tunica, the northern Delta county that has seen strong growth over the last 15 years thanks to the casino industry.

** For bonus information, the highest recorded population for Tunica county was 22,610 following the 1940 census. It would fall between 15 and 30 percent every ten years beginning in 1950 reaching a low of 8,164 following the 1990 census. The population stands at 10,436 today.

Also in 1940, the population of Desoto county was 26,663, Rankin county was 27,934 and Madison county was 37,504. Obviously things have changed.