Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/615

 AREA, POPULATION, EDUCATION

493

Governor. —Esivl Brewer, 1912-16 (4,500 dollars). Secretary of State. — J. W. Power.

The State capital is Jackson (population in 1900, 7,816). Mississippi is divided into 78 counties.

Area, Population, Education.— Area 46,810 square miles, 470 square miles beintjf water.

Years

White

Coloured

437,404

907,630

1,009,487

Total

Per

sq. mile

1860 1900 1910

353,901 643,640

789,627

791,305

1,551,270 1,797,114

17-1 33-5 38-8

In 1900

the population '

Dy sex and birth

was : —

—

White

Negro

Asiatic

224 13

Indian

Total

Male Female

1

326,71 314,49

641,20

453,384 454,246

907,630

1,133 1,070

781,451

769,819

Tota

237

2,203

1,551,270

In 1910 there were 905,761 males and 891,353 females.

The foreign-born inhabitants numbered 7,981, of whom 1,926 were German, and 1,264 Irish. In 1910 the population of the larger cities Avas : Meridian, 20,503 ; Vicksburg, 15,710 ; Natchez, 13,476.

About half the church-going inhabitants of Mississijipi are Baptists and one-third are Methodists. The remainder are mostly Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, or Disciples (Christians). There is no law for compulsory attendance at school ; white and coloured children are taught in separate schools. In 1910 the public elementary scliools had 10,166 teachers, 469,137 enrolled pupils. 147 public high schools had 395 teachers and 7,708 pupils. Two public normal schools in 1910 had 5 teachers and 217 students. For higher education Mississippi has 6 universities and colleges. These institutions comprise the University of Mississippi, which in 1910 had 46 instructors and 490 students; Mississippi College, Clinton (Bapt.), with 13 professors and 398 students; Rust University, Holly Springs (M.E.), with 8 professors and 255 students; and Millsaps College, Jackson (M.E.So.), with 12 professors and 265 students. The Agricultural and Mechanical College has 64 professors and 1,090 students. The Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College for coloured youths has 21 professors and 616 students. The Mississippi Industrial Institute and College, for the education of the young women of the State, has 89 teachers and 760 students.

Charity. — Within the State are (apart from almshouses, &c.) 17 benevolent institutions, of which 13 have been provided by private j)ersons or ecclesiastical bodies. They comprise six hospitals (two public), six orj)han- ages, three homes, mainly for adults, a school for deaf, and one for blind children (both public). The new State Charity Hospital at Jackson is noAV uearing com]iletion.

The ""ounty board of supervisors have charge of the county poor, control the poor-house, and appoint the superintejndent. Parents, grand-parents, and descendants of a pauper are liable for his support. Persons after six months' residence in a county may claim poor-relief ; others are supported by the