Lucedale, Mississippi

Lucedale (/ˈluːsdeɪl/) is a city in George County, Mississippi, United States. It is part of the Pascagoula, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,923 at the 2010 census,^[3] up from 2,458 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of George County.^[4]

Lucedale, Mississippi
City
George County Courthouse in Lucedale
Flag Logo
Motto:  "Where People & Progress Meet"[1]
Location of Lucedale, Mississippi
Lucedale, Mississippi Location in the United States
Coordinates: 30°55′29″N 88°35′26″W
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
County	George
Government
• Mayor	Doug Lee
Area [2]
• Total	6.39 sq mi (16.55 km2)
• Land	6.39 sq mi (16.55 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	281 ft (86 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,869
• Density	448.91/sq mi (173.33/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	39452
Area code(s)	601, 769
FIPS code	28-42440
GNIS feature ID	0672944
Website	cityoflucedale.com

History

Lucedale was one of several settlements created after the Mobile, Jackson and Kansas City Railroad penetrated northern Jackson County (now George County) in the late 1890s.^[5][6]

Lucedale was founded in 1901, and was named after Gregory Marston Luce, who operated a lumber business there.^[7][8]

In 1906, a black man was hanged from a telegraph pole near the Lucedale railroad depot by a crowd of 300, after allegedly assaulting a white woman.^[9]

Mississippi's first execution by electrocution was administered to a convicted wife-killer in Lucedale in 1940, using the only portable electric chair ever employed in the United States.^[10][11] The "death wagon" and chair had been on display outside the Mississippi capitol prior to arriving in Lucedale, and photos of the execution were published in state newspapers, the executioner commenting: "he died with tears in his eyes for the efficient care I took to give him a good clean burning".^[10]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Lucedale has a total area of 6.4 square miles (16.6 km²), all land.^[3]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1910	797		—
1920	629		−21.1%
1930	834		32.6%
1940	1,204		44.4%
1950	1,631		35.5%
1960	1,977		21.2%
1970	2,083		5.4%
1980	2,429		16.6%
1990	2,592		6.7%
2000	2,458		−5.2%
2010	2,923		18.9%
2020	2,869		−1.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]

Lucedale racial composition as of 2020^[13]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	1,858	64.76%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	753	26.25%
Native American	12	0.42%
Asian	30	1.05%
Pacific Islander	1	0.03%
Other/Mixed	119	4.15%
Hispanic or Latino	96	3.35%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,869 people, 975 households, and 504 families residing in the city.

Arts and culture

Lucedale Public Library is part of the Jackson-George Regional Library System.^[14]

Education

Lucedale is served by the George County School District.^[15] As of 2010, the district spends US$6,732 per pupil—63% on instruction, 30% on support services, and 7% on other elementary and secondary expenditures—and 15 students existed for every full-time equivalent teacher.^[16]

Infrastructure

Highways

• Mississippi Highway 198 passes through the city as Main Street
• US 98
• Highway 63

Public safety

Lucedale Police Department consists of a police chief, 11 patrolmen, and one investigator.^[17] Lucedale Fire Department was established in 1901, and consists of a fire chief, three firemen, and four volunteer firemen.^[18]

Healthcare

George Regional Hospital in Lucedale is a 50-bed, non-profit, community owned hospital serving George County, Greene County, Stone County, and northern Jackson County.^[19]

Notable people

• Ruthie Bolton, Olympic gold medalist basketball player^[20]
• Janice Lawrence Braxton, Olympic gold medalist basketball player^[21]
• Ty Fryfogle, football wide receiver for the Indiana Hoosiers^[22]
• Carolyn Haines, author, also credited as Caroline Burnes^[23]
• Annibel Jenkins, English professor, scholar
• Alonzo Lawrence, football defensive back^[24]
• Jake W. Lindsey, recipient of the Medal of Honor^[25]
• Dee McCann, professional football player^[26]
• Doug McLeod, member of the Mississippi House of Representatives^[27]
• Eric Moulds, professional football player^[28]
• John Nix, professional football player^[29]
• Justin Steele, professional baseball player
• Claude Passeau, professional baseball player^[30]
• McKinnley Jackson, professional football player