Renova, Mississippi

Renova is a town in Bolivar County, Mississippi, United States.^[2] Per the 2020 census, the population was 676.^[3] The community was founded by African Americans^[4] and remains predominantly African American.

Renova, Mississippi
Town
Location in Bolivar County
Renova, Mississippi Show map of Mississippi Renova, Mississippi Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 33°46′50″N 90°43′24″W
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
County	Bolivar
Area [1]
• Total	0.87 sq mi (2.25 km2)
• Land	0.87 sq mi (2.25 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [2]	141 ft (43 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	676
• Density	778.80/sq mi (300.80/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
FIPS code	28-61890
GNIS feature ID	2407199[2]

History

In 1907, it was noted as a rapidly growing town 3 miles north of Cleveland, Mississippi with a saw mill that was served by the Yazoo & Mississippi Railroad.^[5] Monroe Work noted it among his listing of "Negro Towns and Settlements in the United States" in his Negro Yearbook series.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.85 square miles (2.2 km²), all land.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1980	659		—
1990	636		−3.5%
2000	623		−2.0%
2010	668		7.2%
2020	676		1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[6] 2010[7] 2020[8]

2020 census

Renova town, Mississippi – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2010[7]	Pop 2020[8]	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	19	6	2.84%	0.89%
Black or African American alone (NH)	631	639	94.46%	94.53%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	0	2	0.00%	0.30%
Asian alone (NH)	1	2	0.15%	0.30%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	0	0.00%	0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	0	4	0.00%	0.59%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)	3	14	0.45%	2.07%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	14	9	2.10%	1.33%
Total	668	676	100.00%	100.00%

2000 Census

As of the census^[9] of 2000, there were 623 people, 241 households, and 159 families residing in the town. The population density was 719.6 inhabitants per square mile (277.8/km²). There were 247 housing units at an average density of 285.3 per square mile (110.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 2.57% White, 95.99% African American, 1.12% from other races, and 0.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.28% of the population.

There were 241 households, out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.7% were married couples living together, 23.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.28.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 30.0% under the age of 18, 12.5% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 6.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $20,481, and the median income for a family was $24,375. Males had a median income of $26,071 versus $20,577 for females. The per capita income for the town was $11,277. About 28.6% of families and 34.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 44.9% of those under age 18 and 54.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Renova is served by the Cleveland School District.^[10] Secondary students are zoned to Cleveland Central Middle School and Cleveland Central High School.

It is located minutes from Delta State University and several community colleges.

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Renova, Mississippi
3. "Renova town, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
4. Schweninger, Loren (1990). Black Property Owners in the South, 1790-1915. ISBN 9780252066344.
5. Rowland, Dunbar (February 20, 1907). "Mississippi: Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form". Southern Historical Publishing Association – via Google Books.
6. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
7. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Renova town, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau.
8. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Renova town, Mississippi". United States Census Bureau.
9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
10. "SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Bolivar County, MS" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved August 1, 2017.