Richton, Mississippi

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 km²), all land.

At the 2000 census there were 1,038 people, 397 households, and 258 families in the town. The population density was 452.6 people per square mile (175.0/km²). There were 497 housing units at an average density of 216.7 per square mile (83.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 76.01% White, 21.19% African American, 0.67% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.48% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.96%.[4]

Of the 397 households 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples living together, 18.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 32.0% of households were one person and 15.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.04.

The age distribution was 24.7% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 21.9% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 75.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 68.5 males.

The median household income was $23,365 and the median family income was $33,250. Males had a median income of $34,250 versus $16,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,425. About 22.3% of families and 31.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 47.7% of those under age 18 and 26.5% of those age 65 or over.

The Town of Richton is served by the Richton School District.

The United States Department of Energy has selected Richton as a possible site for the expansion of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.[5]

• Roy Cochran, Olympic athlete
• George E. Johnson, Sr., entrepreneur
• JaCoby Jones, baseball player
• Frank Stanford, poet