Crystal Springs, Mississippi

Geography

U.S. Route 51 runs through the northwest part of the town, intersecting Interstate 55 at the latter's Exit 72. I-55 leads north 24 miles (39 km) to Jackson, the state capital, and 29 miles (47 km) south to Brookhaven.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.5 square miles (14.2 km²), of which 5.4 square miles (14.1 km²) is land and 0.039 square miles (0.1 km²), or 0.96%, is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,873 people, 2,118 households, and 1,503 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,090.7 people per square mile (421.5/km²). There were 2,326 housing units at an average density of 432.0 per square mile (166.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 42.99% Caucasian, 55.76% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.61% from other races, and 0.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.23% of the population.

There were 2,118 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.6% were married couples living together, 25.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the city, the population was spread out with 28.1% under the age of 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 86.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,846, and the median income for a family was $29,313. Males had a median income of $29,086 versus $18,969 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,111. About 26.5% of families and 31.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.2% of those under age 18 and 16.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Crystal Springs is served by the Copiah County School District. Copiah-Lincoln Community College is located in Wesson.

The Copiah-Jefferson Regional Library operates a branch in Crystal Springs.

Controversies

In 1966 an African-American man named Eddie James Stewart was reportedly beaten and shot to death while in police custody in Crystal Springs. Police said this death occurred while Stewart was attempting to escape. The Southern Poverty Law Center lists this death as being under circumstances suggesting racially motivated violence.

Because of this and other civil rights-era violence related to passage of civil rights legislation in 1964 and 1965, the armed Deacons for Defense and Justice established centers in both Crystal Springs and nearby Hazlehurst in 1966 and 1967. They acted to provide physical protection for African-American protesters who were working with the NAACP on a commercial boycott of white merchants to force integration of stores and employment, to gain jobs for African Americans at places where they were patrons. Eventually the protesters won the removal of discriminatory practices at stores and African Americans gained some jobs in these local businesses.

In 2012 Crystal Springs was featured in national news headlines because First Baptist Church had denied a black couple permission to be married there. Reportedly some highly influential members of the church objected to the couple marrying in the church because the wife-to-be was not a member, although she had attended the church. The couple was informed of the decision by the pastor, Rev. Stan Weatherford, on the Thursday before the wedding, planned for July 21, 2012. The pastor performed the wedding at a different church. In reaction, the congregation at First Baptist demanded that the members who had objected to the wedding resign from any leadership positions.

Notable people

Famous natives of Crystal Springs include Larry Grantham, American Football League linebacker and member of the New York Jets (Super Bowl III champions); blues guitarists Tommy Johnson and Dexter Allen; Joseph W. Bailey (U.S. senator from Texas, 1901-1913); Pat Harrison, a Democratic member of the U.S. Congress in the 1920s and 1930s; and Alton D. Slay, four-star general in the United States Air Force. Burnita Shelton Matthews, 1950 first woman appointed as federal judge.