Coldwater, Mississippi

Coldwater, Mississippi
—  Town  —
Nickname(s): C-Town
Location of Coldwater, Mississippi
Coordinates: 34°41′23″N 89°58′26″W / 34.68972°N 89.97389°W / 34.68972; -89.97389Coordinates: 34°41′23″N 89°58′26″W / 34.68972°N 89.97389°W / 34.68972; -89.97389
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
County	Tate
Government
– Mayor
Area
– Total	2.4 sq mi (6.2 km2)
– Land	2.4 sq mi (6.1 km2)
– Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	249 ft (76 m)
Population (2000)
– Total	1,674
– Density	705.5/sq mi (272.4/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
– Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	38618
Area code(s)	662
FIPS code	28-14900
GNIS feature ID	0668665

Coldwater is a small town in Tate County, Mississippi, United States. It is in the Memphis Metropolitan Area or Mid-South. The population was 1,674 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Coldwater is located at 34°41′23″N 89°58′26″W / 34.68972°N 89.97389°W / 34.68972; -89.97389 (34.689854, -89.973790)^[1] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²).2.4 square miles (6.1 km²) of it is land and 0.42% water.

History

The current town square of Coldwater, Mississippi is about two miles south of the Coldwater River, hence the name. The original town began as the village of Elm Grove in 1856. With the coming of the Mississippi-Tennessee railroad in 1858, rows of stores and other businesses developed on both sides of the tracks, along with houses of worship. Coldwater was officially incorporated in 1872. At that time, the Town was located in DeSoto County and was a mile square with the railroad depot at the center. When another Mississippi county was created in 1873 from land originally located in DeSoto, Marshall, and Tunica counties, Coldwater found itself to be a part of the newly formed Tate County.

The Town began to grow with an influx of settlers from Virginia, the Carolinas, Alabama, and others seeking a better life for themselves and their families. There were 397 residents of Coldwater according to the 1890 census. Educating their children was obviously important to the early settlers. By 1884, there were 96 small schools in Tate County, 54 white and 42 black. They were mostly one teacher, one-room log houses with split logs for seats.

Over the course of its history, Coldwater steadily grew in numbers. However, periodic river flooding plagued the town, as the river would all too often swell its banks, spilling onto area farmland. When the Arkabutla Lake and Dam project was built in the early 1940’s, the Town felt it had to move. So, in 1942, the Town of Coldwater moved – lock, stock, and barrel, to land just about a mile and a half south of its original location. Today, there are over 1,600 people enjoying life in this “new” location.

The site of the old town of Coldwater is 229 feet (70 m) MSL and parts of it are underwater year round.

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 1,674 people, 598 households, and 429 families residing in the town. The population density was 705.5 people per square mile (272.7/km²). There were 642 housing units at an average density of 270.6 per square mile (104.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 69.71% African American, 29.45% White, 0.06% Native American, 0.12% Asian, and 0.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.42% of the population.

There were 598 households out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.1% were married couples living together, 28.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.35.

In the town the population was spread out with 31.5% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 79.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $26,058, and the median income for a family was $31,364. Males had a median income of $28,472 versus $19,444 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,330. About 21.1% of families and 23.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.9% of those under age 18 and 26.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Town of Coldwater is served by the Tate County School District. It has two schools Coldwater Elementary and Coldwater High School. Coldwater High School has gone to the state championship in track and basketball numerous times. The girls basketball team have won state championships in 1996, 2007 and 2008 while also making it to the final two since 2003. The boys Basketball team also won in 2009, and have also made appearances since 2003. The principle over the high school is Mr. Willie Brandon. The school mascot is known as the Mighty Coldwater Cougar, and the school colors are blue, gold, and white.

Notable Residents

• Dumas Malone, Pulitzer prize-winning historian and noted Jeffersonian scholar.

• Dorris Bowdon, a Coldwater native, was a screen actress who played in several motion pictures in the 1930’s and 1940’s and is best known for her role as Rosasharn in the film adaptation of John Steinbeck's novel "The Grapes of Wrath", starring Henry Fonda.

• Thomas Webber Wilson, a three-term U.S. Congressional Representative from Mississippi from 1923-1929.

• Hoyt B. Wooten, radio pioneer started his first commercial radio station in Coldwater, WKNG which later changed to WREC-TV, Channel 3 and has become a regular program to the Mid-South community.

• Spencer D. Wooten, known affectionately as “Mr. Spencer,” served the Town as an alderman, as Mayor, as president of the school board, and as undertaker.

• Bill Coday, famous blues singer.

• Big Time Sarah, famous blues singer.

• Dr. C. Damon Miguel Moore, M.D., Coldwater’s first recipient of a Rhodes Scholarship (and the first African-American from Mississippi to have won).

• Trell Kimmons, Olympic Track/Field Runner with personal bests in the 100 m: 9.95 s (Zürich 2010) and 200 m: 20.37 s (Eugene 2009).

References

1. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
2. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.