Amory is a city in Monroe County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 7,316 as of the 2010 census.
History
Amory began as a planned railroad town. The Kansas City, Memphis & Birmingham Railroad needed a midpoint between Memphis, Tennessee and Birmingham, Alabama for their locomotives, and they laid out the new town of Amory in 1887. People from nearby Cotton Gin Port on the Tombigbee River abandoned their town and moved to Amory.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.0 square miles (21Â km2), of which 7.5 square miles (19Â km2) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3Â km2) (6.37%) is water.
Demographics
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 7,316 people residing in the city. 69.5% were White, 29.0% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.3% from some other race and 0.7% of two or more races. 1.4% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,956 people, 2,876 households, and 1,903 families residing in the city. The population density was 927.2 people per square mile (358.1/km²). There were 3,147 housing units at an average density of 419.5 per square mile (162.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 69.85% White, 29.18% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.16% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.79% of the population.
There were 2,876 households out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 19.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city, the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 82.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,789, and the median income for a family was $37,891. Males had a median income of $30,913 versus $21,356 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,092. About 17.1% of families and 20.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.6% of those under age 18 and 17.4% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Gilmore Memorial Hospital is well regarded as having one of the better maternal wards in northeast Mississippi. Other business sectors include sports equipment manufacturing, wood pulp processing, and the furniture and textile industries.
Arts and culture
In honor of its cultural and historical heritage, the city of Amory holds an annual festival each April known as the "Railroad Festival" in Frisco Park in downtown Amory. Among other attractions, the Railroad Festival includes southern foodsâ€"such as fried catfish, barbecue, and apple frittersâ€"rides, arts and crafts, and live music, most notably the local band The Gents who have brought fans out for years with their Motown, Blues Brothers and classic oldies show. Although the time of yearâ€"Aprilâ€"often results in rain during one or more days of the 3-day festival, turnout is generally quite large, with as many as 40,000 visiting the festival over the period of a weekend.
In addition to the annual Railroad Festival, in September of every other year, Amory is host to "Entertainment for Education", also known as "Stars Over Mississippi", in which a number of celebrities and entertainers host a benefit concert to raise funds for local scholarships. Past performers and attendees have included Vince Gill, Dolly Parton, Nell Carter, Sandi Patty, Kathie Lee Gifford, Kathy Ireland, Brad Paisley, Brooks and Dunn, Ray Romano, Tony Danza, Patricia Heaton, Doris Roberts, Whoopi Goldberg, Brad Garrett, and Prince Edward.
Education
Most of Amory is served by the Amory School District, while a small portion is served by the Monroe County School District.
Infrastructure
Transportation
Road transport is served by US 278, Mississippi Highway 6, and Mississippi Highway 25. Rail transport is offered by BNSF Railway, the Alabama and Gulf Coast Railway, and the Mississippian Railway. Ship transport can be accommodated on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.
Notable people
- Lt. Col. Herman Carter, one of the original 33 Tuskegee Airmen
- John Dye, actor, known for his role of Andrew on Touched by an Angel
- Rufus French, All-American football player
- Gary Grubbs, actor
- Lucille Bogan, classic female blues singer
- Floyd Mayweather, Sr., father of boxing champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
- Mitch Moreland, first baseman and right fielder for the Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox
- Will Hall, Offensive Coordinator, University of Louisiana Lafayette, Previous Head Coach University of West Alabama and University of West Georgia
- Taylor Spreitler, actress
- Trent Harmon, winner of American Idol, Season 15
In popular culture
- "Blue Suede Shoes" was written by Carl Perkins during a trip to Amory, for a concert with Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash in 1955.
See also
- Amory Lock on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway
- Cotton Gin Port
- St. Louis-San Francisco Railway
- Mississippian Railway
- Alabama and Gulf Coast Railway
References
External links
- City of Amory, Mississippi
- Park Hotel in Amory Ledgers (MUM00354) at the University of Mississippi, Archives and Special Collections.