Winston County

Winston County, MS, has a population of approximately 17,955 people. The racial makeup is roughly 54% White, 43% Black or African American, 1.5% Hispanic or Latino, and 1.0% Native American. The median household income stands at around $32,500. About 22% of the population lives below the poverty line. The county covers an area of 610 square miles, most of which is land. The median age is approximately 41 years. Educational attainment rates show around 75% of residents have a high school diploma or higher, while roughly 13% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.

As of 2021, Winston County, MS, had a median home value of around $80,000. The county's homeownership rate stood at approximately 71%, and the median gross rent was about $600 per month. The housing market is characterized by a mix of older homes and newer constructions, with an average of 2.6 people per household. The vacancy rate for housing units was roughly 15%. The county's relatively low cost of living makes it an attractive option for first-time home buyers and retirees.

For the most current election information, please visit the official website for Winston County, MS or the Mississippi Secretary of State’s website. As of 2023, Winston County participates in federal, state, and local elections, including races for county offices like sheriff, supervisors, and chancery clerk.

In the 2020 Presidential election, Winston County had:

• Total Registered Voters: Approx. 12,000
• Voter Turnout: 66%
• Votes for Donald Trump (R): About 65%
• Votes for Joe Biden (D): About 34%

For the 2023 local elections, candidates for county offices typically include incumbents and challengers from both major parties. For instance:

• Sheriff: Jason Pugh (Incumbent, R) vs. Challenger (D)
• Supervisor District 1: Terry Kelley (R) vs. Patrick Mullins (D)

Please confirm specific candidate names and numerical values as they may change leading up to the election date.

As of the latest data, Winston County, Mississippi, has lower educational attainment levels compared to state and national averages. About 72.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold at least a high school diploma, which is below the national average of approximately 88.6% and Mississippi's average of 83.1%. For higher education, around 13.4% of Winston County residents possess a bachelor's degree or higher, trailing both the national average of 33.1% and the state average of 22.3%. High school dropout rates are higher in Winston County, impacting the overall education level and workforce readiness in the area. Efforts to improve educational outcomes are ongoing, but significant challenges remain due to economic and resource constraints.

As of recent data, Winston County, MS, has an employment rate with a workforce participation rate of about 54.7%, which is lower than the national average of 61.7% and the Mississippi state average of around 55.8%. The county's unemployment rate hovers around 7.1%, higher than the national average of 6.1% but comparable to the state's 6.5%.

Top industries in Winston County include manufacturing, healthcare, education, retail trade, and agriculture. Manufacturing employs about 26.4% of the county's workforce, significantly higher than the national average of 8.5%. Healthcare and social assistance engage around 15.5%, compared to the national average of 14.8%. The retail sector employs about 11.3%, while agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting account for 7.5%, higher than the national average of 1.3%.

Overall, Winston County's economy leans more heavily on manufacturing and agriculture compared to national averages.

As of recent data, the average household income in Winston County, Mississippi, is approximately $40,000 per year. This is significantly lower than the national average household income, which is around $68,700. Comparing it to the state average, Mississippi's household income is about $45,700 per year, slightly higher than what is seen in Winston County.

These figures illustrate that Winston County not only falls below both the state and national averages in terms of household income but also highlights broader economic challenges within the region.

As of the latest data, Winston County, MS, has a relatively low crime rate compared to national averages. The county reports the following annual crime statistics:

The overall crime rate in Winston County is approximately 6.2 per 1,000 residents for violent crimes and 18.0 per 1,000 residents for property crimes. Winston County is considered safer than 60% of counties in the United States, indicating a relatively low crime environment. These statistics provide a general sense of safety in the region, with property crimes being more prevalent than violent crimes.