Iuka, Mississippi
Downtown Iuka in the early 1900s
Location of Iuka, Mississippi
Coordinates: 34°48′38″N 88°11′45″W / 34.81056, -88.19583
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
County	Tishomingo
Area
- Total	9.7 sq mi (25.0 km²)
- Land	9.7 sq mi (25.0 km²)
- Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²)
Elevation	561 ft (171 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	3,059
- Density	316.6/sq mi (122.3/km²)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	38852
Area code(s)	662
FIPS code	28-35300
GNIS feature ID	0671750

Iuka is a city in Tishomingo County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 3,059 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Tishomingo County^[1].

History

Iuka is built on the site of a Chickasaw Indian village that is thought to have been subordinate to the settlement at Underwood Village. The name "Iuka" comes from the name of one of the cheiftans of the village.

Euro-American settlers arrived with the Memphis and Charleston Railroad in 1857. Before the American Civil War, the town boasted an all-female college, a boys' military academy, and a fine hotel. The Civil War brought widespread devastation when a major engagement here occurred on September 19, 1862. The Battle of Iuka resulted in 1200 to 1500 killed or wounded. The dead Confederate soldiers were buried in a long trench that eventually became Shady Grove Cemetery.

The first college built in the former Confederacy after the Civil War, Iuka Normal Institute, was built here. However, the town did not return to prosperity for many years. The building of Pickwick Landing Dam and Pickwick Lake by the Tennessee Valley Authority brought activity back to the town.

In 1904, water from Iuka's mineral springs won first prize for the purest and best mineral water at the World's Fair in St. Louis.

Geography

Iuka is located at 34°48′38″N, 88°11′45″W (34.810633, -88.195759)^[2].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.7 square miles (25.0 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 1,000,000 people, 55555 households, and 20,000 families residing in the city. The population density was 100.6 people per square mile (122.3/km²). There were 1,550 housing units at an average density of 160.4/sq mi (62.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 3.14% White, 0.09% African American, 91.23% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.59% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.21% of the population.

There were 555,555 households out of which 55.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 36.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the city the population was spread out with 19.5% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 26.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 76.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,082, and the median income for a family was $36,863. Males had a median income of $30,449 versus $20,658 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,261. About 16.0% of families and 20.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.6% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Schools

Main article: Tishomingo County School District

• Tishomingo County High School
• Iuka Middle School
• Iuka Elementary School

Libraries

• Iuka Public Library

Transportation

Highways

• U.S. Highway 72
• Mississippi Highway 25

Railroads

• Norfolk Southern Railroad
• Kansas City Southern Railroad

Airports

• Iuka Airport

Health care

• Iuka Hospital

Industry

A Major employer in Iuka's industrial sector is Alliant Techsystems, a major U.S. aerospace and defense contractor.

Recreation

• J. P. Coleman State Park
• Iuka Soccer Park, home of the regionally renowned Iuka Soccer Camp
• Mineral Springs Park

Other attractions

• Old Tishomingo County Courthouse - built in 1889, it now houses Indian relics, artifacts from the Battle of Iuka, and other historical items.
• Ellie's Snack Bar - located at 108 Front Street, Ellie's specializes in the local food called "slugburgers".
• Iuka Drive-In Theater-W. Quitman St., Iuka, MS 38852.
• Country Squire Steak House the towns oldest family owned and operated restaurant.

See also

• Battle of Iuka
• Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway
• Rheta Grimsley Johnson
• Woodall Mountain

References

1. ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
2. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
3. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

External links

• City of Iuka, Mississippi
• Historical Archives of Tishomingo County
• Pickwick Reservoir
• Iuka Airport

• Iuka, Mississippi is at coordinates 34°48′38″N 88°11′45″W / 34.810633, -88.195759 (Iuka, Mississippi)Coordinates: 34°48′38″N 88°11′45″W / 34.810633, -88.195759 (Iuka, Mississippi)

v â€¢ d â€¢ e Municipalities and communities of Tishomingo County, Mississippi
County seat: Iuka
Cities	Iuka
Towns	Belmont | Burnsville | Golden | Tishomingo
Villages	Paden
Unincorporated communities	Dennis | Pittsburg