Lee County was established on October 26, 1866, and named for Robert E. Lee, General in Chief of the Armies of the Confederate States. It was carved from Itawamba and Pontotoc; therefore, the record and list of pioneers mentioned in those counties embrace a great number who were residents of what is now Lee. In 1925 L. Q. Ivy, an African-American was accused of rape in New Albany. The Sheriff transported him to Lee County, where they turned him over to a mob who burned him to death.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water.
As of the census of 2000, there were 75,755 people, 29,200 households, and 20,819 families residing in the county. The population density was 168 people per square mile. There were 31,887 housing units at an average density of 71 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 73.66% White, 24.51% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. 1.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 29,200 households, out of which 36.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.60% were married couplesliving together, 14.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.05. In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.70% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 21.80% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.50 males. The median income for a household in the county was $36,165, and the median income for a family was $43,149. Males had a median income of $31,039 versus $22,235 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,956. About 10.50% of families and 13.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.90% of those under age 18 and 15.50% of those age 65 or over. Lee County has the ninth highest per capita income in the State of Mississippi.
Lee County is served by the Baldwyn, Lee County, Nettleton, and Tupelo school districts.
Politics
Lee County has been a Republican stronghold since the mid-1980s. The last Democratic candidate who carried this county was Jimmy Carter in the election of 1980.
