Harperville is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in rural Scott County, Mississippi, United States. Harperville is located on Mississippi Highway 35, north of Forest. Harperville has a post office with ZIP code 39080. Per the 2020 Census, the population was 250.

History Harperville was named for G. W. Harper, a European-American settler.

In 1900, Harperville had a population of 130 and was home to a flour mill and sawmill.

Harperville was once home to Harperville College and an agricultural school.

In October 1898, a white mob retaliated for African Americans resisting arrest. The county sheriff gathered a posse, and the governor asked for National Guard support. Governor Anselm J. McLaurin went by train to Forest to assess the situation."Fierce Race War in Mississippi", San Francisco Call, Volume 84, Number 146, 24 October 1898; California Digital Newspaper Collection; accessed 19 March 2017 After arresting several blacks, the sheriff took them to the county seat at Forest for their safety.Associated Press, "Mississippi Race War/ Counting Its Victims by the Dozen", Los Angeles Herald, Volume 26, Number 25, 25 October 1898; California Digital Newspaper Collection; accessed 20 March 2017 The New Orleans Picayune reported that 11 blacks and one white had been killed."

Demographics

Harperville was first listed as a census designated place in the 2020 U.S. census.

+Harperville CDP, Mississippi – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2020% 2020White alone (NH)18072.00%Black or African American alone (NH)5120.40%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)00.00%Asian alone (NH)10.40%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)00.00%Other race alone (NH)10.40%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)62.40%Hispanic or Latino (any race)114.40%Total250100.00%

Education It is in the Scott County School District. - Text list

East Central Community College covers Scott County, and operates the Forest/Scott County Career-Technical Center in Forest.

Notable people Elsie McWilliams, country music songwriter

References