Walnut Grove is a town in Leake County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 510 at the 2020 census, a sharp decrease from 1,911 at the 2010 census, due to the Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility being closed by the state in September 2016 because of repeated problems at the troubled facility. It had been privately owned and operated since 2001 under a contract with the state Department of Corrections. By 2011 it was the largest juvenile facility in the nation. Golden Memorial State Park is located east of the town.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code39189

Area code601

Living in Walnut Grove

Work & commute in Walnut Grove

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Walnut Grove for work: only 1% work in town. The top destinations are Carthage (12%), Forest (8%) and Sebastopol (7%). Half commute less than 34 miles.

Carthage

12%

Forest

Sebastopol

Jackson

1%Work in townlive and work in Walnut Grove 34 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 136Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Walnut Grove →

Health in Walnut Grove

Compared with Mississippi

1better than MS·5worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 26 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▲ 11 close Habits all close Care 1▼ 6 close Mind all close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

6.3%Fewer adults who have had cancerMS 7.6% · better 16.5%More adults facing a utility shut-offMS 11.2% · worse

Care nearby

Baptist Medical Center-LeakeCarthage · 12.9 mi · ER · rural critical access

Walnut Grove Medical ClinicWalnut Grove · 0.2 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Walnut Grove · CMS · HRSAHealth in Walnut Grove →

Natural hazards in Walnut Grove

Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 49% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes💨 Strong wind

0Does Walnut Grove flood?no paid flood claims on record 3Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Walnut Grove

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Walnut Grove →

Climate in Walnut Grove

Full climate →

Walnut Grove has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 91°, a January night drops to 34°, and snow is almost unheard of.

59° / 36°Winter

76° / 51°Spring

90° / 68°Summer

77° / 51°Fall

How much snow does Walnut Grove get?Almost none.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Nov 7, with the last in spring around Mar 19.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.5° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Walnut Grove →

Schools in Walnut Grove

All Walnut Grove schools →

School Grade C

The public schools Walnut Grove’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 68% of Mississippi’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

DistrictLeake County School DistrictSchools1

Leake County High School CHigh · Grades 7–12 · 266 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within MS. Ratings are from neighbors.