History and Facts of Mississippi Counties

Today’s Mississippi counties did not always exist in the present form. They went through many different changes in the space of a few short years.

Mississippi Territorial Counties

The Mississippi Territory existed from April 7, 1798, until December 10, 1817.

The State of Mississippi entered the union as the 20th state on December 10, 1817.

Mississippi Counties Today

Today, Mississippi is currently divided into 82 counties. States bordering Mississippi are Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana.

Fun Facts about Mississippi Counties

Counties by Year

• Adams and Jefferson Counties was the original 2 counties created on April 2, 1799.
• Humphreys County was the last county created on March 28, 1918.

County Size Facts

• Yazoo County (920 sq mi) is the largest county in Mississippi.
• Alcorn County (400 sq mi) is the smallest county in Mississippi.

County Population Facts

• Issaquena County (1,406) is the least populated county in Mississippi.
• Hinds County (245,285) is the most populated county in Mississippi.

Mississippi City Facts

Mississippi’s 10  largest cities (2010) are:

1. Jackson (173,514) is in Hinds, Madison and Rankin Counties
2. Gulfport (67,793) is in Harrison County
3. Southhaven (48,982) is in DeSoto County
4. Hattiesburg (45,989) is in Mississippi and Lamar Counties
5. Biloxi (44,054) is in Harrison County
6. Meridian (41,148) is in Lauderdale County
7. Tupelo (34,211) is in Lee County
8. Greenville (34,400) is in Washington County
9. Olive Branch (33,484) is in DeSoto County
10. Horn Lake (26,066) is in DeSoto County

Boundary Changes of Mississippi Counties from 1785-1918

This Interactive Map of Mississippi Counties show the historical boundaries, names, organization, and attachments of every county, extinct county and unsuccessful county proposal from 1785 to 1918.

List of Mississippi Counties

List of Old Former / Extinct Mississippi Counties

Mississippi contains some counties that no longer exist because they were discontinued, renamed or merged with another county. These are important for genealogy research purposes.

The below counties formerly within the area of the State of Mississippi no longer exist:

Bainbridge County, Mississippi

Created on January 17, 1823 from Covington County. 

Bainbridge County merged back with Covington County on January 21, 1824.

Bourbon County, Georgia

Created on February 7, 1785 from the Natchez Region.

Bourbon County eliminated by the state of Georgia on February 1, 1788.

Colfax County, Mississippi

Created on May 12, 1871 from  Chickasaw, Lowndes, Monroe and Oktibbeha Counties.

Colfax County renamed to Clay County on April 10, 1876.

Davis County, Mississippi

Jones County was renamed Davis County on December 1, 1865. Davis County renamed to Jones County on December 1, 1869.

Pickering County, Mississippi Territory

Created on April 2, 1799 from unorganized land. Pickering County renamed to Jefferson County on January 11, 1802.

Pearl County, Mississippi

Created on February 21, 1872 from Hancock County. Pearl County merged into to Hancock and Marion Counties on February 28, 1878.

Sumner County, Mississippi

Created on April 6, 1874 from  Chickasaw, Choctaw and Montgomery Counties. Sumner County renamed to Webster County on January 30, 1882.