Overview

This article presents an authoritative list of the 82 counties in the U.S. state of Mississippi. Counties are the principal local government subdivisions of the state: they provide basic services, maintain local courts and records, collect some taxes, and serve as administrative units for state and federal programs. The number 82 has remained stable in modern times, and each county typically contains one county seat where the main courthouse and administrative offices are located.

Organization and functions

Mississippi counties vary widely in population, area, and economic character. County governments commonly include an elected board of supervisors (or equivalent), a sheriff's office, tax assessor and collector, and clerks who keep land, marriage and court records. Counties administer local roads, zoning in unincorporated areas, public health programs, and coordinate emergency response with municipalities and the state. Federal and state agencies also use counties as units for statistics, voting precincts, and funding allocations, often identifying them by standardized codes.

History and naming

The state's counties were established over the 19th century as Mississippi grew from territory to statehood and as settlement expanded. County boundaries and seats were adjusted over time in response to population shifts, transportation routes and economic development. County names reflect a range of influences: Native American place-names and tribal names, early American statesmen and military leaders, and local pioneers. Many names preserve the region's mixed cultural heritage and historical figures associated with national and regional history.

Notable examples and distinctions

Some Mississippi counties are known for containing the state capital, major cities, or coastal ports. Hinds County, for example, includes Jackson, the state capital. Coastal counties host important shipping and tourism centers. Others in the Delta and interior are agriculturally focused and have smaller, more dispersed populations. A few rural counties rank among the least populous in the nation, while suburban counties near metropolitan areas have seen rapid growth. For federal data and mapping, counties are referenced by FIPS codes and are the common unit for census, public health, and infrastructure statistics.

Complete list of counties

  1. Adams
  2. Alcorn
  3. Amite
  4. Attala
  5. Benton
  6. Bolivar
  7. Calhoun
  8. Carroll
  9. Chickasaw
  10. Choctaw
  11. Claiborne
  12. Clarke
  13. Clay
  14. Coahoma
  15. Copiah
  16. Covington
  17. DeSoto
  18. Forrest
  19. Franklin
  20. George
  21. Greene
  22. Grenada
  23. Hancock
  24. Harrison
  25. Hinds
  26. Holmes
  27. Humphreys
  28. Issaquena
  29. Itawamba
  30. Jackson
  31. Jasper
  32. Jefferson
  33. Jefferson Davis
  34. Jones
  35. Kemper
  36. Lafayette
  37. Lamar
  38. Lauderdale
  39. Lawrence
  40. Leake
  41. Lee
  42. Leflore
  43. Lincoln
  44. Lowndes
  45. Madison
  46. Marion
  47. Marshall
  48. Monroe
  49. Montgomery
  50. Neshoba
  51. Newton
  52. Noxubee
  53. Oktibbeha
  54. Panola
  55. Pearl River
  56. Perry
  57. Pike
  58. Pontotoc
  59. Prentiss
  60. Quitman
  61. Rankin
  62. Scott
  63. Sharkey
  64. Simpson
  65. Smith
  66. Stone
  67. Sunflower
  68. Tallahatchie
  69. Tate
  70. Tippah
  71. Tishomingo
  72. Tunica
  73. Union
  74. Walthall
  75. Warren
  76. Washington
  77. Wayne
  78. Webster
  79. Wilkinson
  80. Winston
  81. Yalobusha
  82. Yazoo

Researchers, planners, and residents use this list for reference when working with demographic data, legal jurisdictions, electoral rolls, and regional planning. For more details on individual counties—such as population, area, county seat, and governing structure—consult state and local government records or databases maintained for public reference.