Mississippi County Map

Mississippi County Maps

Mississippi is carved up into 82 counties, which is a pretty hefty number for a state its size. The geography here is more diverse than you might think. Sure, there’s the Mississippi Delta with its flat farmland. But you’ve also got rolling hills in the north, piney woods in the east, and sandy beaches down south along the Gulf Coast. So, counties are made up of all of these types of landscapes.

Mississippi Counties

Hinds County is the most populated county. It’s home to Jackson, the state capital, which explains a lot. You’ve got government jobs, a few universities, and it’s a hub for healthcare in the state. Now, if you’re looking for some real peace and quiet, Issaquena County is your spot. It’s the least populous county in Mississippi. Why? Well, it’s right in the middle of the Delta, mostly farmland.

The biggest county by area is Yazoo County. It stretches from the edge of the Delta into the central hills, covering a whopping 923 square miles. There’s a saying that Yazoo is “where the Delta meets the hills.” The smallest? That’d be Alcorn County up in the northeast corner.

Mississippi’s counties have some interesting stories behind their names. Fort instance, Yalobusha County comes from a Choctaw phrase meaning “tadpole place.” Or how about Itawamba County? It’s named after a Chickasaw chief who was known as the “Bench Chief” because he liked to sit on a bench. The state started setting up counties pretty early on. Adams County, for instance, was established in 1799 when Mississippi was still a territory.