Mississippi Counties, Demographics & Geography
Complete official guide to all 82 counties in Mississippi (MS). Explore 2024 US Census population estimates, county seats, FIPS codes, land areas, and interactive mapping tools powered by GeoMap Suite.
Mississippi County Breakdown
Showing 6 of 6 documented counties and seats.
County Name | FIPS | County Seat | Population (Census) | Land Area | Quick Tool |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hinds County (Jackson) | 28049 | Jackson / Raymond | 227,742 | 869 sq mi | Lookup |
| Harrison County (Gulfport) | 28047 | Gulfport / Biloxi | 208,621 | 574 sq mi | Lookup |
| DeSoto County | 28033 | Hernando | 185,314 | 478 sq mi | Lookup |
| Rankin County | 28121 | Brandon | 157,031 | 775 sq mi | Lookup |
| Jackson County (Pascagoula) | 28059 | Pascagoula | 143,252 | 727 sq mi | Lookup |
| Madison County | 28089 | Canton | 109,145 | 719 sq mi | Lookup |
Geographic Structure of Mississippi Counties
County Administration & Governance
In Mississippi, county governments manage vital public infrastructure, tax assessments, law enforcement, judicial courts, election administration, and public records. The county seat (Jackson / Raymond and other municipal headquarters) houses the primary courthouse, commissioners, and sheriff’s department.
All Mississippi counties carry a unique 5-digit Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code, where the first two digits (28) designate the state and the remaining three digits identify each specific jurisdiction.
Geographic & Demographic Highlights
- Most Populous County:Hinds County (Jackson) (227,742 residents)
- Largest by Land Area:Hinds County (Jackson) (869 sq mi)
- State Capital:Jackson
- Census Bureau Region:South United States
Demographic calculations derive from the United States Census Bureau 2024 Population Estimates Program (PEP) and TIGER/Line geographic boundary files.