Explore Mississippi county boundaries, county seats and 2020 Census population counts, with a labeled map and a full alphabetical county list.
Mississippi has 82 counties. Its county map helps connect the Mississippi River region, central Mississippi, northeastern communities and the Gulf Coast. This guide includes county boundaries, a complete county list and a population comparison using one consistent reference date: the April 1, 2020 Census.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| State Name | Mississippi |
| State Abbreviation | MS |
| Capital City | Jackson |
| County-level Areas | 82 counties |
| Population (2020 Census) | 2,961,279 |
| Land Area (2020 Census) | 46,924.84 square miles |
Several Mississippi counties have two county seats because they have separate judicial districts. The top-county table lists both seats for Hinds and Harrison counties. Jackson, the state capital, and Jackson County are different geographic references; use the map and county names to avoid confusing the city with the coastal county.
Population comparisons below use the April 1, 2020 Census. They are census counts, not current estimates. Using the same year makes the county comparisons consistent.
| County / Equivalent | County Seat / Government Center | Population — 2020 Census |
|---|---|---|
| Hinds County | Jackson and Raymond | 227,742 |
| Harrison County | Gulfport and Biloxi | 208,621 |
| DeSoto County | Hernando | 185,314 |
| Rankin County | Brandon | 157,031 |
| Jackson County | Pascagoula | 143,252 |
| Madison County | Canton | 109,145 |
| Lee County | Tupelo | 83,343 |
The complete alphabetical list below includes all 82 county-level areas, including the 75 not shown in this population table.
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|---|---|
| PNG Map | Download Now |
| PDF Printable | Download Now |
| SVG Editable | Download Now |
| GIS Shapefile (ZIP) | Download Now |
❓ How many counties are in Mississippi?
Mississippi has 82 counties. All county-level areas are identified on this map.
❓ What is the capital of Mississippi?
Jackson is the state capital.
❓ Which county had the largest population in the 2020 Census?
Hinds County had 227,742 residents in the 2020 Census. Its county seat or government center is Jackson and Raymond.
❓ What is the largest county in Mississippi by land area?
Yazoo County has the greatest land area in the Census boundary dataset. Land area and population rankings measure different things.
❓ Which county is Jackson, Mississippi associated with?
Jackson, the state capital, is one of the county seats of Hinds County. It should not be confused with Jackson County on the Gulf Coast.
❓ What is the county seat of Jackson County?
Pascagoula is the county seat of Jackson County. Jackson County is on the Gulf Coast; it is not the county containing most of the state capital.
❓ Why do Hinds and Harrison have two county seats?
These counties have two judicial districts. Hinds has seats at Jackson and Raymond; Harrison has seats at Gulfport and Biloxi.
❓ What county is Tupelo in?
Tupelo is the county seat of Lee County.
❓ How should I use this county map?
Use a county name or a known county seat to identify the area, then follow its boundary to neighboring counties. City limits and county boundaries are different. This reference map does not show property lines or road navigation.
Boundaries and county names are from U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, January 1, 2026 vintage. Population and state land-area figures use 2020 Census geography and counts. County seats and state geography were checked against Mississippi Secretary of State county directory. The 2020 population figures are not presented as current estimates.
