Lamar County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 64,222. Its county seat is Purvis. Named for Confederate Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar, the county was carved out of Marion County to the west in 1904. Lamar County is part of the Hattiesburg, MS Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is largely a rural county, except for its northeast quarter.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 500 sqmi, of which 497 sqmi is land and 3.4 sqmi (0.7%) is water.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 64,222 people, 22,116 households, and 15,584 families residing in the county.

Politics

Lamar County, historically, is one of the most conservative counties in Mississippi. The county has voted for Republican presidential candidates with 60 percent or more of the vote in the past ten elections.

Government and infrastructure

The Mississippi Department of Mental Health operates the South Mississippi State Hospital in unincorporated Lamar County, near Purvis.

Communities

Cities

Town

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Education

School districts include: Former school districts: The county is in the service area of Pearl River Community College.