Tishomingo County is a county located in the northeastern corner of the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,850. Its county seat is Iuka.

History

Tishomingo County was organized February 9, 1836, from Chickasaw lands that were ceded to the United States. The Chickasaw were forced by Indian Removal to relocate to lands in the Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). Jacinto was the original county seat of Tishomingo County and its historic courthouse building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Parts of the northeastern side of Tishomingo county are part of the Battle of Shiloh Civil War battlefield. In 1870 the area was divided into Alcorn, Prentiss and Tishomingo counties. Tishomingo's county seat was relocated to Iuka.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 445 sqmi, of which 424 sqmi is land and 20 sqmi (4.6%) is water. The highest natural point in Mississippi, the 806 ft Woodall Mountain, is located in the county. Tishomingo County is the only county in Mississippi with outcroppings of natural limestone formations.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected area

Natchez Trace Parkway

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 18,850 people, 7,635 households, and 5,035 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 19,593 people living in the county. 94.5% were White, 2.6% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 1.7% of some other race and 0.8% of two or more races. 2.8% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census

As of the census of 2000 there were 19,163 people, 7,917 households, and 5,573 families living in the county. The population density was 45 /mi2. There were 9,553 housing units at an average density of 22 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 94.93% White, 3.11% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.06% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. 1.79% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. By 2005 the population was 93.4% non-Hispanic white. 3.6% of the population was African-American. 2.6% of the population was Latino. At 93.4% of the county's population, Tishomingo County has the highest percentage of Non-Hispanic whites in the state of Mississippi. In 2000 there were 7,917 households, out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.89. In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.2% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males. The median income for a household in the county was $28,315, and the median income for a family was $34,378. Males had a median income of $28,109 versus $19,943 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,395. About 11% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 15.6% of those age 65 or over.

Recreation

Communities

City

Towns

Villages

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Government and politics

Board of supervisors

Sheriff

Constable

Chancery Clerk

Circuit Clerk

State representatives

Presidential election results

Tishomingo County is solidly Republican at the Presidential level, having last voted for a Democrat in 1992 when it voted for Bill Clinton. Since then the closest a Democrat has come to winning the county was in 1996 when Clinton narrowly lost to Bob Dole. In 2024 Donald Trump received 89.1 percent of the vote, the best result for a Republican since 1972 when Richard Nixon received 89.2 percent of the vote.

Education

All of the county is in Tishomingo County Schools. Northeast Mississippi Community College is the community college for Tishomingo County.