DESOTO COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI
(Redirected from De Soto County, Mississippi)
'DeSoto County' is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. DeSoto County is part of the Memphis metropolitan area which extends into three states (Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi). Its county seat is Hernando6. As of 2000, the population was 107,199. By 2006 the county grew to a population of 144,706.
The county seat, Hernando is named in honor of Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto, who allegedly died there in May 1542, although it is more accepted that he died near Lake City, Arkansas.
At its organization on February 9, 1836, DeSoto County stretched from the Tennessee state line on the north to the Panola County line on the south; from the Mississippi River and Tunica County on the west to Marshall County on the east. A mistake in surveying placed the state line at what is now Winchester Road in Shelby County, Tennessee. In 1838, the line was resurveyed and moved to its present location.
Indian artifacts collected in DeSoto County link it with prehistoric groups of Woodland and Mississippian Indians.
The Mississippian Indians met Hernando DeSoto when he explored North Mississippi and, traditionally, came through DeSoto County. Some scholars project that DeSoto discovered the Mississippi River west of present-day Lake Cormorant, built rafts there and crossed to Crowley's Ridge, Arkansas. The National Park Service declared a "DeSoto Corridor" from the Chickasaw Bluff (Memphis) to Coahoma County, Mississippi.
Over 200 years passed and the Mississippian Indians disappeared. Meanwhile, the Chickasaw tribe moved here. Their "Long Town," several villages close to each other, was near present-day Pontotoc. The Chickasaws claimed land here as their hunting ground.
Negotiations, begun September, 1816, between the United States government and the Chickasaw nation, concluded with the signing of the Treaty of Pontotoc in October 1832. During these 16 years government officials and Chickasaw tribesmen worked out and revised treaty details.
From 1832 to 1836, government surveyors mapped the of the Chickasaw domain, dividing it into townships, ranges and sections just as it remains today. The Mississippi Legislature formed 10 new counties, including DeSoto, Tunica, Marshall and Panola Counties, from this land.
By treaty the land was assigned by sections (640 acres, or one square mile) to individual Indians. The Chickasaws, a numerically small tribe, were assigned of land using this formula. The government disposed of the remaining 400,000 at public sale. The Indians received at least $1.25 per acre for their land. The government land sold for 75 cents per acre or less.
Located adjacent to Memphis, Tennessee, DeSoto County in the last 20 years has become among the forty fastest growing counties in the United States. Its fast-paced growth is attributed to the middle-class flight from Memphis. This has been most noticeable in the cities of Southaven, Olive Branch and Hernando. Also fuelling development is the massive casino/resort complex located in neighboring Tunica County, Mississippi (the third largest gambling district in the United States).
DeSoto County is known for its variety of golf courses. It was previously known as the home of Maywood Beach a Water park that closed in 2003. (It had been open more than seventy years.)
DeSoto County is the most northwestern of Mississippi's 82 counties, in a corner that borders Tennessee and Arkansas. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,287 km² (497 mi²). 1,238 km² (478 mi²) of it is land and 49 km² (19 mi²) of it (3.81%) is water.
★ Mississippi River
★ Horn Lake
★ Coldwater River
★ Arkabutla Lake
★ Mississippi Delta Bluffs
★ Interstate 55
★ Interstate 69
★ Interstate 269
★ U.S. Route 51
★ U.S. Route 61
★ U.S. Route 78 (Interstate 22)
★ Shelby County, Tennessee - north
★ Crittenden County, Arkansas - west
★ Tunica County - southwest
★ Tate County - south
★ Marshall County - east
As of the census² of 2005 estimate, there were 137,004 people, 38,792 households, and 30,102 families residing in the county. The population density was 87/km² (224/mi²). There were 40,795 housing units at an average density of 33/km² (85/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 85.78% White, 11.40% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.13% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. 2.35% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 38,792 households out of which 39.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.70% were married couples living together, 11.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.40% were non-families. 18.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the county the population was spread out with 28.20% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 32.70% from 25 to 44, 22.10% from 45 to 64, and 8.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $48,206, and the median income for a family was $53,590. Males had a median income of $38,032 versus $26,474 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,468. 7.10% of the population and 5.60% of families were below the poverty line. 8.30% are under the age of 18 and 9.50% are 65 or older.
DeSoto County has the second highest per capita income in the State of Mississippi.
★ 'Cities'
★
★ Hernando
★
★ Horn Lake
★
★ Olive Branch
★
★ Southaven
★ 'Towns'
★
★ Walls
★ 'Villages'
★
★ Memphis
★ 'Census-designated places'
★
★ Lynchburg
★ 'Unincorporated places'
★
★ Cockrum
★
★ Eudora
★
★ Lake Cormorant
★
★ Lake View
★
★ Mineral Wells
★
★ Nesbit
★
★ Pleasant Hill
★ DeSotoMS.com, the official county government website
★ DeSoto County Economic Development Council official website
★ ''Desoto County Museum'', DeSoto County Historic Museum in Hernando
★ The ''DeSoto Times'' online edition, the daily county newspaper based in Hernando (site under construction)
★ ''The DeSoto County Tribune'' online edition, the weekly county newspaper based in Olive Branch
★ The ''DeSoto Appeal'' online edition, a community edition of the Memphis, Tennessee-based ''Commercial Appeal''
★ An article from the ''Clarion-Ledger'', providing insight into the contrasts amid DeSoto County's growth (22 December 1999)
★ GoDesoto.com, a community information website
★ ''Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790-1920'', Thorndale, William, and Dollarhide, William; Copyright 1987. (Historic state maps including evolution of DeSoto County)
'DeSoto County' is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. DeSoto County is part of the Memphis metropolitan area which extends into three states (Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi). Its county seat is Hernando6. As of 2000, the population was 107,199. By 2006 the county grew to a population of 144,706.
| Contents |
| History |
| Early History |
| Modern History |
| Attractions |
| Geography |
| Geographic features |
| Major highways |
| Adjacent counties |
| Demographics |
| Communities |
| External links |
| Suggested reading |
History
The county seat, Hernando is named in honor of Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto, who allegedly died there in May 1542, although it is more accepted that he died near Lake City, Arkansas.
Early History
At its organization on February 9, 1836, DeSoto County stretched from the Tennessee state line on the north to the Panola County line on the south; from the Mississippi River and Tunica County on the west to Marshall County on the east. A mistake in surveying placed the state line at what is now Winchester Road in Shelby County, Tennessee. In 1838, the line was resurveyed and moved to its present location.
Indian artifacts collected in DeSoto County link it with prehistoric groups of Woodland and Mississippian Indians.
The Mississippian Indians met Hernando DeSoto when he explored North Mississippi and, traditionally, came through DeSoto County. Some scholars project that DeSoto discovered the Mississippi River west of present-day Lake Cormorant, built rafts there and crossed to Crowley's Ridge, Arkansas. The National Park Service declared a "DeSoto Corridor" from the Chickasaw Bluff (Memphis) to Coahoma County, Mississippi.
Over 200 years passed and the Mississippian Indians disappeared. Meanwhile, the Chickasaw tribe moved here. Their "Long Town," several villages close to each other, was near present-day Pontotoc. The Chickasaws claimed land here as their hunting ground.
Negotiations, begun September, 1816, between the United States government and the Chickasaw nation, concluded with the signing of the Treaty of Pontotoc in October 1832. During these 16 years government officials and Chickasaw tribesmen worked out and revised treaty details.
From 1832 to 1836, government surveyors mapped the of the Chickasaw domain, dividing it into townships, ranges and sections just as it remains today. The Mississippi Legislature formed 10 new counties, including DeSoto, Tunica, Marshall and Panola Counties, from this land.
By treaty the land was assigned by sections (640 acres, or one square mile) to individual Indians. The Chickasaws, a numerically small tribe, were assigned of land using this formula. The government disposed of the remaining 400,000 at public sale. The Indians received at least $1.25 per acre for their land. The government land sold for 75 cents per acre or less.
Modern History
Located adjacent to Memphis, Tennessee, DeSoto County in the last 20 years has become among the forty fastest growing counties in the United States. Its fast-paced growth is attributed to the middle-class flight from Memphis. This has been most noticeable in the cities of Southaven, Olive Branch and Hernando. Also fuelling development is the massive casino/resort complex located in neighboring Tunica County, Mississippi (the third largest gambling district in the United States).
Attractions
DeSoto County is known for its variety of golf courses. It was previously known as the home of Maywood Beach a Water park that closed in 2003. (It had been open more than seventy years.)
Geography
DeSoto County is the most northwestern of Mississippi's 82 counties, in a corner that borders Tennessee and Arkansas. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,287 km² (497 mi²). 1,238 km² (478 mi²) of it is land and 49 km² (19 mi²) of it (3.81%) is water.
Geographic features
★ Mississippi River
★ Horn Lake
★ Coldwater River
★ Arkabutla Lake
★ Mississippi Delta Bluffs
Major highways
★ Interstate 55
Currently undergoing major lane expansion from four lanes to ten lanes at the MS/TN state line to Church Road. Future expansion will include a four to eight lane expansion from Church Road to Star Landing Road. This will include a new exit at Star Landing Road and rumored a potential exit at Nail Road.
★ Interstate 69
★ Interstate 269
I-269 is a planned outer metropolitan loop connecting the cities of Hernando, Mississippi, Olive Branch, Mississippi,Collierville, Tennessee, and Millington, Tennessee. Expected to open within the next five to six years.
★ U.S. Route 51
★ U.S. Route 61
★ U.S. Route 78 (Interstate 22)
Adjacent counties
★ Shelby County, Tennessee - north
★ Crittenden County, Arkansas - west
★ Tunica County - southwest
★ Tate County - south
★ Marshall County - east
Demographics
As of the census² of 2005 estimate, there were 137,004 people, 38,792 households, and 30,102 families residing in the county. The population density was 87/km² (224/mi²). There were 40,795 housing units at an average density of 33/km² (85/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 85.78% White, 11.40% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.13% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. 2.35% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 38,792 households out of which 39.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.70% were married couples living together, 11.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.40% were non-families. 18.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the county the population was spread out with 28.20% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 32.70% from 25 to 44, 22.10% from 45 to 64, and 8.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $48,206, and the median income for a family was $53,590. Males had a median income of $38,032 versus $26,474 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,468. 7.10% of the population and 5.60% of families were below the poverty line. 8.30% are under the age of 18 and 9.50% are 65 or older.
DeSoto County has the second highest per capita income in the State of Mississippi.
Communities
★ 'Cities'
★
★ Hernando
★
★ Horn Lake
★
★ Olive Branch
★
★ Southaven
★ 'Towns'
★
★ Walls
★ 'Villages'
★
★ Memphis
★ 'Census-designated places'
★
★ Lynchburg
★ 'Unincorporated places'
★
★ Cockrum
★
★ Eudora
★
★ Lake Cormorant
★
★ Lake View
★
★ Mineral Wells
★
★ Nesbit
★
★ Pleasant Hill
External links
★ DeSotoMS.com, the official county government website
★ DeSoto County Economic Development Council official website
★ ''Desoto County Museum'', DeSoto County Historic Museum in Hernando
★ The ''DeSoto Times'' online edition, the daily county newspaper based in Hernando (site under construction)
★ ''The DeSoto County Tribune'' online edition, the weekly county newspaper based in Olive Branch
★ The ''DeSoto Appeal'' online edition, a community edition of the Memphis, Tennessee-based ''Commercial Appeal''
★ An article from the ''Clarion-Ledger'', providing insight into the contrasts amid DeSoto County's growth (22 December 1999)
★ GoDesoto.com, a community information website
Suggested reading
★ ''Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790-1920'', Thorndale, William, and Dollarhide, William; Copyright 1987. (Historic state maps including evolution of DeSoto County)
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