Lamar County, Mississippi

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

 * [[Image:I-59.svg|20px]] Interstate 59
 * [[Image:US 11.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 11
 * [[Image:US 98.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 98
 * [[Image:Circle sign 13.svg|20px]] Mississippi Highway 13
 * [[Image:Circle sign 42.svg|20px]] Mississippi Highway 42
 * [[Image:Circle sign 44.svg|20px]] Mississippi Highway 44

Adjacent counties

 * Covington County (north)
 * Forrest County (east)
 * Pearl River County (south)
 * Marion County (west)
 * Jefferson Davis County (northwest)

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.

Cities

 * Hattiesburg (mostly in Forrest County)
 * Lumberton (partly in Pearl River County)
 * Purvis (county seat)

Town

 * Sumrall

Census-designated places

 * Arnold Line
 * Baxterville
 * Oak Grove
 * West Hattiesburg

Other unincorporated communities

 * Bellevue
 * Okahola
 * Oloh
 * Talowah

Education
School districts include:
 * Hattiesburg Public School District
 * Lamar County School District

Former school districts:
 * Lumberton Public School District - Merged into the Lamar County district in 2018.

The county is in the service area of Pearl River Community College.