Pike County, Mississippi

Pike County is a county located on the southwestern border of the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,324. The county seat is Magnolia. Pike County is named for explorer Zebulon Pike. Pike County is part of the McComb, MS Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History
Pike County was formed from Marion County by an act of the Territorial General Assembly on December 9, 1815. Holmesville was selected as the county seat on December 11, 1816; it was named in honor of Major Andrew Hunter Holmes, an army officer killed in the War of 1812. In 1873 Magnolia was voted in as the new county seat. The county was devoted to agriculture and is still mostly rural.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 411 sqmi, of which 409 sqmi is land and 1.7 sqmi (0.4%) is water.

Major highways

 * [[Image:I-55.svg|20px]] Interstate 55
 * [[Image:US 51.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 51
 * [[Image:US 98.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 98
 * [[Image:Circle sign 24.svg|20px]] Mississippi Highway 24
 * [[Image:Circle sign 44.svg|20px]] Mississippi Highway 44
 * [[Image:Circle sign 48.svg|20px]] Mississippi Highway 48
 * [[Image:Circle sign 570.svg|20px]] Mississippi Highway 570
 * [[Image:Circle sign 584.svg|20px]] Mississippi Highway 584

Adjacent counties

 * Lincoln County (north)
 * Walthall County (east)
 * Washington Parish, Louisiana (southeast)
 * Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana (south)
 * Amite County (west)

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 40,324 people, 14,404 households, and 8,528 families residing in the county.

Cities

 * Magnolia (county seat)
 * McComb

Towns

 * Osyka
 * Summit

Census-designated place

 * Fernwood

Unincorporated communities

 * Chatawa
 * Holmesville
 * Kirkville
 * Pricedale
 * Progress
 * Sherman

Politics
Pike County is a swing county in presidential elections; since 2000 it has voted Democratic four times and Republican twice.