Demographics

As of the census

Census

A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...

of 2005 estimate, there were 137,004 people, 38,792 households, and 30,102 families residing in the county. The population density

Population density

Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...

 was 224 people per square mile (87/km²). There were 40,795 housing units at an average density of 85 per square mile (33/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 85.78% White

Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 11.40% Black

Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

 or African American

Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 0.28% Native American

Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 0.62% Asian

Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 0.04% Pacific Islander

Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 1.13% from other races

Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, and 0.76% from two or more races. 2.35% of the population were Hispanic

Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

 or Latino

Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

 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

Marriage

Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...

 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

Per capita income

Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...

 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 had the second highest

Mississippi locations by per capita income

Mississippi is the poorest state in the United States of America, with a per capita income of $15,853 .- Mississippi Counties Ranked by Per Capita Income :1. Madison County - $32,469 2. DeSoto County - $20,468 3. Rankin County - $20,412...

 per capita income in the State of Mississippi.

Communities

• Cities
  • Hernando
    Hernando, Mississippi
    Hernando is a city in central DeSoto County, Mississippi. The population was 6,812 at the 2000 census. The 2006 census estimate reflects a population of 10,580. Hernando is the county seat of DeSoto County, the second-most-populous county in the Memphis metropolitan area. US Hwy 51 and the I-55...
    
    
  • Horn Lake
    Horn Lake, Mississippi
    Horn Lake is a city in DeSoto County, Mississippi, United States. Horn Lake is a suburb of Memphis, Tennessee, which is located just a few miles to the north. As of the 2000 U.S...
    
    
  • Olive Branch
    Olive Branch, Mississippi
    Olive Branch is a city in DeSoto County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 21,054 at the 2000 census. A July 1, 2008 United States Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 31,830, making it the ninth-largest city in the state of Mississippi...
    
    
  • Southaven
    Southaven, Mississippi
    -Households And Families:As of the census of 2000, there were 28,977 people, 11,007 households, and 8,134 families residing in the city. The population density was 857.9 people per square mile...
    
    

• Towns
  • Walls
    Walls, Mississippi
    Walls, is a village located in Northern DeSoto County, Mississippi near the Mississippi River, part of the larger region known as "The Delta", and known for its rich, dark soil.-History:...
    
    

• Villages
  • Memphis
    Memphis, Mississippi
    Memphis was a village in DeSoto County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 87 at the 2000 census. In 2004, the village of Memphis officially became part of the town of Walls.Population in July 2007: 119.Males: 54 Females: 65...
    
    

• Census-designated places
  • Lynchburg
    Lynchburg, Mississippi
    Lynchburg is a census-designated place in DeSoto County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 2,959 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lynchburg is located at ....
    
    

• Unincorporated places
  • Cockrum
    Cockrum, Mississippi
    Cockrum is an unincorporated community located in Desoto County, Mississippi, United States. Cockrum is approximately north of Independence and south of Olive Branch along Mississippi Highway 305....
    
    
  • Eudora
    Eudora, Mississippi
    Eudora, Mississippi is an unincorporated, rural community located in southwestern DeSoto County, Mississippi about south of Memphis, Tennessee...
    
    
  • Lake Cormorant
    Lake Cormorant, Mississippi
    Lake Cormorant is an unincorporated community located in DeSoto County, Mississippi, United States. Lake Cormorant is adjacent to the town of Walls and north of North Tunica near U.S...
    
    
  • Lake View
    Lake View, Mississippi
    Lake View is an unincorporated community located in DeSoto County, Mississippi, United States. Lake View is located near the Mississippi/Tennessee border just south of Memphis, Tennessee...
    
    
  • Lewisburg
    Lewisburg, Mississippi
    Lewisburg is an unincorporated community located in DeSoto County, Mississippi, United States. Lewisburg is approximately south of Cockrum and approximately north of Independence along Mississippi Highway 305....
    
    
  • Mineral Wells
    Mineral Wells, Mississippi
    Mineral Wells is an unincorporated community located in central DeSoto County, Mississippi, United States. Mineral Wells is near the Mississippi/Tennessee border just south of Memphis, Tennessee and approximately north of Olive Branch on Mississippi Highway 178....
    
    
  • Nesbit
    Nesbit, Mississippi
    Nesbit is an unincorporated community in DeSoto County, Mississippi, United States. Nesbit is approximately south of Horn Lake, approximately south of Southaven and approximately north of Hernando near U.S...
    
    
  • Pleasant Hill
    Pleasant Hill, Mississippi
    Pleasant Hill is an unincorporated community located in DeSoto County, Mississippi, United States. Pleasant Hill is approximately southwest of Hernando and southeast of Eudora, just east of Arkabutla Lake....
    
    

Days, Mississippi

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in DeSoto County, Mississippi

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)

External links

• DeSotoCountyOnline.com - Useful Information for Residents and Visitors.
• DeSotoMS.com - Official County Site.
• DeSoto County Economic Development Council - Official site.
• DeSoto Arts Council - Official site.
• 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)