DeSoto County | |
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Coordinates: 34°53′N 89°59′W / 34.88°N 89.99°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Mississippi |
Founded | February 9, 1836 |
Named for | Hernando de Soto |
Seat | Hernando |
Largest city | Southaven |
Area | |
• Total | 497 sq mi (1,290 km2) |
• Land | 476 sq mi (1,230 km2) |
• Water | 21 sq mi (50 km2) 4.2% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 185,314 |
• Estimate (2023) | 193,247 |
• Density | 370/sq mi (140/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Congressional district | 1st |
Website | www |
DeSoto County is a county located on the northwestern border of the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 185,314,[1] making it the third-most populous county in Mississippi. Its county seat is Hernando.[2] DeSoto County is part of the Memphis metropolitan area. It is the second-most populous county in that statistical area. The county has lowland areas that were developed in the 19th century for cotton plantations, and hill country in the eastern part of the county.[3]