DeSoto County, Mississippi

DeSoto County is a located in the  of. DeSoto County is part of the which extends into three states (,, and ). Its is. As of 2000, the population was 107,199. By 2006 the county grew to a population of 144,706.

History
The county seat, Hernando is named in honor of explorer, who allegedly died there in May , although it is more accepted that he died near.

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 6442000 acre 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 2422400 acre 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, DeSoto County is now among the forty fastest growing counties in the. This fast-paced growth is attributed to middle-class flight from Memphis. This has been most noticeable in the cities of, and. Also fuelling development is the massive casino/resort complex located in neighboring (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 a  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 and. According to the, the county has a total area of 1,287 (497 ). 1,238 km² (478 sq mi) of it is land and 49 km² (19 sq mi) of it (3.81%) is water.

Geographic features

 * Horn Lake
 * Coldwater River
 * Mississippi Delta Bluffs
 * Mississippi Delta Bluffs
 * Mississippi Delta Bluffs

Major highways
"I-55 is currently undergoing major lane expansion from four lanes to ten lanes from the MS/TN state line south to . Eventual widening of the freeway from Goodman Rd. to Star Landing Road is believed to include the addition of new exits at Nail Rd. and Star Landing Rd.."
 * [[Image:I-55.svg|20px]]

"I-269 is a planned metro Memphis outer loop connecting the cities of, ,, and . Expected to open within the next five to six years."
 * [[Image:I-69.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:I-269.svg|20px]]


 * [[Image:US 51.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:US 61.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:US 78.svg|20px]]

Adjacent counties

 * - north
 * - west
 * - southwest
 * - south
 * - east

Demographics
As of the of 2005 estimate, there were 137,004 people, 38,792 households, and 30,102 families residing in the county. The was 87/km² (224/sq mi). There were 40,795 housing units at an average density of 33/km² (85/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 85.78%, 11.40% or , 0.28% , 0.62% , 0.04% , 1.13% from , and 0.76% from two or more races. 2.35% of the population were or  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 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 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 per capita income in the State of Mississippi.

Communities

 * Cities


 * Towns


 * Villages


 * Census-designated places


 * Unincorporated places

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)