Walthall County, Mississippi

Not to be confused with Walthall, Mississippi.

Walthall County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,884.^[1] Its county seat is Tylertown.^[2] The county is named after Civil War Confederate general and Mississippi Senator Edward C. Walthall.

Walthall County
County
Walthall County Courthouse in Tylertown
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°08′N 90°06′W
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
Founded	1912
Named after	Edward C. Walthall
Seat	Tylertown
Largest town	Tylertown
Area
• Total	404 sq mi (1,050 km2)
• Land	404 sq mi (1,050 km2)
• Water	0.5 sq mi (1 km2)  0.1%
Population  (2020)
• Total	13,884
• Density	34/sq mi (13/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.walthallchamber.com

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 404 square miles (1,050 km²), of which 404 square miles (1,050 km²) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) (0.1%) is water.^[3] It is the second-smallest county in Mississippi by area.

Magee's Creek flows through the Holmes Water Park in Tylertown and is designated as an eligible stream for The State Scenic Streams Stewardship Program from the confluence of Varnell Creek to the Bogue Chitto River.^[4][5]

Walthall County is located in Southwest Mississippi.

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 98
• Mississippi Highway 27
• Mississippi Highway 44
• Mississippi Highway 48

Adjacent counties

• Lawrence County (north)
• Marion County (east)
• Washington Parish, Louisiana (south)
• Pike County (west)
• Lincoln County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1920	13,455		—
1930	13,871		3.1%
1940	17,534		26.4%
1950	15,563		−11.2%
1960	13,512		−13.2%
1970	12,500		−7.5%
1980	13,761		10.1%
1990	14,352		4.3%
2000	15,156		5.6%
2010	15,443		1.9%
2020	13,884		−10.1%
2023 (est.)	13,863	[6]	−0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9] 1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[11]

2020 census

Walthall County racial composition^[12]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	7,547	54.36%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	5,706	41.1%
Native American	42	0.3%
Asian	48	0.35%
Pacific Islander	8	0.06%
Other/Mixed	330	2.38%
Hispanic or Latino	203	1.46%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 13,884 people, 5,601 households, and 3,371 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 15,443 people living in the county. 53.4% were White, 44.5% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.4% of some other race and 1.1% of two or more races. 1.5% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census

As of the census^[13] of 2000, there were 15,156 people, 5,571 households, and 4,111 families living in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile (15 people/km²). There were 6,418 housing units at an average density of 16 units per square mile (6.2 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 54.61% White, 44.09% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. 1.33% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,571 households, out of which 34.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.00% were married couples living together, 16.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.20% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.40% under the age of 18, 9.90% from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 91.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $22,945, and the median income for a family was $29,169. Males had a median income of $26,745 versus $16,909 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,563. About 22.40% of families and 27.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.70% of those under age 18 and 17.50% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Town

• Tylertown (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

• Darbun
• Dexter
• Little Improve
• Mesa
• Salem
• Sartinville
• Union
• Hope
• Dillon
• Kirklin

Politics

Walthall County has leaned Republican in the 21st Century; prior to this, it was a traditional Democratic stronghold turned swing county. In 2024, like in many other conservative-leaning Mississippi counties, Walthall saw the strongest Republican performance since the 1972 landslide election.^[14]

United States presidential election results for Walthall County, Mississippi^[15]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	4,114	63.01%	2,355	36.07%	60	0.92%
2020	4,220	59.28%	2,835	39.82%	64	0.90%
2016	4,056	58.62%	2,790	40.32%	73	1.06%
2012	4,051	53.65%	3,422	45.32%	78	1.03%
2008	4,253	54.67%	3,456	44.42%	71	0.91%
2004	3,888	61.17%	2,435	38.31%	33	0.52%
2000	3,476	58.97%	2,356	39.97%	63	1.07%
1996	2,239	45.27%	2,240	45.29%	467	9.44%
1992	2,728	45.72%	2,476	41.49%	763	12.79%
1988	3,103	56.40%	2,354	42.78%	45	0.82%
1984	3,305	59.65%	2,219	40.05%	17	0.31%
1980	2,703	46.91%	2,960	51.37%	99	1.72%
1976	2,110	42.83%	2,650	53.79%	167	3.39%
1972	3,110	79.66%	747	19.13%	47	1.20%
1968	387	8.05%	1,233	25.66%	3,186	66.29%
1964	3,014	95.14%	154	4.86%	0	0.00%
1960	310	14.49%	747	34.92%	1,082	50.58%
1956	306	17.74%	1,143	66.26%	276	16.00%
1952	491	26.57%	1,357	73.43%	0	0.00%
1948	5	0.39%	85	6.58%	1,202	93.03%
1944	68	5.24%	1,230	94.76%	0	0.00%
1940	40	3.21%	1,206	96.71%	1	0.08%
1936	28	2.22%	1,234	97.70%	1	0.08%
1932	30	2.72%	1,069	97.09%	2	0.18%
1928	218	20.15%	864	79.85%	0	0.00%
1924	64	8.84%	660	91.16%	0	0.00%
1920	139	22.49%	464	75.08%	15	2.43%
1916	12	1.74%	665	96.66%	11	1.60%

Education

There is one school district, Walthall County School District.^[16]

The county is in the district of Southwest Mississippi Community College.^[17]

See also

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