Greene County is a county located on the southeast border of the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,530. Its county seat is Leakesville. Established in 1811, the county was named for General Nathanael Greene of the American Revolutionary War.
| Name: | Greene County |
|---|---|
| FIPS code: | 28-041 |
| State: | Mississippi |
| Founded: | 1811 |
| Named for: | Nathanael Greene |
| Seat: | Leakesville |
| Largest town: | Leakesville |
| Total Area: | 719 sq mi (1,860 km²) |
| Land Area: | 713 sq mi (1,850 km²) |
| Total Population: | 13,530 |
| Population Density: | 19/sq mi (7.3/km²) |
| Time zone: | UTC−6 (Central) |
| Summer Time Zone (DST): | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Website: | www.greenecountyms.gov |
Greene County location map. Where is Greene County?
History
Historically this area of the state was occupied by the Choctaw people, who constituted the largest tribe. French, Spanish and English colonists traded with them in the early colonial years. in 1830, President Andrew Jackson gained passage of the Indian Removal Act by Congress, and proceeded to force the Choctaw and other of the Five Civilized Tribes out of the Southeast to lands west of the Mississippi River. The land was sold to European-American settlers.
County boundaries went through numerous changes as population increased and new counties were created. Along with neighboring Jones and Perry counties, Greene is characterized by its sandy soil and Piney Woods. These characteristics limited the productivity of farming.
The county economy originally depended on subsistence farmers who ran herds of cattle and hogs, which were allowed to roam freely in the pine forests and bush. Together with the game they hunted, residents sold the meat animals to markets in Mobile, Alabama, the nearest commercial center. While some farmers tried to cultivate cotton because of the high prices when the market was strong, most in this area had small farms and the owners held few enslaved African Americans. The soil did not support very successful cotton crops; in 1860 only 16 of the 213 farmers in this county raised cotton.
Greene County Road Map
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 719 square miles (1,860 km), of which 713 square miles (1,850 km) is land and 5.9 square miles (15 km) (0.8%) is water.
Major highways
- U.S. Highway 45
- U.S. Highway 98
- Mississippi Highway 42
- Mississippi Highway 57
- Mississippi Highway 63
Adjacent counties
- Wayne County (north)
- Washington County, Alabama (northeast)
- Mobile County, Alabama (southeast)
- George County (south)
- Perry County (west)
National protected area
- De Soto National Forest (part)
Greene County Topographic Map
Greene County Satellite Map
Greene County Outline Map
