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Mississippi Counties
There are eighty counties in Mississippi. Two original counties were Adams County and Jefferson County (formerly Pickering) established in 1799Newton County, Mississippi
Newton County Education, Geography, and History
Newton County is a county located in the state of Mississippi. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 21,720. Its county seat is Decatur.
Etymology - Origin of Newton County Name
Newton is named for scientist Isaac Newton.
Demographics:
County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts
Newton County History
Newton County is a part of the original territory ceded to the United States by the Choctaws through the treaty of
Dancing Rabbit concluded in 1830. It was established February 25 1836. Newton County was named for Sir Isaac Newton
(1642-1727), the English mathematician, who was knighted by Queen Anne in 1705 and who is celebrated for his discoveries
in the field of optics and for his formulations of the laws of motion and gravity. Newton County, Mississippi, is the
only American county named for Sir Isaac Newton. (If the county had been formed and named in 1833, at the same time as
Jasper County, there would be reason to believe that it was named for Sergeant John Newton rather than for Sir Isaac
Newton. The town of Newton, in Newton County, sometimes is said to have been named for Newton Dolittle, who donated the
land for the town.
The county has a land area of 568 square miles. In shape it is a square, containing sixteen townships. It was formed
from the lower half of Neshoba County.
Speaking of the old town of Pinkney, he says: "The name Pinkney dates as far back in the history of Newton County, as
any other name in it. It is not known from what the town derived its name; the probabilities are it was settled as early
as 1837, probably earlier, and was a place of some importance and trade. Lane & Boyd, merchants of that place, are
reported to have had a stock of goods of $10,000, who issued a fractional currency called 'shin-plasters,' and were
correspondents of the Decatur bank, and when the bank failed it naturally carried the business of Lane & Boyd with it.
The name of Pinkney gave way to Stamper,"and Stamper has given way to the little village of Stratton. The county seat
is the old town of Decatur.
This region, long the home of the Choctaw Indians, received a considerable influx of settlers early in the last century.
By the year 1837 there were in the county 1,506 whites and 426 slaves, and by 1850 the popu1ation had increased to
4,465; in 1870, to 10,067; 1890, to 16,625; 1920 to 20,727.
Geography: Land and Water
As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 580 square miles (1,501 km2), of which, 578
square miles (1,497 km2) of it is land and 2 square miles (4 km2) of it (0.27%) is water.
Neighboring Counties
Bordering counties are as follows:
- Neshoba County (north)
- Lauderdale County (east)
- Jasper County (south)
- Scott County (west)
Education
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