Oktibbeha County, Mississippi

Oktibbeha County is a county in Mississippi, United States, in the east-central part of the state, home to Mississippi State University. It had a population of 51,788 at the 2020 census and covers 458 square miles (1,190 km2) of land centred near 33°26′N 88°53′W.

Starkville is the county seat, and its postal code is 39759. The county has three incorporated cities and towns plus a handful of unincorporated communities, sits in the Central time zone, and carries FIPS code 28105.

Towns & Villages in Oktibbeha County

Oktibbeha County has three incorporated municipalities — Starkville, Sturgis, and part of Maben (which straddles the Webster County line) — alongside a set of long-standing unincorporated communities. Mississippi does not group these places into civil townships, so the table below lists Type only: City · seat, Town, or Unincorp.

Maben’s town limits cross into neighboring Webster County, so the county line runs through part of its built-up area — a common pattern for small towns founded near a border rather than a courthouse square. The university’s home campus and the unincorporated community around it are both commonly called Mississippi State CDP. Together they form no separate municipality of their own, and the area is served by its own ZIP code, 39762.

ZIP Codes

• 39759 — Starkville (standard delivery; also serves Adaton)
• 39760 — Starkville (PO Box only)
• 39762 — Mississippi State CDP (PO Box only, campus)
• 39769 — Sturgis
• 39750 — Maben (shared with Webster County)

Smaller unincorporated communities such as Oktoc, Sessums, Bradley, and Self Creek do not have their own ZIP code and are served by the nearest Starkville or Maben post office.

Geography

Oktibbeha County lies in Mississippi’s Black Belt, a band of fertile black-soil uplands that once supported large cotton plantations, with parts of the county’s western reaches falling in the sandier Flatwoods region. The county has 458 square miles of land and 3.7 square miles of water. It borders Clay County to the north, Lowndes County to the east, Noxubee County to the southeast, Winston County to the south, Choctaw County to the west, and Webster County to the northwest.

Demographics

The county’s population was 51,788 at the 2020 census. Starkville is by far the largest community, followed by the Mississippi State University campus community and the small town of Sturgis. A large share of residents are university students or affiliated with the university, which shapes both the age profile and the seasonal swings in population. Median household income in the county runs below the Mississippi median of $54,203, a common pattern in counties with a large student population who report little or no earned income. Population density works out to roughly 113 people per square mile.

Economy & Local Life

Mississippi State University is the county’s dominant employer and economic anchor, drawing faculty, staff, contractors, and a large student population to Starkville and the surrounding area. Beyond the university, the local economy runs on healthcare, retail and services catering to students, and agriculture in the outlying rural areas, where cattle and row crops remain common. The Mississippi State Bulldogs’ home football games each fall bring large weekend crowds to Starkville, and the annual Cotton District Arts Festival draws visitors to the city’s historic Cotton District neighborhood.

History

Oktibbeha County was organized in 1833 from Choctaw cession lands, after the Choctaw people had occupied the territory for generations before removal. The name comes from the Choctaw okti abeha bok, generally translated as “ice, there in the creek” or “icy creek.” Mississippi State University was founded in Starkville in 1878 as the Agricultural and Mechanical College, Mississippi’s land-grant institution, and its growth has shaped the county’s economy and population ever since.

Getting There

U.S. Highway 82 crosses the county east-west and Mississippi Highways 12 and 25 provide north-south routes through Starkville.

• Columbus, Mississippi — 22 miles east
• West Point, Mississippi — 20 miles north
• Louisville, Mississippi — 30 miles south
• Tupelo, Mississippi — 55 miles north

The nearest commercial airport is Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Lowndes County, about 25 miles east of Starkville.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Oktibbeha County, Mississippi?
It is in east-central Mississippi, centred near 33°26′N 88°53′W, and is home to Mississippi State University.

What is the population of Oktibbeha County?
51,788 at the 2020 census.

How big is Oktibbeha County?
458 square miles (1,190 km2) of land plus 3.7 square miles of water.

What is the county seat of Oktibbeha County?
Starkville is the county seat.

How many towns are in Oktibbeha County?
Three incorporated municipalities — Starkville, Sturgis, and part of Maben — plus several unincorporated communities such as Sessums, Oktoc, and Mississippi State CDP.

What ZIP codes are in Oktibbeha County?
39759 and 39760 (Starkville), 39762 (Mississippi State CDP), 39769 (Sturgis), and 39750 (Maben, shared with Webster County).

What is Oktibbeha County known for?
It is best known as home to Mississippi State University, the state’s land-grant research university.

More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Mississippi.