Smith County is a county in Mississippi, United States, roughly midway between Jackson and Hattiesburg. It had a population of 14,209 at the 2020 census and covers 637 square miles (1,650 km2) centred near 32°01′N 89°30′W.
Raleigh is the county seat, and its postal code is 39153. The county has three incorporated towns, one village, and a handful of unincorporated communities. It observes Central time and remains a prohibition (dry) county, meaning countywide alcohol sales are restricted.
Towns & Villages in Smith County
Smith County has three incorporated towns, one incorporated village, and a scatter of unincorporated communities and former settlements. “CDP” below marks census-designated places with no municipal government; “Unincorp.” marks a named community with no incorporation or Census Bureau designation.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh | Town · seat | — | 39153 |
| Taylorsville | Town | 6,270 | 39168 |
| Mize | Town | — | 39116 |
| Polkville | Village | — | — |
| Sylvarena | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Burns | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cohay | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Summerland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Traxler | Unincorp. | — | — |
| White Oak | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bezer | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bunker Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Center Ridge | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Clear Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Daniel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gambrell | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gunn | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Heater | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Klein | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lemon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lingle | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lorena | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Milton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mineral Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mount Pleasant | Unincorp. | — | — |
| New Haven | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pineville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sand Point | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shady Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shongelo | Unincorp. (ghost town) | — | — |
| Simpson | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Trenton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Union | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wicker | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wisner | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Zion Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
Taylorsville is Smith County’s largest town, though Raleigh, the county seat, sits near the geographic centre. Shongelo, once a working sawmill settlement, is now a recognized ghost town with no remaining population.
ZIP Codes
- 39153 — Raleigh (also serves Polkville and Union)
- 39168 — Taylorsville (also serves Sylvarena and Bunker Hill)
- 39116 — Mize (also serves Cohay and Center Ridge)
Smith County’s smaller unincorporated communities rely on one of these three post offices; none has its own dedicated ZIP code.
Geography
Smith County lies in the piney-woods belt of central-southeast Mississippi, drained by tributaries of the Leaf and Strong rivers. The terrain is gently rolling and heavily forested, supporting a large commercial timber industry. Total area is 637 square miles, of which 636 square miles is land and 1.0 square mile is water.
The county borders Scott County to the north, Jasper County to the east, Jones County to the southeast, Covington County to the south, Simpson County to the west, and Rankin County to the northwest.
Demographics
Smith County had 14,209 residents at the 2020 census. Taylorsville and Raleigh are its two largest communities. The county’s median household income runs below the Mississippi median of $54,203, reflecting its rural, timber-dependent economy. Population density is roughly 22 people per square mile, among the more sparsely settled counties in the state’s central belt.
Economy & Local Life
Timber and forest products dominate the local economy, alongside poultry farming and cattle ranching common across the Mississippi piney woods. Smith County Schools serves the county’s students from a single consolidated district. As a dry county, alcohol sales are restricted countywide, a designation Smith County has held since Mississippi’s local-option prohibition era.
History
Smith County was organized in 1833 and named for Major David Smith, a local military officer. Raleigh was established as the county seat in the county’s early years and remains its seat today. The county’s economy historically centered on cotton and timber, with the timber industry gradually becoming dominant through the twentieth century as railroads opened access to the piney woods.
Getting There
Mississippi Highways 13, 18, 28, 35, and 37 cross the county, connecting its towns to Jackson and Hattiesburg.
- Jackson — 45 miles northwest
- Hattiesburg — 40 miles south
- Laurel — 30 miles southeast
- Meridian — 55 miles east
Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport is the nearest major commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Smith County, Mississippi?
It is in central-southeast Mississippi, between Jackson and Hattiesburg.
What is the population of Smith County?
14,209 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is Smith County?
637 square miles (1,650 km2), including 1.0 square mile of water.
What is the county seat of Smith County?
Raleigh is the county seat.
How many towns are in Smith County?
Three incorporated towns (Raleigh, Taylorsville, Mize) and one village (Polkville), plus numerous unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Smith County?
39153 (Raleigh), 39168 (Taylorsville), and 39116 (Mize).
Is Smith County a dry county?
Yes, it is a prohibition county with countywide restrictions on alcohol sales.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Mississippi.