Adams County is a county in Mississippi, United States, along the Mississippi River in the southwestern part of the state. It had a population of 29,538 at the 2020 census and covers 488 square miles (1,264 km2), of which 462 square miles (1,197 km2) are land and 25 square miles (65 km2) are water, centred near 31°29′N 91°21′W.
Natchez is the county seat, and its postal code is 39120. The county has one incorporated city, Natchez, and roughly two dozen unincorporated communities, including the census-designated places of Cloverdale and Morgantown. Adams County observes Central time and carries FIPS code 28001.
Towns & Villages in Adams County
Adams County has one incorporated municipality, Natchez, which is also the county seat. Everywhere else in the county is unincorporated, ranging from the recognized census-designated places of Cloverdale and Morgantown to smaller crossroads communities and river landings. The table below marks each place’s status; a dash means the figure is not separately tracked by the Census Bureau or postal service.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natchez | City · seat | 14,520 | 39120 |
| Cloverdale | CDP | — | — |
| Morgantown | CDP | — | — |
| Anna | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Arnot | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Carthage | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cranfield | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ellis Cliffs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fenwick | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Foster | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hawthorne | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hutchins Landing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jeannette | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Johnsville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kienstra | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kingston | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Leesdale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Linwood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pine Ridge | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Saint Catherine | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Selma | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sibley | Unincorp. | — | 39165 |
| Stanton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Washington | Unincorp. | — | 39190 |
ZIP Codes
- 39120 — Natchez (standard delivery ZIP for the county)
- 39121 — Natchez (PO Box)
- 39122 — Natchez (PO Box)
- 39165 — Sibley (PO Box)
- 39190 — Washington (PO Box)
Every other community in the county, including Cloverdale, Morgantown, Cranfield, Kingston, Pine Ridge and Stanton, is served by one of the Natchez ZIP codes rather than a ZIP of its own.
Geography
Adams County sits on the loess bluffs above the Mississippi River, which forms its western boundary. The Homochitto National Forest covers much of the county’s southern half, and the Natchez Trace Parkway crosses the northern part of the county on its way toward Jackson. The Homochitto River drains the southern part of the county toward the Mississippi.
Adams County borders Jefferson County to the north, Franklin County to the east and Wilkinson County to the south. Across the Mississippi River, Concordia Parish, Louisiana lies to the southwest and Tensas Parish, Louisiana lies to the northwest.
Demographics
Adams County had a population of 29,538 at the 2020 census, a density of about 64 people per square mile. Natchez is by far the largest community, home to about half the county’s residents; no other place in the county approaches its size, and the Census Bureau tracks only Cloverdale and Morgantown as separate census-designated places. Median household income in the county runs below the Mississippi median of $54,203.
Economy & Local Life
Public education and health care anchor the local economy: the Natchez-Adams School District is the county’s largest employer, followed by Merit Health Natchez hospital. The Adams County Correctional Center, a privately operated federal facility, is another major employer, alongside Walmart and the City of Natchez government. Tourism tied to Natchez’s antebellum architecture and its riverfront also supports local jobs.
History
Adams County was organized on April 2, 1799, from part of Pickering Territorial County, making it the first organized county in the Mississippi Territory. It is named for President John Adams. Before the Civil War, Adams County held one of the highest concentrations of wealth in the United States, built on the cotton plantation economy and the forced labor of enslaved African Americans — a history the county’s historic sites and museums address directly today.
Getting There
U.S. Highway 61 and U.S. Highway 84 both run through Natchez, and the Natchez Trace Parkway crosses the county’s north end. A bridge across the Mississippi River connects Natchez directly to Vidalia, Louisiana.
- Vidalia, Louisiana — across the river, adjoining Natchez
- McComb, Mississippi — about 60 miles east
- Jackson, Mississippi — about 90 miles northeast
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana — about 100 miles south
Natchez-Adams County Airport offers general aviation service only; the nearest commercial airport is Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport, roughly 100 miles northeast. There is no Amtrak service in the county.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Adams County located?
It is in the southwestern part of Mississippi, along the Mississippi River, with Natchez as its county seat.
What is the population of Adams County?
Adams County had a population of 29,538 at the 2020 census.
How big is Adams County?
The county covers 488 square miles (1,264 km2), of which 462 square miles are land and 25 square miles are water.
What is the county seat of Adams County?
Natchez is the county seat.
How many towns are in Adams County?
Natchez is the only incorporated city; the rest of the county’s places, including Cloverdale and Morgantown, are unincorporated.
What ZIP codes are in Adams County?
The county’s ZIP codes are 39120, 39121 and 39122 (all Natchez), 39165 (Sibley) and 39190 (Washington).
What was Adams County named after?
It is named for President John Adams and was organized on April 2, 1799, as the first county in the Mississippi Territory.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Mississippi.