Noxubee County is a county in Mississippi, United States, on the Alabama state line in the east-central part of the state. It had a population of 10,285 at the 2020 census and covers 700 square miles (1,800 km2), of which 4.8 square miles are water, centred near 33°07′N 88°34′W.
Macon is the county seat, and its postal code is 39341. The county has one city, two towns, and several unincorporated communities; it sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Noxubee County
Noxubee County has three incorporated municipalities and a handful of unincorporated crossroads communities. The table below lists them; CDP and Unincorp. places have no municipal government of their own.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macon | City · seat | 2,231 | 39341 |
| Brooksville | Town | 897 | 39739 |
| Shuqualak | Town | 439 | 39361 |
| Bigbee Valley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Deerbrook | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gholson | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mashulaville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Aubrey | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Calyx | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Clearman | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cliftonville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cooksville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dinsmore | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fairhill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lynn Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Macedonia | Unincorp. | — | — |
| May Spring | Unincorp. | — | — |
| McLeod | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Paulette | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Prairie Point | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ravine | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Togo | Unincorp. | — | — |
| X-Prairie | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 39341 — Macon (also serves Aubrey, Macedonia and the surrounding rural district)
- 39739 — Brooksville
- 39361 — Shuqualak
Smaller communities such as Bigbee Valley, Deerbrook, Gholson and Mashulaville draw mail through one of these three post offices rather than carrying a ZIP of their own.
Geography
Noxubee County sits on the Black Prairie and the Pontotoc Ridge, a rolling, largely rural landscape of farmland, pine woods and bottomland along the Noxubee River, which gave the county its name (from the Choctaw nakshobi, “to stink,” a reference to the river’s dark, slow-moving water). The Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge covers a large share of the county’s southern half. Noxubee County borders Lowndes County to the north (Lowndes County), Pickens County, Alabama to the east, Sumter County, Alabama to the southeast, Kemper County to the south, Winston County to the west, and Oktibbeha County to the northwest.
Demographics
The county’s population was 10,285 at the 2020 census, down from earlier decades as young residents have left for larger Mississippi and Alabama cities. Macon and Brooksville are the two largest communities. Median household income runs well below the Mississippi median of $54,203, reflecting the county’s heavily rural, agricultural economy. Population density is about 15 people per square mile, among the lowest in the state.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture and forestry anchor the local economy — cotton, soybeans, cattle and timber are the county’s main products, alongside catfish farming common across the Black Prairie region. The Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge draws hunters and birdwatchers and supports seasonal tourism. Macon serves as the county’s retail, government and school hub.
History
Noxubee County was organized in 1833 from Choctaw cession lands, part of the wave of Mississippi counties created after the 1830 Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek. Macon was established as the county seat the same year. The county’s plantation-era cotton economy gave way in the 20th century to diversified row-crop and timber farming. In 2006, the county was the subject of United States v. Ike Brown, a Voting Rights Act case brought by the Justice Department over election practices in the county.
Getting There
US Highway 45 runs north–south through the county, with Mississippi Highways 14, 21 and 39 connecting Macon to Brooksville, Shuqualak and the surrounding countryside.
- Columbus, Mississippi — 25 miles north
- Starkville, Mississippi — 30 miles northwest
- Meridian, Mississippi — 45 miles south
- Tuscaloosa, Alabama — 55 miles east
The nearest commercial airport is Golden Triangle Regional Airport near Columbus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Noxubee County?
It is in east-central Mississippi, on the Alabama state line, about 25 miles south of Columbus.
What is the population of Noxubee County?
10,285 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is Noxubee County?
700 square miles (1,800 km2), including 4.8 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Noxubee County?
Macon is the county seat.
How many towns are in Noxubee County?
One city (Macon) and two towns (Brooksville and Shuqualak), plus several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Noxubee County?
39341 (Macon), 39739 (Brooksville) and 39361 (Shuqualak).
Where does the name Noxubee come from?
From the Choctaw word nakshobi, meaning “to stink,” referring to the Noxubee River.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Mississippi.