Stone County is a county in Mississippi, United States, part of the Gulfport-Biloxi metropolitan area along U.S. Highway 49. It had a population of 18,333 at the 2020 census and covers 448 square miles (1,160 km2) centred near 30°47′N 89°07′W.
Wiggins is the county seat and Stone County’s only incorporated city; its postal code is 39577. The county has one incorporated city, one census-designated place, and several unincorporated communities, all in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Stone County
Stone County has one incorporated city, one census-designated place, and a scatter of unincorporated communities across its pine-belt landscape. Wiggins is the only place with its own municipal government; Bond is recognized by the Census Bureau as a CDP without incorporating; the rest are unincorporated crossroads and rural communities.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wiggins | City · seat | — | 39577 |
| Bond | CDP | — | — |
| Beatrice | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Big Level | Unincorp. | — | — |
| India | Unincorp. | — | — |
| McHenry | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Perkinston | Unincorp. | — | 39573 |
| Perry | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ramsey Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Smith Town | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ten Mile | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Texas | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Whites Crossing | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 39577 — Wiggins (also serves Bond, Beatrice, and most of central Stone County)
- 39573 — Perkinston (also serves the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College campus)
The remaining unincorporated communities share rural-route addressing under the Wiggins or Perkinston ZIPs rather than carrying their own postal codes.
Geography
Stone County sits in Mississippi’s pine belt, on mostly flat to gently rolling terrain drained by the Wolf River and Red Creek. Of its 448 square miles, 445 square miles are land and 2.6 square miles are water. Longleaf and loblolly pine forestry covers much of the county outside the Wiggins-Perkinston corridor along U.S. 49.
Stone County borders Forrest County to the north, Perry County to the northeast, George County to the east, Harrison County to the south, and Pearl River County to the west.
Demographics
Stone County had 18,333 residents at the 2020 census, all classified as rural. Wiggins is the largest community, followed by the Bond CDP. Median household income runs below the Mississippi median of $54,203, consistent with the county’s largely rural, forestry- and services-based economy. Population density works out to roughly 41 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Timber and forestry products remain central to Stone County’s economy, alongside retail and services along the U.S. 49 corridor connecting Hattiesburg to the Gulf Coast. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Perkinston campus, the district’s original 1912 site, is a major local employer and draws students from across South Mississippi. The county markets itself as the “Mural County of Mississippi” after a 2012 community project produced 23 outdoor murals depicting local history, now a modest tourist draw around Wiggins.
History
Stone County was organized on June 5, 1916, carved from the northern portion of Harrison County. It was named for John M. Stone, who served as governor of Mississippi from 1876 to 1882 and again from 1890 to 1896. The county grew around the timber industry and the rail line that became U.S. Highway 49, with Wiggins developing as its commercial center and eventual seat.
Getting There
U.S. Highway 49 runs the length of Stone County north-south, with Mississippi Highways 15, 26, and 29 providing secondary connections.
- Hattiesburg — 30 miles north
- Gulfport — 30 miles south
- Biloxi — 35 miles southeast
- Poplarville — 25 miles west
The nearest commercial airport is Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, about 30 miles south of Wiggins via U.S. 49.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Stone County, Mississippi?
It sits in southern Mississippi along U.S. Highway 49, between Hattiesburg and the Gulf Coast, part of the Gulfport-Biloxi metropolitan area.
What is the population of Stone County?
18,333 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Stone County?
448 square miles (1,160 km2), of which 445 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Stone County?
Wiggins is the county seat and the county’s only incorporated city.
How many towns are in Stone County?
One incorporated city (Wiggins), one census-designated place (Bond), and about a dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Stone County?
39577 (Wiggins) and 39573 (Perkinston) are the main ZIP codes serving the county.
Why is Stone County called the “Mural County of Mississippi”?
A 2012 community art project produced 23 outdoor murals depicting local history, earning the county that nickname.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Mississippi.