Winston County is a county in Mississippi, United States, in the hill country of the east-central part of the state. It had a population of 17,714 at the 2020 census, and covers 610 square miles (1,600 km2), of which 607 square miles are land, centred near 33°05′N 89°02′W.
Louisville is the county seat, and its postal code is 39339. The county holds one city, one town, and a scatter of small unincorporated communities. It sits in the Central time zone and carries FIPS code 28159.
Towns & Villages in Winston County
Louisville anchors the county as its seat and only city; Noxapater is the county’s lone incorporated town. The rest of the county is rural and unincorporated, with a handful of named crossroads communities.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | City · seat | 6,072 | 39339 |
| Noxapater | Town | 390 | 39346 |
| Highpoint | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Vernon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Nanih Waiya | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 39339 — Louisville (also serves the surrounding rural county)
- 39346 — Noxapater
Highpoint, Vernon, and Nanih Waiya have no ZIP code of their own; mail there is addressed through Louisville or Noxapater.
Geography
Winston County sits in the hilly Black Prairie transition belt of east-central Mississippi, drained by the Noxubee River and its tributaries. Roughly half the county’s northern reaches lie inside the Tombigbee National Forest, and Nanih Waiya, a Choctaw sacred mound and the traditional origin site of the Choctaw people, sits within the county’s borders. The county borders Oktibbeha County to the north, Noxubee County to the east, Kemper County to the southeast, Neshoba County to the south, Attala County to the west, and Choctaw County to the northwest.
Neighboring county pages: Oktibbeha County, Noxubee County, Kemper County, Neshoba County, Attala County, and Choctaw County.
Demographics
Winston County had 17,714 residents at the 2020 census. Louisville, the seat, is by far the largest place with 6,072 people; Noxapater, the only other incorporated place, has 390. Mississippi’s median household income was $54,203 in the 2023 American Community Survey; Winston County, a largely rural forestry and manufacturing county, runs below that figure. Population density works out to about 29 people per square mile of land.
Economy & Local Life
Poultry processing and forestry are the county’s traditional economic base, alongside manufacturing tied to Louisville’s industrial park. County government, the Winston Medical Center, and the Louisville Municipal and Winston County school districts are among the area’s larger employers. The Tombigbee National Forest supports hunting, timber, and outdoor recreation across the county’s northern half.
History
Winston County was created by the Mississippi legislature in 1833, formed from land ceded by the Choctaw Nation under the 1830 Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek. It is named for Louis Winston, a Mississippi militia colonel, lawyer, and later a judge of the Mississippi Supreme Court. On April 28, 2014, an EF4 tornado tore through Louisville and the surrounding county, killing ten people and destroying hundreds of homes and businesses — one of the deadliest tornadoes in the state’s modern history.
Getting There
Mississippi Highways 14, 15, 19, 25, 397, and 490 cross the county, meeting at Louisville.
- Starkville — 27 miles northeast
- Philadelphia — 24 miles southeast
- Kosciusko — 24 miles west
- Meridian — 60 miles southeast
The nearest commercial airport is Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus. Amtrak does not serve Winston County; the closest station is in Meridian.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Louisville postcode?
39339 covers Louisville and most of the surrounding rural county; Noxapater has its own ZIP, 39346.
What county is Louisville, Mississippi in?
Louisville is the county seat of Winston County, in east-central Mississippi.
How big is Winston County?
Winston County covers 610 square miles (1,600 km2), of which 607 square miles are land.
What is Winston County’s population?
The county had a population of 17,714 at the 2020 census.
What counties border Winston County?
Oktibbeha, Noxubee, Kemper, Neshoba, Attala, and Choctaw counties.
Why is it called Winston County?
The county is named for Louis Winston (1784–1824), a Mississippi militia colonel, lawyer, and state supreme court judge.
Is Nanih Waiya in Winston County?
Yes. The Choctaw sacred mound Nanih Waiya lies within Winston County, near the community that shares its name.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Mississippi.