Mississippi

DeSoto

185,314
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About DeSoto

DeSoto, Mississippi, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 7,002. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 185,314.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 4 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Forrest's West Tennessee Raid — Cold Water Bridge Fight, Action at Horn Lake, Mississippi, Skirmish at Hernando.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020185,314
2010161,252
2000107,199
199067,910
198053,930
197035,885
196023,891
195024,599
194026,663
193025,438
192024,359
191023,130
190024,751
189024,183
188022,924
187032,021
186023,336
185019,042
18407,002
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in DeSoto

Military engagements that took place in DeSoto, Mississippi.

Forrest's West Tennessee Raid — Cold Water Bridge Fight
1862
Action at Horn Lake, Mississippi
1862
Skirmish at Hernando
1863
Battle of Hernando (MS)
1864

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Everything a full report reveals about DeSoto County, Mississippi

This page charts the census history of DeSoto County, Mississippi. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about DeSoto

When does DeSoto first appear in the US census?
DeSoto, Mississippi first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 7,002.
What is the population of DeSoto?
At the most recent federal census (2020), DeSoto had a recorded population of 185,314.
Were any battles fought in DeSoto?
4 documented military engagements took place in DeSoto, including Forrest's West Tennessee Raid — Cold Water Bridge Fight, Action at Horn Lake, Mississippi, Skirmish at Hernando.
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