Mississippi County

Mississippi County was created November 1, 1833, of territory cut from Crittenden County and was named for the mighty river forming its entire eastern boundary. Osceola was the original county seat, but Blytheville became the seat of justice for the northern section in 1870 that created dual county seats. The landscape of Mississippi County is flat, fertile, Delta farmland. The economy is made up of diversified farming and light manufacturing. Cotton Boll Vocational and Technical School and Mississippi County Community College offer a variety of educational experiences. Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge is the oldest federal refuge in Arkansas and offers good hunting and fishing. As of the 2000 census, Mississippi County had a population of 51,979 residents.