Lee

Formed October 26, 1866 (61^st county)

Lee County (83,347), Tupelo (37,923)

The Classical Revival and Beaux Arts masonry and concrete courthouse was constructed in 1904.  It sits on a square surrounded by Jefferson, Spring, Court, and Broadway streets.  United States Highway 278 passes one block south of the site.  It was designed by Patrick Henry Weathers and renovated in 1966 and 1977.  It sits on a hill and features a dome and columns.  A 1990 Justice Center was added across the street from the courthouse.  The county was established on October 26, 1866 from parts of Itawamba and Pontotoc counties as the 61^st county.  Tupelo has always been the county seat.  It is named for Civil War General Robert E. Lee.  The county seat gets its name from the abundant tupelo trees. 

Lee County government consists of a sheriff and 5 Supervisors.  Four Chancery Court Judges serve Lee, Alcorn, Itawamba, Monroe, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Tishomingo, and Union counties, Four District Court Judges serve Lee, Alcorn, Itawamba, Monroe, Pontotoc, Prentiss, and Tishomingo counties, and One County Court Judge serves Lee County.  The county is in the northeast part of the state.  Memphis, Tennessee is northwest and Jackson, Mississippi is southwest of the county.  The county center is in Tupelo 1.7 miles North-Northeast of the city center.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Prentiss, Itawamba, Monroe, Chickasaw, Pontotoc, and Union counties. 

The area of the county is 450 square miles.  It is 61 out of 82 in the state.  It ranks 7 out of 82 in population in the state.  It has a density of 185.2 persons per square mile making it 6 out of 82 in the state.  Lee County has 63.0% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 45 goes north to south in the county from Prentiss County to Monroe County.  United States Highway 45 Alternate splits from United States Highway 45 and exits separately into Monroe County.  United States Highway 78 crosses east to west from Itawamba County to Union County.  United States Highway 278 enters joined with United States Highway 78 from Itawamba County, splits and exits west into Pontotoc County.  The county is an overall tall rectangle.  Tupelo is in the southwest quarter of the county.  Tupelo is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 45.5% of the county population.  The county seat is pronounced TOO-PE-LOE.  This county is in the Tupelo Micropolitan Statistical Area.