DESOTO COUNTY was one of twelve counties created in North Mississippi as a result of the treaty of Pontotoc Creek in 1832 whereby the Chickasaw Indians ceded all of their land east of the Mississippi River and agreed to move to the Oklahoma Territory. In 1872 the County was divided in half with the southern part becoming Tate County.

DESOTO COUNTY is Mississippi's fifth largest, and fastest growing county with a population of over 107,000. Major cities in the County are OLIVE BRANCH (21,000), Southaven (29,000), Horn Lake (14,000) and the County seat, Hernando (7,800). Its close proximity to Memphis has resulted in it being one of the nations fastest growing counties over the past decade.