Oktibbeha County, Mississippi

Oktibbeha County
Location within the U.S. state of Mississippi
Mississippi's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°26′N 88°53′W / 33.43°N 88.88°W / 33.43; -88.88
Country United States
State Mississippi
Founded1833
Named afterOften translated "icy creek", Oktibbeha is from Choctaw okti abeha bok meaning "ice, there in the creek".
SeatStarkville
Largest cityStarkville
Area
  Total
462 sq mi (1,200 km2)
  Land458 sq mi (1,190 km2)
  Water3.7 sq mi (10 km2)  0.8%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
51,788
  Density110/sq mi (43/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
  Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts1st, 3rd
Websitewww.oktibbehacountyms.org

Oktibbeha County is a county in the east central portion of the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census the population was 51,788. The county seat is Starkville. The county's name is derived from a Choctaw word meaning "icy creek". The Choctaw had long occupied much of this territory prior to European exploration and United States acquisition.

Mississippi State University, a public research university and land-grant institution, is in Oktibbeha County.

Oktibbeha County is conterminous with the Starkville, MS Micropolitian Statistical Area. The county is part of the Golden Triangle region of Mississippi, designated for joint regional development strategies.