County · code 28045
Hancock CountyMississippi
Hancock County is a county in Mississippi with its seat in Bay St. Louis. It was created on December 18, 1812, from territory that included the area of Mobile, Alabama.
- Founded1812
- County seatBay St. Louis
- Named forJohn Hancock
- Land area474 sq mi + 79 sq mi water
- Population46,053 2020 Census
- Parcels mapped52,200 checked 16 October 2026
Where it is
Hancock on the map of Mississippi
Mississippi has 82 counties and county equivalents, each with its own records office. Shapes with a page are links.
History
Formed in 1812 from Mobile County
An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.
Hancock County was named after John Hancock. The county was created from Mobile in 1812 when the area was not fully controlled by the United States, but American forces captured Mobile from Spain in April 1813, extending U.S. control over the territory where Hancock had been created. Through the nineteenth century, Hancock County experienced multiple boundary adjustments with neighboring counties including Jackson, Perry, Marion, and Harrison.
- 1812Hancock County created Hancock created by Mississippi Territory from Mobile (Alabama). This area was not fully controlled by the United States. · Miss. Terr. Stat., p. 108
- 1813Hancock County created American forces captured the city of Mobile from Spain, effectively extending U.S. control over the territory between the Pearl and Perdido Rivers, previously claimed by the U.S. as part of Louisiana. This included the area where Hancock had been created.from U.s.· Cox, facing 2; Fuller, 202
- 1824Lost territory Hancock lost to Jackson. · Miss. Laws 1823-1824, 7th sess., ch. 36/pp. 44-45
- 1825
- 1828Gained territory Hancock gained from Jackson. · Miss. Laws 1828, 11th sess., ch. 5/p. 8
Show all 22 changes
- 1812Hancock County created Hancock created by Mississippi Territory from Mobile (Alabama). This area was not fully controlled by the United States. · Miss. Terr. Stat., p. 108
- 1813Hancock County created American forces captured the city of Mobile from Spain, effectively extending U.S. control over the territory between the Pearl and Perdido Rivers, previously claimed by the U.S. as part of Louisiana. This included the area where Hancock had been created.from U.s.· Cox, facing 2; Fuller, 202
- 1819Boundary clarified Hancock boundary with Jackson was clarified (no change).with Jacksonno change· Miss. Laws 1819, 1st sess., p. 17
- 1824Lost territory Hancock lost to Jackson. · Miss. Laws 1823-1824, 7th sess., ch. 36/pp. 44-45
- 1825
- 1828Gained territory Hancock gained from Jackson. · Miss. Laws 1828, 11th sess., ch. 5/p. 8
- 1830Boundary clarified Hancock boundary with Jackson was redefined; line cannot be demarcated as described; act repealed 9 December 1830.with Jacksonno change· Miss. Laws 1830, 13th sess., ch. 40/p. 44
- 1830
- 1830Changed Act of 5 February 1830, defining Hancock boundary with Jackson, was repealed (no change). · Miss. Laws 1830, 14th sess., ch. 21/p. 22
- 1830Boundary clarified Hancock boundary with Jackson was redefined (no change).with Jacksonno change· Miss. Laws 1830, 14th sess., ch. 15/p. 19
- 1830Lost territory Hancock lost to Marion. The boundary with Jackson was extended to the state boundary in the Gulf of Mexico, including all islands within six leagues of the shore. · Miss. Laws 1830, 14th sess., ch. 84, secs. 4-5/pp. 114-115; U.S. Stat., vol. 3, ch. 23[1817], sec. 2/p. 348
- 1833Gained territory Hancock gained from Jackson. · Miss. Laws 1833, 16th sess., ch. 54/p. 128
- 1836
- 1841Lost territory Hancock lost to creation of Harrison. · Miss. Laws 1841, adj. sess., ch. 35, secs. 1-2, 7/pp. 145-147
- 1843Gained territory Hancock gained from Marion. · Miss. Laws 1843, called sess., ch. 10/p. 77
- 1844
- 1858Boundary clarified Hancock boundary with Marion was redefined (no change).with Marionno change· Miss. Laws 1858, called sess., ch. 167/p. 225
- 1872Boundary clarified Hancock boundary with Harrison in St. Louis Bay was clarified (no change).with Harrisonno change· Miss. Laws 1872, reg. sess., ch. 27/p. 33
- 1872Lost territory Hancock lost to creation of Pearl (extinct).to Pearl· Miss. Laws 1872, reg. sess., ch. 98, secs. 1, 11/pp. 110, 113
- 1878Gained territory Hancock gained part of Pearl; Pearl eliminated.from Pearl· Miss. Laws 1878, reg. sess., ch. 28/p. 153
- 1890Lost territory Hancock lost to creation of Pearl River. · Miss. Laws 1890, reg. sess., ch. 76, secs. 1, 9/pp. 89, 91
- 1908Lost territory Hancock lost to Pearl River. · Free Press, 23 April 1908, p. 5; Free Press, 21 May 1908, p. 4; Miss. Laws 1908, reg. sess., ch. 226, sec. 1/p. 221
Land and parcels
What the maps cover in Hancock
Who publishes each layer, how good it is, and when we last checked.
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Parcels Fallback
Lot lines and tax-map numbers for 52,200 parcels. Drawn for tax purposes: usually within a few feet of a survey, but not a survey. This copy is a fallback, not the county's own: use it as a guide and check the official record.
edited 9 September 2021 · checked 16 October 2026 -
Address points Missing
No public address points layer found for Hancock County yet.
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Buildings Reference
Roof outlines traced from aerial imagery from FEMA Response Geospatial Office with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Good for seeing what is on a lot; not accurate enough to set a fence from.
checked 18 October 2026
- Official
- from the office that keeps the record
- Good enough
- a reliable statewide or national copy
- Fallback
- a guide only; check the official record
- Missing
- nothing public found yet
People and land
Hancock by the Census
Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Census; US Census Bureau, 2020 Gazetteer Files. Not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Rules and offices
Hancock County's official site
We have found the county's site but not its offices yet; start there.
County government
- County government
The official website of Hancock County.
See your own lot on these maps
Open Hancock County on Parcel Chart's free map and click your parcel. Save it with a free account; the full record of your place (site map, projects, documents) is Pro, in early access.
Questions
Common questions about Hancock County
- When was Hancock County founded?
- Hancock County was founded in 1812, formed from Mobile County, and named after John Hancock.
- What is the county seat of Hancock County?
- The county seat of Hancock County is Bay St. Louis.
- Is there an online parcel map for Hancock County?
- Yes. A public source publishes a parcel map of 52,200 parcels, rated fallback here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
- Has Hancock County's boundary or name changed?
- Hancock County was created in 1812 from Mobile County. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 15 later changes, chiefly involving Jackson County, Marion County and Pearl County.
- Is my lot in a flood zone?
- We do not have flood maps for Hancock County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.
Nearby