Jasper County is located in the East-Central portion of Mississippi. Jasper County was formed on December 13, 1833 and was named in honor of Sgt. William Jasper who gained fame in 1776 at Fort Moultrie, SC.

The county seats are Bay Springs and Paulding, the latter being named for John Paulding who played a central role in the capture of Major Andre during U.S. Revolutionary War. Other Jasper County communities include: Heidleburg, Louin, Montrose, Baxter, Garlandville, Moss, Rose Hill, Stringer, and Vossburg. In it's first census in 1840 there were 3,958 residents listed. In the last federal census in 2000 the population was 18,149.