Simpson County is named for Josiah Simpson, who was a judge during the Mississippi Territory period.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Rankin County
E – Smith County
S – Covington County, Jefferson Davis County and Lawrence County
W – Copiah County
Created: January 24, 1824 
County Seat:
Westville 1827 – 1900
Mendenhall 1900 – 1905
Westville 1905 – 1906
Mendenhall 1906 – present
County Courthouse – Mendenhall
Location: 100 West Court Street / Ash Street
Built: 1907 – 1908
Style: Classical Revival
Architect: Andrew J Bryan
Contractor: M W Land
Description: The building faces south and is a three story buff colored brick, stone and concrete structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Mendenhall. The south front has a large portico with four large columns rising to a pediment at the roof line. There is a balcony on the second story. The east and west ends of the building are rounded. A wide band runs below the roof line. On the center of the roof is a large octagonal dome with clock at the top. On the east and west are rounded domes on the roof. The interior has on-axis hallways which intersect on the first story. The courtroom occupies the western part of the second story with a curving balcony which rises into the third story. The ceiling has pressed metal and a cornice and the courtroom is lighted by one of the two saucer-domed cupolas. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 13th Judicial District. The building was renovated in 1987 to 1988. The architect was Chemmer and Clark and the contractor was Leon C Miles Inc. The building was renovated in 2007. The architect was Barrance Architectural PLLC and the contractor was Mayrant & Associates, LLC.
See: The architect, Andrew J Bryan, designed the courthouses in Alabama in Coffee County, Lee County and Monroe County; in Georgia in Colquitt County, Pulaski County and Stewart County; in Kentucky in Bracken Couinty and Mercer County; in Louisiana in Pointe Coupee Parish; in Mississippi in Attala County; and in Texas in Rains County.
See: National Register of historic Places – Simpson County Courthouse
County Chancery Court Building – Mendenhall
Location: 111 West Pine Street / North West Street
Built: 1970 – 1971
Style: Modern
Architect: Barlow & Plunkett of Jackson
Contractor: Campbell Construction Company
Description: The building faces south and is a two story buff colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located in the center of Mendenhall. The south front has a recessed section on the east half of the first story. The second story has vertical dividers between the windows. The roof line is flat. On the east side is the County Multi Purpose Building. The building houses the County Chancery Court and County Youth Court.
County Justice Court – Mendenhall
Location: 1498 Simpson Highway 149 / Cemetery Street
Built: Unknown
Style: Modern
Architect: Unknown
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces south and is a one story buff colored concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds to the east of the center of Mendenhall. The south front has a two entrance with white colored porticoes supported by thin white colored pillars. The lower part of the building has dark red colored concrete blocks. The roof is hipped. Thewest section of the building houses the County Justice Court.
History: The county was created in 1824 and Westville was selected as the county seat in 1827. The first courts were held at the home of William Gibson and the first courthouse, a small log structure. The second courthouse was a frame structure built in 1827 and was destroyed by fire in 1844. The third courthouse was a brick structure built in 1845 but it also burned down in 1872. The fourth courthouse was a brick structure built in 1873. In 1900, the county seat was moved to Mendenhall and then back to Westville in 1905. The county seat was finally moved to Mendenhall in 1906. The fifth and present courthouse was constructed in 1907 to 1908 at a cost of $59,900.
County Courthouse – Mendenhall
County Chancery Court Building – Mendenhall
County Multi Purpose Building – Mendenhall
County Justice Court – Mendenhall
Photos taken 2011 and 2019