Until 1825, its first county seat was located at Old Greenville, which no longer exists,[2] before moving to Fayette.

[5] Originally developed as cotton plantations in the antebellum era, the rural county has struggled with a declining economy and reduced population since the mechanization of agriculture and urbanization of other areas.

[7] As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 7,260 people, 2,448 households, and 1,488 families residing in the county.

Although Goldwater lost nationally in a landslide, he carried the state of Mississippi (and also Jefferson County) in a landslide, winning over 87% of the vote and carrying every county.

Goldwater's lopsided victory was the result of Mississippi's decades-long suppression of the voting rights of African Americans, which only began to be reversed with the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.