[2] The county is named for Seargent Smith Prentiss, a noted speaker and US Congressman from Natchez.

[3] As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 25,008 people, 9,145 households, and 6,092 families residing in the county.

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 25,556 people, 9,821 households, and 7,169 families living in the county.

The racial makeup of the county was 85.85% White, 12.94% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.17% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races.

24.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.