The south-central Mississippi town of Prentiss is the county seat of Jefferson Davis County, not Prentiss County, which is in the northeastern part of the state, or the ghost town by that name in Bolivar County. Prentiss is situated along the Longleaf Trace, a forty-one mile paved trail that follows a portion of the abandoned Mississippi Central Railroad. The town was originally known as Blountville, named for William Blount, an early settler, and was part of Lawrence County. When the Pearl & Leaf Rivers Railroad was established in 1903, Blountville was chosen as the site for a railroad depot, although the town’s name was changed to Prentiss that same year, named either for Seargent Smith Prentice, a Mississippi congressman, or for Prentiss Webb Berry, a local landowner. When Jefferson Davis County was created in 1906, Prentiss was chosen to be its seat of government. The Prentiss Institute was established on forty acres in Prentiss in 1907, serving as a school for African-Americans. The school operated until 1989, and was designated an official Mississippi landmark in 2002. US Highway 84 separates Prentiss from Whitesand, to the west. Hattiesburg, Mississippi is about forty-three miles to the southeast, while the state capital of Jackson is about fifty-nine miles north-northwest of Prentiss.
 
 
Recommended Resources
Named for Confederate President Jefferson Davis, the county was cut out of Covington and Lawrence counties in 1906, and its county seat is Prentiss, Mississippi. The official county site identifies county officials, offers information about county services, and provides access to various forms and online registrations.
http://www.jeffersondaviscountyms.com/
Jefferson Davis County Economic Development District
Working in partnership with the Jefferson Davis County Chamber of Commerce and the county government, the organization works to enhance the business climate within the county. Available buildings and sites are highlighted, sponsors are recognized, and contacts are posted to the site.
http://www.jeffdavisms.com/
Jefferson Davis County Schools
Headquartered in Prentiss, Mississippi, the county seat, the public school district offers a PK-12th grade curriculum through G.W. Carver Elementary School, J.E. Johnson Elementary School, Bassfield High School, Prentiss High School, and Jefferson Davis Vocational Center, each of which is highlighted here, along with student handbooks, a school calendar, staff profiles, and a strategic plan.
http://www.jdcsd.com/
A profile of the Jefferson Davis County seat is offered on the official municipal web site, including demographics and an introduction to its mayor, aldermen and alderwomen, administrative contacts, and a guide to local attractions and events, health care facilities, and businesses. A gallery of photographs is included.
http://prentissms.com/
Maintained by the town of Prentiss, Mississippi, the site offers a guide to the area, including a welcome from the town’s mayor, its organizational structure, administrative and departmental contacts, and local businesses, healthcare facilities, and events. Links to additional information is also presented.
http://www.townofprentiss.com/
Word Fellowship Baptist Church
The congregation serves the Prentiss, Mississippi community. Its history and a profile of the church are put forward, along with a schedule of events, event registration, staff contacts, a photo gallery, and an overview of the church’s ministries and missions. Announcements are posted to the site.
http://www.wordfellowshipbaptistchurch.us/