Tippah County sits in the north Mississippi hill country, tucked against the Tennessee line about an hour southeast of Memphis. Ripley is the county seat. This page collects the facts, offices and phone numbers residents and visitors look up most — and it is kept current by RCTV19, which has covered the county since 1999.
Tippah County at a glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1836 |
| County seat | Ripley |
| Population (2020 census) | 21,815 |
| Population (2025 estimate) | 21,389 |
| Total area | 460 square miles |
| Land area | 458 square miles |
| Water area | 2.1 square miles |
| Area code | 662 |
| Time zone | Central |
| Major highways | U.S. 72; Mississippi Highways 2, 4 and 15 |
Where the name comes from
Tippah comes from a Chickasaw word meaning "cut off," by way of the Tippah River that runs through the region. The county was organized in 1836, in the wave of county creation that followed the 1832 Treaty of Pontotoc Creek and the removal of the Chickasaw from north Mississippi.
Geography and neighbors
Tippah County borders five counties across two states:
- North — Hardeman County, Tennessee
- Northeast — Alcorn County, Mississippi
- Southeast — Prentiss County, Mississippi
- South — Union County, Mississippi
- West — Benton County, Mississippi
Part of the Holly Springs National Forest lies within the county. Mississippi Highway 15 is the county's spine, running north-south from Walnut through Ripley to Blue Mountain and on toward New Albany. U.S. Highway 72 crosses the northern end at Walnut, carrying traffic between Memphis and Corinth.
Towns and communities
Tippah County has five incorporated municipalities, one census-designated place and a number of unincorporated communities:
| Community | Status | Population (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Ripley | City, county seat | 5,462 |
| Blue Mountain | Town | 948 |
| Walnut | Town | 704 |
| Dumas | Town | 471 |
| Falkner | Town | 437 |
| Chalybeate | Census-designated place | 170 |
| Tiplersville | Unincorporated | Not reported |
| Pine Grove | Unincorporated | Not reported |
Other unincorporated communities include Cotton Plant, Brownfield, Dry Creek, Lake Mohawk and Camp Hill. Full profiles are on the communities index.
County government offices
Tippah County offices are in and around the courthouse square in Ripley.
| Office | Official | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheriff | Karl Gaillard | 205 West Spring Street, Ripley | 662-837-9336 (fax 662-837-1191) |
| Chancery Clerk | Shana Lowry | 115 E Spring Street, Ripley | 662-837-7374 (fax 662-837-7148) |
| Circuit Clerk | Phil Koon | 101 E Spring Street, 1st Floor, Ripley | 662-837-7370 (fax 662-837-1030) |
| Tax Assessor | Joe Akins | 102-C North Main Street, Ripley | 662-837-9956 |
| Tax Collector | Joe Akins | 102-C North Main Street, Ripley | 662-837-9410 |
| Emergency Management | Tom Lindsey, director | — | 662-587-0325 |
| Solid Waste | — | Ripley | 662-837-1013 |
What each office handles. The Circuit Clerk registers voters and handles elections and circuit court records. The Chancery Clerk keeps land records, deeds and county financial records. The Tax Collector collects property taxes and sells car tags — including taxes on manufactured homes, motorcycles, motor homes, trailers and airplanes, plus use tax on items brought into Mississippi and sales tax on private-party vehicle sales. The Tax Assessor sets the assessed values those taxes are figured on.
Public safety
| Service | Phone |
|---|---|
| Emergency (all services) | 911 |
| Tippah County Sheriff | 662-837-9336 |
| Ripley Police (non-emergency) | 662-837-2215 |
| Ripley Police dispatch (24 hours) | 662-837-7296 |
| Ripley Fire Department | 662-837-3666 |
| Emergency Management (director) | 662-587-0325 |
| Emergency Management (message line) | 662-837-3655 |
City of Ripley
| Office | Phone |
|---|---|
| City Hall / utilities, 500 South Main Street | 662-837-7154 |
| Mayor's office | 662-837-0130 |
| Water and sewer shop | 662-837-4541 |
Schools
Tippah County is served by two public school districts.
North Tippah School District — serving Walnut, Falkner, Chalybeate and Tiplersville. Central office: 20821 Highway 15, Falkner, MS 38629. Superintendent: Dr. Dax Glover.
- Walnut Attendance Center — the Wildcats
- Falkner Attendance Center — the Eagles
- Chalybeate Elementary School — grades K-8
South Tippah School District — serving Ripley, Blue Mountain, Dumas and Pine Grove. Central office: 402 Greenlee Street, Ripley, MS 38663. Phone: 662-837-7156.
- Ripley High School — the Tigers
- Ripley Middle School
- Ripley Elementary School
- Blue Mountain School — the Cougars
- Pine Grove School — the Panthers
Higher education. Blue Mountain Christian University, founded in 1873, is a private liberal arts university supported by the Mississippi Baptist Convention. Its teams, the Toppers, compete in the NAIA's Southern States Athletic Conference.
School news is collected on the Tippah County schools page; athletics are on the Tippah County sports page and the Blue Mountain Christian page.
Health care
Tippah County Hospital, 1005 City Avenue North, Ripley — 662-837-9221. Emergency services are available 24 hours. In an emergency, call 911.
North Mississippi Primary Health Care operates clinics in the area and, with the Mid-South Food Bank, runs periodic food pantry distributions in the county, frequently at the Walnut Fire Department, 27880 Highway 15. Distribution dates are announced on RCTV19 as they are scheduled.
History worth knowing
Colonel William Clark Falkner dominates Ripley's 19th-century history: railroad builder, Confederate officer and the author of The White Rose of Memphis. He was killed on the Ripley square in 1889. His great-grandson, the novelist William Faulkner, modeled Colonel John Sartoris on him, and the town of Falkner carries his name. Ripley's historic district is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The county also sits inside the north Mississippi hill country blues tradition, the raw, droning, one-chord style that is distinct from Delta blues. The annual Burnside Music Fest on the Ripley square is built around that heritage — see the Burnside Music Fest page.
One of President Bill Clinton's great-grandfathers is buried in the county.
Annual events
| Event | When |
|---|---|
| First Monday Trade Days, Ripley | The weekend before the first Monday of each month |
| Burnside Music Fest, Ripley square | Spring |
| Memorial Day ceremony, Ripley | Late May |
| Fourth of July celebration | July |
| Oktoberfest, downtown Ripley | Early October |
| Spirit of Ripley (Halloween) | Late October |
| William Faulkner Festival, Ripley | Early November |
| Ripley Christmas Parade | December |
Dates, lineups and registration details are published on RCTV19 as they are announced — see the community events page and things to do in Ripley.
Local news from RCTV19
RCTV19 — Ripley Community Television — has served Tippah County since 1999 from 112 Jefferson Street in Ripley.
- Latest news — county news, sports and community coverage, newest first
- Obituaries — funeral and memorial notices for Tippah County families
- Watch live — the RCTV19 stream, around the clock
- Topics — sports, schools, downtown Ripley, business and events
- Communities — profiles of every town and community in the county
Have a tip, a score, an event or a correction? Contact RCTV19 or review our editorial standards.