Holmes County was created by an act of the legislature on 2/19/1832. Because Gov. Scott opposed the creation of the new county, a two-thirds vote of the legislature was necessary for approval. It had originally been part of a vast territory known as Hinds County, which was ceded to the United States by the Choctaw Indians in the Treaty of Doaks Stand on 10/18/1820 and the Dancing Rabbit Treaty ten years later. The county was named for David Holmes, the last territorial governor and the first state governor of MS. Today, it consists of seven municipalities: Tchula, Lexington, Pickens, Durant, West, Goodman and Cruger.