Creation of Pike County
On December 9, 1815, the General Assembly of the Mississippi Territory created Pike County from a portion of Marion County and named the new county in honor of Brig. Gen. Zebulon M. Pike, who was killed in action during the War of 1812. The first county seat was established here on December 11, 1816. Holmesville was named for Major Andrew Hunter Holmes, also killed during the War of 1812, at the Battle of Mackinac Island.