
Tate County was established December 23, 1873, and was named for a prominent family of the region, of which the Hon. Thomas Simpson "T.S." Tate (?-1881), a prominent Republican, citizen, and first Mississippi State Legislator from the county. T.S. founded Tatesville, which no longer exists. The county seat was placed at Senatobia soon after the county's formation. The city took its name, with a slight derivation in spelling, from nearby Senatahoba (senatahoba or sin-ih-toh-bih-a) Creek, which means "White Sycamore" or "Black Snake". It is situated in the northwestern part of the State and was formed chiefly from the southern part of the older county of DeSoto, though Marshall, and Tunica counties contributed each a small portion of its area. It was a part of the Chickasaw Indian cession of 1832. For the early history of the region composing Tate, see the three counties mentioned.
The Governor was empowered to appoint the county officers, pending a general election for that purpose, and the county assumed its share of the debts of the parent counties and received its proper share of school and county funds. Gov. R.C. Powers appointed the following county officers: Josiah Daily, Sheriff; O.F. West, Clerk of the Chancery and Circuit Courts; W.J. Pace, Treasurer; J.R. Jackson, Assessor and Collector; E.J. Litsey, County Supt. of Schools; J.E. Matthews, Surveyor; T.S. Tate, J.V. Walker, J.P. Pickle, Eli Bobo, D.T. Neighbors, Members of the Board of Supervisors. The county was first represented in the Legislature by T.S. Tate and T.B. Garrett, as Representatives, and J.H. Holloway and M. Campbell as Senators. It is one of the smaller counties, but has an abundance of natural resources.
Tate County is bordered by DeSoto County (north), Marshall County (east), Lafayette County (southeast), Panola County (south) and Tunica County (west) . Cities and Towns include Arkabutla, Coldwater, Senatobia
The Official County Government Website is located at ?.

Tate County Clerk of Circuit Court has Marriage Records from 1873/1873 and Court Records from 1873 and is located at 201 Ward Street, Senatobia, Mississippi 38668; Phone: 562-5211, Fax: 562-7486.
Duties of the Circuit Clerk include Receivin and fileing all law suits, indictments, motions and other related papers in all Civil and Criminal Cases filed in the Circuit or County Courts and issues all process including summons and subpoenas, Draws Jurors and qualifies Juries, Keeps a record of all Judgments and Executions, Issues marriage licenses and keeps records of marriages.
Tate County Chancery Court Clerk has Land Records from 1873 (Transcripts from parent counties available) and Probate Records from 1873 and is located at 201 Ward Street, Senatobia, Mississippi 38668; Phone: 562-5661, Fax: 562-7486.
The Chancery Clerk occupies perhaps the most unique and diverse office in all of Mississippi government. The various duties given the Chancery Clerk by statute, or assumed voluntarily by the individual Clerk, cover a wide range of vitally important functions. Some of the duties and functions of the Chancery Clerk are recording the official minutes. As public recorder, the Clerk handles the recording and storage of several types of documents and maintains various indexes that aid people in researching these records. The primary records are deeds and mortgages relating to real property, but the Clerk also records federal tax liens, Lis Pendens ( notices of pending lawsuits ) and military discharges. The Clerk is in charge of the storage and authorized disposal of older land rolls, tax receipts and many other County records after their active use lifespan. As Clerk of the Chancery Court, the Clerk handles a multitude of tasks such as matters of estates, guardianships, conservatorships, divorces, child custody, adoption, property disputes and other matters of equity.
Local county courthouses maintain original tax records, both real and personal. Microfilm copies of the earlier records are found in the Mississippi Department of Archives and History where the collection is extensive, but there are gaps. Although not many, some counties have published selected years of tax rolls.
Below is a list of online resources for Tate County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Tate ounty Court Records by clicking the link below:

Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.
Tate County Health Department has Birth and Death Records from November of 1912 and is located at 309 South Scott Street, Senatobia, MS 38668; Phone: 662-562-4428 . You may go to any county health department in the State of Mississippi to obtain a certificates can be issued while you wait.
Contact Chancery Clerk for County Divorce Records (See Tate County Court Records for Address and Phone number) in the county where divorce was granted, and Contact Clerk of Circuit Court Judge For County Marriage Records (See Tate County Court Records for Address and Phone number) in county where license was issued
Mississippi Department of Health is located in the Underwood Building, 571 Stadium Drive, just off North State Street near Woodrow Wilson Avenue in Jackson, Mississippi. The phone number is 601.576.7981. They have the following records:
Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to "Vital Records." Please do not send cash. Fees are non refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service. Mail all Applications to: Mississippi Vital Records, P.O. Box 1700, Jackson, MS 39215-1700. You can download an application online for Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates or Death Certificates.
Below is a list of online resources for Tate County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Tate County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable
Federal Population Schedules that exist for Mississippi are 1820, 1830 (Partial), 1840, 1850, 1860 (Partial), 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. In 1817 Mississippi became the twentieth state to enter the union; therefore, the first federal population census available is that of 1820.
Variations of this census appear in three printed forms, none of which include slave or miscellaneous information. Enumerations for Pike County are missing in 1830, but the Gillis index used extant tax records to supplement their index. Transcriptions are subject to error; use these reprints simply as a guide to the original records.
A significant addition to the 1840 census supplies the names and ages of pensioners. Schedules are missing for Hancock, Sunflower, and Washington counties in 1860.
By 1870, with slavery abolished, all blacks, natives, and Chinese were included, along with information regarding citizenship. With the destruction of the 1890 population schedules, only the schedules enumerating Union veterans are available for Mississippi. There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms & U.K. Census Extraction Forms
Below is a list of online resources for Tate County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Tate County Census Records by clicking the link below:
Below is a list of online resources for Tate County Maps. Email us with websites containing Tate County Maps by clicking the link below:
Below is a list of online resources for Tate County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Tate County Military Records by clicking the link below:
Below is a list of online resources for Tate County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Tate County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:
There are many churches and cemeteries in Tate County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Tate County Tombstone Transcription Project. The Mississippi Department of Transportation has county maps the show the locations of churches and cemeteries free for viewing or download here.
Below is a list of online resources for Tate County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Tate County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:
Below is a list of online resources for Tate County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information . Email us with websites containing Tate County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below: