Pickens is a town in Holmes County, Mississippi, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 920.
History
The town was named for landowner James Pickens and was incorporated in 1858.
On May 9, 1919, an African American veteran was lynched as part of the Red Summer of 1919 because of an “improper note” written to a white woman.
Geography
Pickens is located in the southeast corner of Holmes County, on the west side of the Big Black River. It is bordered to the south by Yazoo County and to the east across the Big Black by Attala County.
U.S. Route 51 passes through the town, leading northeast to Goodman and south to Canton. Mississippi Highway 17 follows US 51 through Pickens, but leaves the highway south of town to lead southeast to Camden, and splits from US 51 north of Pickens to lead north to Lexington, the Holmes County seat. Mississippi Highway 432 leads west from Pickens to Benton. Interstate 55 passes west of Pickens, with access from Exit 139 (Highway 432) and Exit 144 (Highway 17). I-55 leads south to Jackson, the state capital, and north to Grenada.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Pickens has a total area of , of which , or 1.96%, are water.