On Sunday, May 18, 1539, De Soto left Havana Harbor with nine ships, about 600 people, more than 200 horses and a supply of dogs and pigs. He reached Tampa Bay on May 26.

In September 2021, DeSoto County Schools announced plans to build a new high school campus in Hernando. Nearly three years later, the project is still on track to be ready for the 2025-26 school year.

The median cost of a home in DeSoto County increased slightly from 2023 to 2024. Southaven and Hernando saw increases in median home prices, while Olive Branch, Walls and Horn Lake saw decreases.

Ryker Cook, 6 mos. smiles from the comfort of a Jeep with grandmother Jennifer Albritton during the Hernando DeSoto Historical Society’s Children’s Parade on Friday, April 7, 2023 in Palmetto.

The Hernando DeSoto Bridge, which carries Interstate 40 over the Mississippi River, was shut down for repairs May 11 after a routine inspection found a structural crack.