The Pearl River is a river

River

A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...

 in the U.S. states of Mississippi

Mississippi

Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...

 and Louisiana

Louisiana

Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...

. It forms in Neshoba County

Neshoba County, Mississippi

-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 28,684 people, 10,694 households, and 7,742 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile . There were 11,980 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile...

, Mississippi

Mississippi

Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...

 from the confluence of Nanih Waiya and Tallahaga creeks. It is 444 miles (714.5 km) long. The Yockanookany

Yockanookany River

The Yockanookany River is a river in central Mississippi in the United States. It is a tributary of the Pearl River, which flows to the Gulf of Mexico.-Course:...

 and Strong

Strong River

The Strong River is a river in south-central Mississippi in the United States. It is a tributary of the Pearl River, which flows to the Gulf of Mexico.-Course:...

 rivers are tributaries. Northeast of Jackson

Jackson, Mississippi

Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...

, the Ross Barnett Reservoir

Ross Barnett Reservoir

The Ross Barnett Reservoir is an impoundment of the Pearl River between Madison and Rankin Counties in the U.S. state of Mississippi. The lake serves as the state's largest drinking water resource, and is managed by the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District. The lake features of shoreline...

 is formed by a dam. The lower part of the river forms part of the boundary between Mississippi and Louisiana.
The Pearl passes near or through the following towns (in order, north to south):

• Philadelphia, Mississippi
  Philadelphia, Mississippi
  Philadelphia is a city in and the county seat of Neshoba County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 7,303 at the 2000 census.- History :...
  
  
• Pearl River, Mississippi
  Pearl River, Mississippi
  Pearl River is a census-designated place in Neshoba County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 3,156 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Pearl River is located at ....
  
   - Named after the river.
• Carthage, Mississippi
  Carthage, Mississippi
  Carthage is a city in Leake County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 4,637 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Leake County....
  
  
• Jackson, Mississippi
  Jackson, Mississippi
  Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
  
  
• Flowood, Mississippi
  Flowood, Mississippi
  Flowood is a city in Rankin County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 4,750 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Flowood is located at ....
  
  
• Pearl, Mississippi
  Pearl, Mississippi
  Pearl is a city in Rankin County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 21,961 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area....
  
   - Named after the river.
• Georgetown, Mississippi
  Georgetown, Mississippi
  Georgetown is a town in Copiah County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 344 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Georgetown is located at ....
  
  
• Rockport, Mississippi
• Monticello, Mississippi
  Monticello, Mississippi
  Monticello is a town in Lawrence County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 1,726 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lawrence County.-Geography:Monticello is located at ....
  
  
• Columbia, Mississippi
  Columbia, Mississippi
  Columbia is a city in Marion County, Mississippi, United States, which was formed six years before Mississippi was admitted to statehood. Columbia was named for Columbia, South Carolina, from which many of the early settlers had migrated. The population was 6,603 as of the 2000 census. It is the...
  
  
• Bogalusa, Louisiana
  Bogalusa, Louisiana
  Bogalusa is a city in Washington Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 13,365 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of the Bogalusa Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Washington Parish and is also part of the larger New Orleans–Metairie–Bogalusa...
  
  
• Picayune, Mississippi
  Picayune, Mississippi
  Picayune is the largest city in Pearl River County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 10,878 at the 2010 census. Located approximately from New Orleans, Hattiesburg, and Gulfport/Biloxi...
  
  
• Pearlington, Mississippi
  Pearlington, Mississippi
  Pearlington is a census-designated place in Hancock County, Mississippi, United States, on U.S. Route 90, along the Pearl River, at the Louisiana stateline. It is part of the Gulfport–Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,684 at the 2000 census. On August...
  
   - Named after the river.
• Pearl River, Louisiana
  Pearl River, Louisiana
  Pearl River is a town in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,839 at the 2000 census. It is part of the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
  
   - Named after the river.

West of Picayune, about 50 miles (80.5 km) above the mouth, the river forks.