Oktibbeha County is a county locate in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of 2000, the population was 42,902. Its county seat is Starkville. Oktibbeha is a Native American word meaning either bloody water (because of a battle fought on the banks) or possibly icy creek. Indian artifacts over 2000 years old have been found near the indian mounds adjacent to Indian Mound Campground, just east of Starkville.