<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-09-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000715072</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PEOPLES HOLDING CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PHC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001192033</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DICKERSON MARSHALL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PEOPLES BANK &amp; TRUST CO</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>209 TROY STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TUPELO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MS</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>38802-0709</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>31.73</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>38.61</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>31.73</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>38.61</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>215.28</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The stock units are to be settled 100% in common stock upon the reporting person's retirement or upon approved request for
hardship reasons.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The phantom stock units were accrued under the PHC deferred compensation plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The conversion or exercise price is one for one.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Marshall Dickerson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-10-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

