SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 
Washington, D. C. 20549 

FORM 8-K 
CURRENT REPORT 
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 

August 18, 2004 

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported)

THE PEOPLES HOLDING COMPANY 

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Mississippi
	1-13253
	64-0676974
	
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)	

209 Troy Street, Tupelo, Mississippi 38802-0709 

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)(Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number: (662)680-1001 

ITEM 7: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS. 
		
(c)	The following exhibit is filed herewith:	
 	 	
	99.1    Press Release, dated August 18, 2004, issued by The Peoples Holding Company.	
ITEM 9: REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE. 
On August 18, 2004, The Peoples Holding Company issued a press release announcing the declaration of a quarterly cash dividend on its common stock of $0.21 per share payable October 1, 2004, to its shareholders of record on September 20, 2004. This reflects a $0.01 per share increase in its quarterly cash dividend. The press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K. 	

SIGNATURE 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. 
 	 	 	
 	THE PEOPLES HOLDING COMPANY
	 	
 	Registrant	 	

DATE: August 18, 2004	/s/ E. Robinson McGraw
	 	
 	E. Robinson McGraw		
 	President & Chief Executive Officer		

EXHIBIT INDEX
	
EXHIBIT NUMBER
	DESCRIPTION
	
99.1	     Press Release, dated August 18, 2004, issued by The Peoples Holding Company.	

Exhibit 99.1

	The Peoples Holding Company (AMEX: PHC)	
	P.O. Box 709	
	Tupelo, MS 38801-0709	
	Phone: (662) 680-1001	
	Fax: (662) 680-1234	
	www.phcfc.com	

Press Release 

For additional information, contact: 
		
	Jim Gray	
	Executive Vice President, Investor Relations & Planning Director	
	(662) 680-1217	
 	 	
	Stuart Johnson	
	Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer	
	(662) 680-1472	
 	 	
Date:	August 18, 2004	

The Peoples Holding Company Declares Dividend 
         At the monthly meeting on Tuesday, August 17, 2004, the board of directors of The Peoples Holding Company (AMEX: PHC) approved the payment of a quarterly cash dividend of twenty-one cents ($0.21) per share to be paid October 1, 2004, to shareholders of record September 20, 2004. This dividend represents a one-cent increase per share compared to the first quarter of 2004.
        The Peoples Holding Company is the parent of The Peoples Bank & Trust Company, Mississippi's fourth largest commercial bank headquartered in the state, The Peoples Insurance Agency, Inc. and Renasant Bank of Germantown, Tennessee. PHC has assets in excess of $1.6 billion and operates 48 community bank, insurance and financial services offices in 29 cities in Mississippi and Tennessee.