Roots in manufacturing and a rise in entrepreneurship
Brookhaven is a small city about 50 miles south of Jackson which got its modern beginnings as a timber manufacturing town after the railroad was built in the area. Today, Brookhaven is seeing a surge in young entrepreneurship as millennials inherit family businesses and bring in new ideas. The city is the seat of Lincoln County and home to about 11,500 residents. Sabrina Wolff, managing broker for Mason & Magnolia Real Estate, says the city is popular among retirees and those who enjoy the slower pace and the community support of small-town living. “If a house burns down, the community comes together and builds it back,” she says. “When babies are born or marriages happen, there are meal trains.”
Manufacturing is still one of the biggest industries in Brookhaven, with the industrial park in the northeastern area of town housing milling and gravel plants and metal factories. Healthcare and retail are other big industries.
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Well-preserved historic homes
The median home price is about $180,000, higher than the $125,000 median in Jackson but much lower than the national median of about $400,000. Wolff, who was born and raised in Brookhaven and owns two properties in town, says the city is known as a “home seeker's paradise.” Brick ranch-style homes, bungalows and Victorian houses can be found throughout the city. A few homes date as far back as the late 1800s. Homes in the city and much of the county hold their value. “It’s well-preserved, well taken care of,” Wolff says. “The people here take a lot of pride in this town.”
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Small businesses dominate in Brookhaven
A few big-box retailers, like Home Depot and Walmart, are found on the western side of town, near the interstate. But locally owned businesses are the dominant force, many of them clustered downtown, or “on the square,” as residents refer to the area. Southern-style eateries, seafood restaurants and Mexican options can all be found in Brookhaven. Locals can also drop in at the independent bookstore and adjoining coffee shop or catch a musical at the Brookhaven Little Theatre.
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Magnet arts school based in Brookhaven
Students are served by two public school districts. Brookhaven School District has a B-minus on Niche. Recent news reports pointed to widespread segregation in the district’s classrooms. Lincoln County School District serves some students in the more rural areas of town. It has a B on Niche.
Mississippi School of the Arts, a statewide magnet residential school, is in Brookhaven. The school serves artistically talented 11th and 12th grade students and offers programs in visual arts, music, theater, dance, literary arts and media arts. Students apply for consideration during their sophomore year. Some non-art classes are offered in partnership with Brookhaven High School.
Brookhaven High School provides a dynamic learning environment for students to thrive.
West Lincoln High School is a highly rated public school in the Lincoln County School District.
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Parks for families and annual events
Locals looking to get outside can enjoy the playground and tennis courts at City Park. It also has a walking and biking trail and splash pad. The Bicentennial playground and spray park are also popular with children. Baseball and soccer fields can be found at the city’s sports complexes. Brookhaven also hosts numerous community events on the square, including a Christmas parade, summer and fall concert series and a summer farmer’s market.
Brookhaven City Park boasts open green spaces ideal for picnics and outdoor activities.
Lush green space makes Bicentennial Park ideal for picnics and outdoor activities.
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Healthcare and transportation in Brookhaven
King’s Daughters Medical Center serves the community’s health needs at numerous locations, including the hospital along Highway 51. The health system also has a specialized heart center, sleep center and orthopedic clinic and behavioral health center in Brookhaven.
Highway 51 is the main thoroughfare through town. Interstate 55 connects to Jackson and the Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport. Brookhaven also has an Amtrak station.
Weather and crime in Lincoln County
Brookhaven experiences long, hot summers much like the rest of the state. It gets about 60 inches of rain a year.
Lincoln County officials reported a sharp decrease in both violent and property crimes from 2023 to 2024, according to the state’s Crime Statistics webpage.
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