When laborers laid the last tracks of the Mobile & Ohio and Memphis & Louisville Railroads junction in West Tennessee in 1859, a small community just north of Jackson began to grow. More than a century later, Humboldt has transitioned from an agricultural depot into a rural city supported by manufacturing, retail, education, health and social services. A know-your-neighbor feel defines the locale of roughly 8,000, which values the city’s comparatively low housing costs and appreciation for tradition. “Humboldt is friendly and just so sweet,” says Jean Campbell, a native and owner of JeanzThingz. “It’s a very quiet, southern town.”
Humboldt straddles both Gibson and Madison counties in Tennessee.
Agriculture is a major industry in Humboldt.
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20th-century homes and newly built subdivisions
“Humboldt is more affordable compared to Jackson,” Campbell says. The city’s median price for a single-family home is around $220,000, roughly half the national figure. Much of the residential landscape comprises grid-likes suburban streets, where old-growth chestnut oak and American elm trees appear as often as 20th-century cottages and ranch-style homes. Build dates follow the city’s development pattern, with early 1900s properties close to downtown and homes built through the late 1990s filling out the remainder of the city’s central portion. Subdivisions built from the 2000s onward appear farther out and typically present more modern ranch and new traditional styles.
Humboldt contains many types of cottages that are being renovated to modern standards.
Ranch homes are a common sight in Humboldt.
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Shop and dine locally along Main Street
The city has kept the spirit of downtown Main Street alive. “It’s basically the heart of Humboldt,” Campbell says. Restaurants with menus ranging from Mexican cuisine to soul food share the stretch with government buildings, boutiques and The Kandy Bank, a vintage-style confectionary adorned with a bright pink exterior. By 2026, the district will see the addition of HGF Enterprise’s multi-use building. This facility will provide space for both individuals and businesses of Humboldt to utilize. Central Avenue cuts through downtown and runs north to the city’s hub of big-box stores and supermarkets.
Mi Casita Jimenez Mexican Restaurant offers authentic Mexican dishes in Humboldt.
The Kandy Bank is a vintage style candy and ice cream shop located on Main Street in Humboldt.
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West Strawberry Festival dates back almost a hundred years
Humboldt has closed its downtown district in early May every year since 1934 for the West Tennessee Strawberry Festival, the state's longest-running annual festival. “All of the surrounding cities come down to Humboldt for the parade,” Campbell says. “They have the fair afterward and sell anything from great strawberries to corndogs.” Attendees can also participate in the 5 or 10k run, hop on a carnival ride or enjoy live music. In October, The city’s Annual Downtown Fall Festival fills Main Street with food trucks, vendors and musicians to ring in the season.
The West Tennessee Strawberry Festival is the oldest longest festival in Tennesse operating since 1934.
The West Tennessee Strawberry Festival takes place during the first week of May.
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From Spangler Park to Humboldt Plaza 3
The city experiences hot and humid summers and cold winters with a full range of seasons. “One day it might be warm weather, and then the next you have to get your rainboots and umbrella,” Campbell says. Humboldt Parks and Recreation maintains five parks across the city. Spangler Park stays busy between its playground and little league baseball fields, while Humboldt Dog Park offers a spot for pups to run loose. When rainy days roll in, residents can catch a movie at Humboldt Plaza 3, a downtown fixture dating back to the 1940s.
Plaza-3 is an independent cinema that was built in the 1940's in Humboldt.
Spangler Park offers sports fields for friendly competition in Humboldt.
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Humboldt High School partners with Jackson State Community College
The Humboldt City School District enrolls most of the locale and maintains a C-minus rating. Humboldt High School recently launched its middle college program with Jackson State Community College. The program offers selected students the opportunity to take courses at the college to receive their associate degree before or upon graduating from high school.
Humboldt High School offers education to students in grades 7-12.
Jackson Community College is near to Humboldt and offers advanced education for it's students.
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Commutes to Jackson are a straight shot
U.S. Routes 79 and 45W are the Humboldt’s main throughways, granting access to surrounding communities. The latter connects the city to Jackson, situated 18 miles southeast. Humboldt Municipal Airport strictly services small private charters, so residents traveling out of the region must make the 89-mile trip southwest to Memphis International Airport to catch a commercial flight.
Humboldt's crime statistics and tornado concerns
FBI data reveals that Humboldt's violent crime has dropped significantly from 2021 to 2023, while instances of property crime continue on a eight-year downward trend. According to FEMA, Humboldt is within a moderate risk zone for tornadoes. Though uncommon, the FEMA building in Milan and a shelter at South Gibson County High School offer cover.
Written By
Matthew Simmons
Photography Contributed By
Andrew Nelson
Video By
Patrick Johnson
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