Louisville offers small-town charm and slower living in Winston County
Deep in North Central Mississippi, among the quiet Red Hills, Louisville offers rural reprieve with a quaint town center. "It's very rural with a slower pace of life," says Realtor Derek Eaves of Smalltown Hunting Properties. He's sold homes across the region for a couple of years and was born and raised in Louisville. "It's a nice community if you want to get away from the city life." Residents enjoy supporting the town's local businesses, cheering on the high school football team and gathering at one of the nearby lakes.
Large plots and hunting land surround Louisville’s town center
Much of the draw to Louisville is in the land, and about half of the community's active listings are sizable tracts. "You're going to have a whole lot of 20, 30, 40 and 80-acre plots," Eaves says. "There's a good variety. I live on 5 acres, and my parents live right down the road on 65 acres." Some locals with large plots use their land to raise livestock or harvest timber, but most typically hunt. "Just about everybody down in Mississippi likes to hunt," Eaves says. "Whether people have 10 acres or 3,000, it's probably going to be hunted on." Lots generally measure under an acre in the town's heart, with a mix of ranch-style homes, bungalows and cottages. Most homes were built throughout the 20th century, and new construction is limited. The median sale price for a house in Louisville is around $55,000.
Antique stores, bakeries and dining in historic downtown
Louisville's historic downtown comprises a collection of locally owned boutiques and restaurants. Spots like Becky's Antique Mall and Zak's Avenue sell collectibles and clothing, and Suga Moma's Cupcakes bakes various cupcake flavors and intricate cakes. Market Café is a popular spot for dinner in the heart of downtown with a robust menu of burgers, pizza and tacos. Additionally, independently owned restaurants are available south of downtown. Eaves says Carnell's Restaurant is a local favorite with fried catfish baskets, shrimp and family packs of wings. Piggly Wiggly and Vowell's Marketplace are the community's primary sources for grocery shopping, Eaves says, but folks also head to Walmart Supercenter on the town's west end for additional shopping.
Recreation at Ivy Park complex, Lake Tiak-O'Khata, Legion State Park
Several public spaces have room for residents to gather for sports and casual recreation. The Ivy Park Sports Complex features several baseball diamonds and tennis courts, welcoming local sports leagues for games and tournaments. The complex is peppered with towering stadium lights and a few sets of bleachers. Academy Park has a few basketball courts, a baseball field and a walking path. Lake Tiak-O'Khata, located in the town's southwest corner, draws residents for swimming, kayaking and fishing, and much of the lake's activities are managed by a family-owned resort on the lake's edge. Legion State Park offers space for camping and hiking just north of the community. It's home to the 12-acre Lake Toppasha, where locals enjoy fishing and boating, and it has a disc golf course and picnic areas.
Louisville Municipal School District earns a B
The Louisville Municipal School District scores an overall B on Niche and serves nearly 2,500 students. Fair Elementary School enrolls pre-kindergarten through second-grade students and receives a B, while third through fifth graders attend Louisville Elementary, which has a C-plus. Eiland Middle School earns a B-minus, and Louisville High has a B. The high school's student clubs and athletics include bowling, football, history and chess clubs.
Louisville is remote but close to Starkville and an airport
Louisville is a car-dependent community that is pretty removed from busy cities. Mississippi Highway 14 cuts through the heart of the community and connects with Highways 15 and 25 in the town's west end. Winston Medical Center is the community's primary medical center, and Golden Triangle Regional Airport offers domestic flights about 50 miles away. "A lot of folks go to Starkville for shopping or more restaurant options," Eaves says. Starkville is about a 30-mile trip northeast.
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Written By
Brennen Martin
