Magee’s rural community has convenient amenities
Magee is a small city surrounded by farmland and thick trees, serving as a halfway point between Jackson and Hattiesburg . Big Creek and Goodwater Creek flow through the area, and recreation is easy to find with the city’s multiple athletic fields. In addition to its single-family homes, Magee is dotted with over 40 churches and has a wide selection of restaurants. “It’s kind of a bedroom community, and it has a small-town feel,” says Charles “Chuck” McGee, a real estate broker and owner of McGee Realty Services, who has over 10 years of experience. “You get a lot of traffic from people going from Jackson to the coast…it’s a natural stopping point, because you’ve got the Walmart and fast food.”
Single-story homes spanning decades
Most homes in Magee are found on residential streets, accompanied by lawns and a driveway. Minimal traditional single-story homes and bungalows with a front porch are common. Many have simple vinyl exteriors and were built between the 1940s and 1990s. There are also sprawling ranch-style homes in the area. Prices range from $60,000 to $225,000. A handful of contemporary single-story homes built in the 2020s are found on the outskirts of town. These properties have Craftsman features, such as pointed roofs and brick accents, and cost around $150,000 to $425,000. “It’s mostly older homes…There’s not a lot of new construction in the town of Magee, but outside in the more rural areas, there are a few,” McGee says. About half of Magee’s residents are renters, while the other half owns their property.
Magee sometimes experiences high winds, which runs the risk of creating tornadoes or causing property damage – something homebuyers should be aware of if their yard has tall or older trees.
Staying active at city parks and county lakes
Magee City Park is one of the city’s main green spaces, outfitted with six tennis courts, a paved walking track and a playground with a rope climbing structure. There’s also the Jimmy Clyde Sportsplex, with two playground areas, a splash pad and a football field. More notably, the complex has five baseball fields, four softball fields and 14 batting cages – some of which are lined with artificial turf. Across the street is McNair Springs Park, with its own selection of athletic fields and a pavilion.
Around 4 miles west of downtown is Simpson County Country Club, which has a semi-private 9-hole golf course. Members can also swim at the pool or play tennis. Simpson County Lake is roughly 5 miles away. With three piers and a boat ramp, the lake has become a popular fishing spot. A campground by the water has 11 campsites for tents and RVs.
Shops and restaurants downtown and on U.S. 49
Downtown Magee has a handful of shops and small businesses lined along Main Avenue. Factory Connection is a clothing store, and Music City Instruments sells everything from guitars to keyboards. “It’s doesn’t quite have the shopping that you would look for in Florence…a lot of the downtown has moved closer to the highway,” McGee says. U.S. Route 49’s commercial corridor has auto parts stores, a Dollar Tree and Bealls. Huddle House is an American restaurant with a breakfast menu and southern homestyle meals. Down the street, Zip’s Cafe specializes in hamburgers. Several fast-food eateries are found along the corridor, including Krystal, Little Caesars and Dairy Queen. Piggly Wiggly is the city’s main grocery store, located on Simpson Highway 149, and Walmart Supercenter sits south of Goodwater Creek.
Magee public schools and a nearby community college
Magee is served by the Simpson County School District. Students start their education at Magee Elementary School, then head to Magee Middle. Magee High School has a robust sports program and offers many student clubs and activities, including the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) club and a dance team. All three schools earn C-plus grades from Niche.
Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s Simpson County Center is around 6 miles from the city. It offers dual enrollment for high schoolers, career certifications and associate degrees.
Traveling in and around Magee by car
When it comes to navigating Magee, driving is preferred. Simpson Highway 149 is the city’s main thoroughfare. It connects to Highway 28, which travels east and west. Directly south of the city is U.S. Route 49, which is used to reach Jackson, about 43 miles northwest, and Hattiesburg, around 47 miles southeast.
Magee General Hospital is located on Third Avenue. While there is a Magee Municipal Airport outside of town, travelers must use Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport for commercial flights, roughly 45 miles away.
Celebrating the community with events on Main
Magee’s Chamber of Commerce hosts a handful of events throughout the year. Crazy Day is the city’s special take on a fall festival. Every year on the third Saturday in September, food and craft vendors line Main Avenue. Crazy Day includes a car show, chicken show and Touch a Truck. At the end of November, the city holds Mingle on Main, which includes Christmas caroling and a screening of The Polar Express.
