Mississippi city with ties to military and manufacturing
Back in the early 1900s, when Meridian was Mississippi’s largest city, the manufacturing hub and seat of Lauderdale County was bolstered by the movement of cotton and timber along the Southern railways. Located 90 miles east of Jackson, the inland city had even served as the state capital for a brief spell. Eventually, the decline of the railroad industry gutted the local economy, and racial turmoil plagued the city in its postwar days. Though Meridian’s population has seen a downturn, its 35,000 residents are seeking to rev things up. “Downtown’s been redeveloped, and that’s been a big start,” says Steve Corey, principal broker and co-owner of real estate agency Pigford & Corey. “Downtowns in a lot of smaller towns have dried up and died, but we’ve got a lot going on.” Two nearby military facilities, Naval Air Station Meridian and National Guard base Key Field, serve as the city’s largest employers, and a large leisure district helps locals relax.
Meridian’s leisure district and the MAX
The Threefoot Hotel, an Art Deco masterpiece and the city’s tallest skyscraper, presides over Meridian’s leisure district, where venues and museums fill the district's historic buildings. In the center of it all, the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience — known to locals as the MAX — pays tribute to the Magnolia State’s many artistic legends, with exhibitions, classes and events throughout the year. One highlight is April’s Sipp and Savor festival, where award-winning chefs, brewers and distillers shine a spotlight on Southern flavors.
Shady sidewalks and historic buildings
Global cuisine and family-friendly fare are both represented in downtown Meridian’s locally owned restaurants. Tree-lined sidewalks lead the way to Italianate and Romanesque buildings crowded with boutiques, music stores and cigar shops. In the evenings, Monday through Saturday, the leisure district around Union Station and the Threefoot Hotel is under a “Go-Cup Ordinance,” meaning patrons can purchase alcoholic beverages in to-go cups and wander the designated area with drinks in hand. “There’s a lot of festivals that go on downtown, stages all around with live music,” Corey says. “And when they’ve got outdoor events going on, you can have your beer with you.”
Low median home price for Meridian
Meridian has nine districts on the National Register of Historic Places, including East End, Union Station and Meridian Downtown. Queen Anne, Art Deco, Colonial Revival and Italianate are several of the architectural styles represented. The city’s median home price is $137,000, lower than the state median and less than half the national median. Starter homes might sell for $50,000 to $150,000, but most established builds are priced from $200,000 to $350,000. Larger historic or luxury homes might fetch prices in the $500,000 to $800,000 range.
A stop on the Amtrak Crescent
Meridian is on the I-20 corridor, part of the 90-mile drive to Jackson and the nearest major airport. The Amtrak Crescent Line, a train route connecting New York City to New Orleans, stops downtown at Union Station. The station is also a Greyhound bus stop, though no local public transportation is in place. Ochsner Rush Medical Center, the area’s biggest non-military employer and a branch of the most extensive health network in the Gulf South, is located on 19th Avenue several blocks north of the station.
Naval Air Station Meridian maintains a strong presence, with leadership fostering strong ties with local community organizers. The Mississippi Council of the Navy League is one of several groups that works to raise support for military personnel and families.
Home of MSU-Meridian
Students attend schools in the Meridian Public School District, which gets a Niche grade of C-plus. Mississippi State University has two campuses in the city, and Meridian Community College offers two-year programs in business, health education and industrial technology.
Sports complexes throughout the park system
The jewel of Meridian’s park system is an antique carousel built in 1896 for the St. Louis World’s Fair. A monument honoring Meridian-born musician Jimmie Rodgers, the “Father of Country Music,” sits in the same park. Sports fields and courts showcase the town’s dedication to youth leagues, and nearby lakes make hunting and fishing popular weekend activities.
Crime rates and environmental issues
Meridian’s summers are hot, humid and oppressive, typical for the region’s subtropical climate. Winter temperatures are generally mild, but tornado activity is common during those months. No recent crime data is available; however, prior to 2021, incidents of property-related and violent crime often outpaced state and national rates.
Photography Contributed By
Dimitri Fevrier
Video By
Hunter Severtson
