Morton blends outdoor adventure with a rural lifestyle
Thick trees and rolling farmland surround Morton, a small community located in the Bienville National Forest. “It’s a little bit on the rural side,” says Lynn Fillingham, a real estate broker with Marketplace Real Estate, who has about 25 years of experience. “You’ve got larger lots of land. You can have a wooded area and a pasture, all within the same parcel.” Outdoor recreation is easily accessible, with the forest and a state park nearby. Recently, industrial plants have been added to the area, which has led to new home construction as job opportunities grow, and the city spreads outwards.
Recreation within Bienville National Forest and state and city parks
Bienville National Forest covers over 178,000 acres in central Mississippi and offers a wide range of recreation. Several forest trails travel around the area, with RV and tent campgrounds scattered throughout. Hiking, biking, horseback riding and camping are major pastimes. There are also three wildlife management areas in the forest that allow hunting.
Directly south of Morton is Roosevelt State Park, with three playgrounds, a disc golf course and a seasonal swimming pool with a water slide. A public boat launch on Shadow Lake allows visitors to go kayaking and boating on the water. Additionally, the Livingston Performing Arts & Media Center hosts a handful of theater and dance performances each year. Farris Municipal Park is Morton’s only park within city limits, outfitted with a playground, picnic shelter, walking track and fields for baseball and softball. There’s also an Activities Center, which can be rented out. Every year, the city’s Parks & Recreation Department hosts a “Day in the Park” event, with carnival games, live music and arts and crafts. Additionally, “You’ve got a lot of natural creeks that run through the area, and it’s not very hilly, so it’s very garden-friendly,” Fillingham says.
A growing selection of single-story homes on large lots
Homes in Morton are either lined along residential streets, close to the highways, or on farmland. Many properties sit on large lots surrounded by trees, with some big enough for homesteading. “People like to raise chickens and goats and horses. And you have some people with beehives,” Fillingham says. “It’s outside the city so the price point is lower.” Ranch-style homes built between the 1960s and 1980s are common and cost between $60,000 and $190,000. There are also contemporary single-story homes from the 2000s with Craftsman features such as multiple pointed roofs and brick accents.
New construction homes from the 2020s are being built throughout the area, including traditional single-story homes. Some have simple vinyl exteriors, while others are farmhouse-style, with steep roofs and a front porch area with beams. Prices range from $220,000 to $475,000.
Getting educated in Morton public schools
Morton is served by the Scott County School District, which enrolls around 4,000 students across its eight schools. Morton Elementary School earns a C-plus grade from Niche, while Bettye Mae Jack Middle School has a B-minus. The C-plus-rated Morton High School offers a fine arts program and has an archery sports team. High school students can head to the district’s STEAM Academy in Forest to attend classes in engineering, anatomy and media arts.
Retail and restaurants along U.S. 80
Morton’s commercial corridor, along U.S. Highway 80, is lined with several shops and restaurants. There are multiple auto parts stores, as well as furniture stores and sporting good shops. Sam’s Diner is a casual restaurant specializing in breakfast and burgers. There’s also The Ribcage, with barbeque platters, and El Bombon Mexicano, serving traditional Mexican cuisine. Fast-food eateries in the city include Pizza Hut and Sonic Drive-In. Fairway Foods is Morton’s grocery store. Downtown Forest has additional options, about 11 miles away, including national retailers like Harbor Freight and Tractor Supply Company.
Navigating in and out of Morton
Driving a vehicle is the primary method of navigating Morton. U.S. Highway 80 is the city’s main thoroughfare and is used by commuters to reach Forest in the east and downtown Jackson, about 37 miles west. Mississippi highways 13 and 481 are additional routes traveling north and south through the area. Ochsner Scott Regional is the closest general hospital, located along MS 13. The Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport is roughly 32 miles away.
Morton’s unique environmental challenges
At times, Morton may experience high winds, which can cause property damage with the area’s tall trees. The city also runs the risk of streets flooding during heavy rain.
