Fast-growing Northwest Mississippi city and Memphis suburb
Best-selling author John Grisham grew up in Southaven, Mississippi and many of his novels reflect this region's culture. Southaven, with its population of nearly 55,000 borders Tennessee, just south of Memphis. Over the past several decades, Southaven has evolved from swaths of farmland into a city of subdivisions, shops and restaurants. Few places better demonstrate this shift than Southaven's Silo Square. Located off the Getwell Road thoroughfare, this 300-acre mixed-use development includes a hotel and low-rise brick buildings—now home to a variety of boutiques, eateries and loft apartments. This site also features newly built single-family homes and a pedestrian bridge that takes residents over Getwell and into Snowden Grove Park where seasonal activities range from youth baseball games to music festivals.
“I feel like Silo Square is becoming the center of Southaven and maybe that was the plan,” says Nancy Veldman, a published author and piano songwriter who owns the Magnolia House store in the Square. “I feel like this is sort of beginning to pull the community together. When we have events up here, it’s massive. A lot of people come, they feel safe and its fun to be here. There’s no center of town in a lot of these small towns; you just kind of roam around. So, this is kind of pulling it together.”
There are lots of interesting retail alternatives in Southaven's Silo Square.
Silo Square in Southaven features newly built single-family homes.
A pedestrian bridge crosses over busy Getwell Rd in the Snowden District.
Snowden Grove Park in Olive Branch is a 200-acre park.
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Ramblers, Craftsmen and Traditionals in bike-friendly neighborhoods
New homes near Silo Square mainly consist of contemporary Craftsman bungalows, Traditionals and farmhouse designs accented with front-framing wooden posts. Here it's not uncommon to see residents out walking their dogs, or children and teens riding by on their bikes and scooters. “You can still live in a town where your kids ride bicycles. I mean, my children ride bicycles on the streets all the time. It’s just normal,” says Heather Williams, a Realtor with My Home Realty.
Other neighborhoods, like the one near the newly formed Metropolitan District, features single-family homes in contemporary Craftsmen and Traditional styles, with most built in the late '90s and early 2000s. Southaven also has several blocks of ranch-style homes, which were built before the city’s incorporation in 1980. Many communities here also have homeowners' associations, which may come with their own annual fees.
Prices in Southaven vary, with single-family homes primarily going for between $250,000 and $350,000, but costs are slightly higher for some of the newest builds. Southaven’s median price of $295,000 is about $100,000 more than Memphis’ median.
Inviting bungalows have front porches that welcome guests in Southhaven.
At Silo Square in Southaven, farmhouse styles are a popular choice.
Most subdivisions in Southaven have sidewalks.
Some ranch homes in Southaven have cozy front porches.
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New shopping and dining destinations in Silo Square and Tanger Outlets
Silo Square’s spacious sidewalks allow visitors to easily browse its many businesses. The square began developing in the late 2010s and now has numerous shops selling women’s clothing, home decor, gifts and books. Eateries include the Beans & Leaves cafe, where the menu includes French press coffee, breakfast omelets and freshly made chocolate croissants. Memphis’ Central BBQ also has a restaurant here, while the Lucky Dog Music Hall & Bar is another popular hangout.
For additional shopping needs, the city is home to many retail centers filled with regional staples and national chains like Walmart and Sam’s Club. Opened in late 2015, the Tanger Outlets is another new addition with tenants ranging from a Krispy Kreme doughnut shop to a Nike Factory Store.
There are hints of rustic beauty all throughout Silo Square in Southaven.
Magnolia House in Southaven is a great place to find unique gifts and clothing.
Central BBQ brings Memphis style barbecue to Southaven.
You will find many designer shops at Tanger Outlets.
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Strong church community, fall traditions and NBA G League games
Like many towns across the Deep South, Southaven has a strong church-going community. “There’s a church on every single corner,” Williams says. “It doesn’t matter if you’re Catholic, Baptist or if you’re a Jehovah’s Witness, there’s a worship place for you. I feel like everybody respects each other and their religious beliefs here.”
The city maintains its close-knit feel through annual activities ranging from trick-or-treat nights to concerts and charity events like October’s Cars for a Cause Car Show. “People talk about ‘There’s no more trick or treating.’ Well, they need to come here because they’re trick or treating, I promise you,” Williams says. “We’re doing fall fest everywhere because it’s about community and family here.”
The Landers Center is home to the Memphis Hustle, an NBA G League affiliate of the Memphis Grizzlies. The venue also hosts events like monster truck shows and Disney on Ice productions.
Christ the King Catholic Church in Southaven broke ground on this beautiful church in 2002.
In 1882, former slaves founded Brown MBC, which first conducted services in hush harbors.
The corn maze at Cedar Hill's Haunted Farm is great family fun.
Take in a concert at Landers Center in Southaven.
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From baseball tournaments to big-name artists at Snowden Grove
Southaven boasts well over 200 acres of green spaces across 20 community parks. Snowden Grove Park is one of the city’s largest recreational venues and has baseball, softball, soccer and football complexes. The baseball facilities include 17 fields and hosts major youth tournaments like the annual Dizzy Dean Baseball World Series. Snowden Grove also has the Kids Park and the BankPlus Amphitheater, which has hosted big-name musical artists like Willie Nelson.
Central Park has an 18-hole disc golf course, playground fixtures and two large ponds with waterfowl inhabitants. Many also enjoy visiting the area during the holiday season to look at the area's Christmas lights. The town’s other recreational amenities include the Southaven Golf Center’s 9-hole course.
Cheer on the team at one of the 17 baseball fields at Snowden Grove Park in Southaven.
Catch a concert at BankPlus Amphitheater.
Try your luck with fishing at City Park in Southaven.
Enjoy a round of golf with a buddy at Southaven Golf Center.
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Strongly rated DeSoto County Schools and home to Ole Miss satellite campus
DeSoto County Schools provides public education in Southaven and gets an A-minus grade from Niche. The district has 40 schools and serves approximately 35,000 students. DeSoto County Schools’ recent accolades include awards for strong attendance rates. Two high schools serve Southaven, Southaven High and DeSoto Central High, the latter of which also takes students from the neighboring areas of Olive Branch and Nesbit.
Private schools include the faith-based Northpoint Christian and Sacred Heart schools, or for higher education, the University of Mississippi—Ole Miss—and Northwest Mississippi Community College both have satellite campuses in Southaven.
Southaven High School serves Southaven students and is located just west of Olive Branch.
Desoto Central High School serves students in Southaven.
Northpoint Christian School is located at 7400 Getwell Rd in Southaven.
UM and NWCC both have both have satellite campuses in Southaven.
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Major employers in Amazon and Baptist Memorial Hospital
The two biggest employers in DeSoto County include the local school district and the Amazon fulfillment center in the neighboring city of Olive Branch—together they employ more than 3,000 people. Other significant employers include Milwaukee Tool, Williams-Sonoma Inc. and Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto, the latter of which is in Southaven. Many also work for FedEx and International Paper in neighboring Memphis.
While Southaven has drawn many native Memphians over the years, some of its population consists of transplants from as far west as states like Oregon and California. The DeSoto County city has nearly 55,000 people, which is almost double the population in 2000. The 2010 census shows that Southaven’s population grew by 69% and that the city is now among the largest in Mississippi.
Although DeSoto County does provide free bus transportation to elderly residents and adults with disabilities, Southaven doesn’t have its own transit system. Instead, many drive to get around the region and Interstate 55 and Getwell Road are among the most used commuter routes. Interstate 55, as well as Interstates 269 and 22, provide routes to other major Southern cities. Southaven is also about 5 miles south of the Memphis International Airport.
“We’re still close enough to where people can travel. Nashville’s 3 hours away. You have Birmingham, Alabama. The beach is like 6 hours away, and NOLA [New Orleans] is like 6 hours away,” says Courtney Ferguson, a lifelong Northwest Mississippi resident who works at the Stella Ivy Boutique. “I feel like we’re a good location for people who want a small-town life but also like to travel to different cities.”
Important to know
Southaven has a violent crime rate of 149 reported offenses per 10,000 people, nearly six times less than Memphis. However, Southaven’s violent crime rate is a little more than double Mississippi’s overall rate.
Southaven’s climate is similar to that of the greater Memphis area. The region enjoys four true seasons, but transition periods between winter and summer can vary. Although they can occur, snow and ice events are infrequent. Like much of the Deep South, the region notably experiences warm, humid summers. The area also experiences severe thunderstorms, and weather experts say tornadoes have become more common in the 21st century.
Written By
Yann Ranaivo
Photography Contributed By
Mary Drost
Video By
Conar McDaniel
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Lisa Utterback,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Southaven, MS sell after 48 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Southaven, MS over the last 12 months is $299,999, up 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
**New Construction JUNIPER PLAN**Aprox 3046 SF. Located in Dickens Place neighborhood This home will feature 4 bedrooms + a bonus (or 5th bedroom). 3 full baths. On the first floor there will be a primary suite, living room, kitchen, dining room, eat in breakfast area, a second bedroom, 2nd bath and a laundry room. Upstairs there will be bedrooms 3 and 4, a large bathroom, and the bonus room/5th
**New Construction**Aprox 2994 SF. Located in Dickens Place neighborhood. This home feature 4 bedrooms + a bonus (or 5th bedroom). 3 full baths. On the first floor there will be a primary suite, living room, kitchen, dining room, eat in breakfast area, a second bedroom, 2nd bath and a laundry room. Upstairs there will be bedrooms 3 and 4, a large bathroom, and the bonus room/5th bedroom.
Move In Ready! Fresh new paint and beautiful interior finish. Spacious finished Sunroom! This elegant single family home sits on a hill in a highly desirable Garden at Snowden Grove subdivision in Southaven, MS, just minutes to Desoto Elementary, Middle, and High School, and close to all the major attraction centers (Silo Square). Come take a look at this lovely one owner 4 bedroom and bonus
Don’t miss your chance to own this custom 6,300 sq/ft home on over an acre in the prestigious Stonehedge neighborhood of Southaven. This 5 bed, 5.5 bath home features a formal dining room with China closet, private office with built-ins, and a huge playroom with wet bar. The dream kitchen offers quartz countertops, double cooking areas, two sinks with touchless faucets, two pantries, built-in ice
Come check out this beautiful 4 bedroom (3 down ) , 3 bath split floorplan plus bonus in sought after Snowden Grove Subdivision, across from DeSoto Central Schools and next to Amphitheater and park with walking trails! Magnificent Kitchen, island, granite, custom cabinets, stainless appliances and Dining room which opens up to a large Great room with corner gas Fireplace and double doors to
Great 1.5 acre tract accessible through Whitten Place subdivision. There is a 1.7 acre tract next to it and some other acreage available. This is a rare opportunity to build a home or barn or both right in the middle of Southaven.
This property is managed by Beztak, 2024 recipient of the US Best Managed Companies for the fifth year in a row, sponsored by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal. Call and let us tell you why! Welcome to The Luxe of Southaven, designed with comfort, convenience and the resident lifestyle in mind! The Luxe of Southaven features amenities that make you feel at home. Features included
This cute 3 bedroom 1.5 bath home in Southaven, MS is ready for you to call home! Nearby Baptist DeSoto Hospital, and minutes from Memphis International Airport! Convenient to shopping, schools, churches, restaurants, and more.Pets are allowed with a non-refundable fee of $500 each for the first two pets, max $1000 (no charge for any approved 3rd pet). No vicious breeds are permitted. Please do
Hamilton at Turman Farms offers spacious 1, 2 and 3 bedroom floorplans. We are just minutes from downtown Memphis and conveniently located to nearby Southaven Towne Center. Come enjoy the quality living that North Mississippi has to offer. Great school systems, easy commutes to Memphis and prices that are just right make Hamilton at Turman Farms the right choice for you to call home.
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