Is Hattiesburg more liberal/cosmopolitan than Oxford?

[williboy]

I agree, there is no place in MS that is cosmopolitan. However, that's part of the state's charm.

[oped]

not a great place
I moved from Jackson to Hattiesburg to work. I did not like it at all and moved back after one year. The traffic is horrendous and people drive like maniacs. A lot of this is due to the post-Katrinia swell in the population and horrible (or non-existent) urban planning which forces most of the population to continuously be on the two major roads (49 and Hardy/98). Everyone is always on these two roads and driving is VERY stressful. If you don't pay VERY close attention all the time you will be in a wreck in no time. I'm so happy to be back in the Jackson/Metro area where driving is much less stressful because of adequate lanes, etc.

Hattiesburg is much more expensive than the Jackson area. Housing, food, etc. are more - but the quality of life is lower. I couldn't believe it because I thought it would be the reverse.

Oak Grove is materialistic and cliquy. It seems all there is to do here is shop and eat. You see LOTS of very fat people going into the multitude of bad chain restaurants.

Hattiesburg is ugly. There are no nice trees. College kids drive around with their stereos blaring. There is not much "character" except that downtown they are trying to create a little, but even that it sparse. They have a couple of festivals which are O.K.

All in all I would never live in Hattiesburg again.

[TXboomerang]

I grew up in Collins, just north of Hattiesburg on hwy49, and never liked Hattiesburg much. It was nothing more than a place to go get things that you couldn't buy in a small town, or see a movie/go bowling, etc. As far as character, I feel there are small towns that have much more charm in the surrounding area. Just depends on what you want to do though, because small towns have less to do overall.

[mycollies]

We have lived in both Oxford and the Hattiesburg area...Give me Oxford any time. Try a place like Collins...small town , well kept..friendly people, low cost on car tags etc

[glparker4]

I grew up in Hattiesburg, attended MSU in Starkville, but I had many friends at Ole Miss so I spent a fair amount of time in Oxford as well. I live in Vancouver, Canada so my experiences may be a bit outdated.

Growing up in Hattiesburg, I witnessed the city transform from a sleeply, dead town like Laurel into a thriving metropolis and economic centre for the South Mississippi Pine Belt region. Since lumber has historically been the primary industry in the region, which attracted many "lumber-jim" sawmill workers to inhabit the region, which still dominate the region and even parts of Hattiesburg today. Remember that these gents are not the eclectic-artsy type which is why the Pine Belt is not necessarily known as a hotbed of enlightenment.

Fortunately, Hattiesburg city leadership included progressive thinkers and business leaders visions in '90s that helped lead the city in a direction for retail, business, and financial sector growth as well as a stong investment in arts, education, and civic infrastructure. Hattiesburg is more of a city of contrasts. The university adds a liberal, unique, and diverse mix to the city which is why there are so many funky and eclectic neighbourhoods east of 49 especially the gentrified areas near Adeline, 4th, and Kamper Park. The cafes, library, and the theatre downtown give that area unique charm as well. Yet, Hattiesburg still has the new-money suburban types that enjoy chain restaurants, live in McMansions, send their children to private schools, are against any type of artistic or civic investment, and live west of Lake Serene to get away from "the undesirable people" (minorities, mixed race, gays, artists, etc.). This isn't just Hattiesburg, it dominates the entire Pine Belt and one need not travel far from downtown to find people with these attitudes.

Oxford and North Mississippi have traditionally composed the more aristocratic area of the state. I have found people in that region to be generally more intelligent, invest more into the local community, and are more open to diversity and newcomers. I have friends of other races (black, Asian, Indian) at Ole Miss and USM. The ones at Ole Miss felt more welcomed into the university, attended university events, and assimilated into local society. In Hattiesburg, it was more of an environment of cliques where people only assimilated with those like them. Another example is that there is a significant gay population in Hattiesburg, but there are also a lot of right-wing religious pastors and others who are vocally hostile towards homosexuality and share homophobic attitudes. In Oxford, you will find social conservatives who may be opposed to gay marriage for personal convictions but will have gay friends as if it's no big deal. Oxford is the kind of place people would live if jobs were available and the cost of living were more affordable.

Finally, to compare Oxford to Hattiesburg is not accurate. It's like comparing Austin, TX to Houston. Both cities offer completely different vibes. A more accurate comparison would be Hattiesburg vs. Tupelo. Tupelo is almost identical to Hattiesburg with the American Family Association and more right-wing religious extremists.

If you can make ends meet in Oxford, you would probably like it better. If you ever long for that Hattiesburg-like atmosphere or desire some shopping at strip malls and big-box retail shops, then Tupelo is only a 30 minute drive away. Good luck with whatever you decide!

[Tama]

glParker4
I can't disagree with a thing that you said. I came to H'burg when it was still "sleepy". I prefer the new version because I grew up in the Northeast and really don't like "sleepy". But for those who do-there are better choices than H'burg.

H'burg, unfortunatley has a lot of sprawl and that is a shame. Katrina took out the trees--it used to be a prettier town. Lack of plannng for green space particularly along the Hardy St. Hwy 98 corridor makes for an ugly picture.

That being said it has more positives than you mentioned. It has a small town feel with larger town services. Medical is top-notch. Opportunities for learning and taking special classes (art, technical, cooking) are available through the two universities and the community college. Music and other interesting events like lectures and seminars are also readily available. There are lots of opportunties for sports and exercise including walking and biking. Though some people may have the "gated" mentality, it is large enough for anyone to find a niche. It doesn't any longer have a unified cultural overlay. In other words, it has enough variety in terms of demographics that the mentality you described, though present, need not be a factor if one prefers otherwise.

It has a vibrancy that say Oxford, though classier, lacks. It has a youthful feel. It is closer to the beaches, New Orleans (maybe not such a plus anymore) and Mobile and the Alabama coast, which is beautiful.

Finally, I do disagree with one of your contentions(and that of many other posters) that H'burg is a series of strip malls and chain restaurants. That is simply not true. There are many local shops, dining joints, and music venues for those that want them. Clothing boutiques thrive as well little gift shops and book stores. People who say otherwise just don't know the town very well. I won't list all the possibles but take a look at the yellow pages.

So--H'burg isn't for everyone--but it isn't a matter of one place being better but which style you prefer.