Vicksburg (Jackson, Natchez: daycare, houses, neighborhoods)

[attrapereves]

I have a job offer in Vicksburg. I'm aware that the Delta region of MS doesn't have the best reputation. What is the overall reputation of Vicksburg? How are the schools? Anything I should be aware of?

[brickpatio]

Vicksburg technically is not in the Delta, being up on hills next to the Mississippi River. Statistically Vicksburg/Warren County is a relatively high income county in the state, in part because of the Corp of Engineers being located there, and probably because Vicksburg is commuting distance to Jackson (about 40 minutes).

The Mississippi Dept of Education website has a section called "accountability" which provides excellent and easy-to-understand testing data and demographic information on the schools in each county. The public schools are okay, but I would consider the Catholic schools better.

There are several affluent neighborhoods. The main historic district runs south of downtown along Drummond St. Newer homes can be found among wooded hills east of town, across I-20 just past the country club in the vicinity of Indiana Avenue. And for those who want to be further out, and perhaps have larger lots sizes (multiple acres etc), there are many nice homes northeast of town in the vicinity of Oak Ridge Rd, which is east of Hwy 61 and north I-20.

The upsides of Vicksburg are that it's loaded with character, with many old buildings and nice views of the river. The terrain around town is beautiful, with hills covered in hardwood forests. It would be ideal to get a spread of 5 or 10 acres a few minutes outside town.

[attrapereves]

Thanks for the reply. My potential job is at one of the public high schools in town. From my research, Warren Central seems to be a better school than Vicksburg High.

[GrandviewGloria]

"He bad. He fight but he don't fight the little babies. He do also have a problem. He take medicine every day and he just a normal child," ... The Aunt. Disturbing video released, daycare worker arrested - KLTV.com-Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville, Texas | ETX News

Well, actually, by Vicksburg standards he is "just a normal child". Research this story, and you'll find interviews on YouTube with his 'father', grand'father', grandmother, and the Police Chief. I think that in aggregate they will give you a pretty accurate portrait of what you'll be dealing with in Vicksburg and its schools. I do have to wonder how the Aunt defines "little babies" since the kid he was "fighting" was age two.

The town has a wealth of Carpetbagger Victorian homes Southern Lagniappe: Photo Tour of Vicksburg, Mississippi - Part II, in very good condition, just waiting for someone to own them. If you don't mind risking home invasions by 'Under-served Youths' Photos released of those arrested in Warren Co. home invasion, s - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS, then you can pick up amazing houses for very little. Just be sure you can get from the car to the door, before some oppressed former slave can run up your driveway and knock you in the head. Or you could end up like this Vicksburg Heiress: Southern Mystery: A Pool of Blood, a Missing Heiress : Probe: After nearly two weeks, fate of furniture millionaire Jacqueline Levitz still baffles police. - Los Angeles Times And things have gotten a lot worse in Vicksburg since 1995.

The town's remaining middle and upper middle classes are heavily Catholic, and the local Power Elite is Lebanese Catholic.

If you happen to be a swinger, and particularly if you're into Bondage & Discipline, then Vicksburg seems to offer more of that than one would expect - apparently, much more than Jackson. Scroll down to page two of four, to the heading: 'Medical Malpractice'. http://www.juryverdicts.net/Mississi...012Preview.pdf I could link to a photo of the Doctor and his wife with their fancy motorcycle. And I could link to their (big, built, and gorgeous) alleged Victim's Pinterest page (Hint: Boytoy). But I'll let you all do the googling, if you're intrigued. I found it with a few keystrokes, and so can you. My Gay friends still stuck in Mississippi say that the Internet social networking venues have a lot of profiles from Vicksburg, featuring "Lots of couples on the prowl... straight ones... bi ones... Gay ones... really into sick, ugly stuff. It's almost as bad as New Orleans." I don't know if the Victorian houses and odd topography of the place attract a certain mindset (or maybe it's the military graveyards?), or if this is possibly an outgrowth of the town's unique culture and demographics.

On the plus side, the loess earth beneath the town supports astonishing plantlife. It surely is a gardener's dream, with the endlessly-deep topsoil of the Delta - but with better drainage - and the wonderful Mississippi River microclimate to moderate temperatures. You could have a nice orchard, nice vegetables, and beautiful flowering plants...

[SippiStateBulldogs]

Vicksburg is fine. You will be alright. I enjoy visiting the river.

[attrapereves]

Thanks for the replies. At this point I think I am going to wait to see if some of my other applications come through.

[GrandviewGloria]

Originally Posted by attrapereves

Thanks for the replies. At this point I think I am going to wait to see if some of my other applications come through.

Can't imagine why you didn't jump at the chance to live in Vicksburg, when you could have had neighbors like these: WAPT crew caught in gunfire - YouTube

And after a delightful morning kaffee klatsch with the neighbors, you could have headed down to the Mall: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaptsFK9LsU

[brickpatio]

Vicksburg is interesting...lots of interesting architecture and beautiful terrain and a pleasant location by the river. For such a small city, it has an urban vibe, with streets with elegant, historic and renovated homes mixed intermittently with the lower-income streets referenced above. So yes, it's urban. For some people, that kind of socio-economic diversity is cool and frankly, day to day life in Vicksburg is very pleasant. People by and large get along quite well. Vicksburg's upper classes are historically very proud and identify with New Orleans and Natchez. Slowly but surely, downtown Vicksburg is being gentrified, which is a long time coming. For artists and bohemian types, renovating a cottage in downtown Vicksburg would make for a delightful lifestyle.

[donziejo]

I live 39 miles away from Vicksburg. It is improving. One of Hinds County's best principals just accepted a job as Superintendent. I like the vibe of Vicksburg and meet up with my cousins (from La) ever so often. I like Vicksburg better then Jackson.

I'm a teacher in Hinds County and the AP is from Vicksburg. Good luck with your search. Also, Vicksburg isn't the "real Delta"