Vicksburg, MS- to go or not to go... (Jackson, Clinton: crime, houses)

[Indiana Judy]

I am considering taking a job in Vicksburg, but would like to hear a little more about the area.
What are the pros and cons of living in Vicksburg?
I'm okay with the weather and love the idea of being near the river.
I like the idea of a small town with a good coffee shop, and a well stocked book store. I'd prefer to be able to walk to both from my home.
Night life to me is sitting outside listening to a live band.
I used to live in Atlanta and totally loved it, but this job in MS is too good to pass up.
I can see a lot of pros just cruising around the Internet, are there really no cons?
Thanks for your help!
Judy

[Indiana Judy]

From what I just read on a Jackson thread, I may want to rethink this move. Is Jackson really so different from Atlanta? Is the crime and racism so bad that people don't go downtown at night?

[jhadorn]

I have only been to Vicksburg 3 times so I am hardly an expert on the place, but until someone else with more experience posts I will give you my take.

Vicksburg is a nice town with alot of history, but it has much more crime than the Mississippi or national average, and it's population has been declining for about 10 years now. It is only about 40 miles from Jackson, so you would have fairly close proximity to shopping and other amenities.

That's about all I know, but I would consider a job there if it was truly too good to pass up. I think you could find a really good neighborhood in which to live.

[jhadorn]

Originally Posted by Indiana Judy

From what I just read on a Jackson thread, I may want to rethink this move. Is Jackson really so different from Atlanta? Is the crime and racism so bad that people don't go downtown at night?

I wouldn't say the reason people don't go downtown at night is because of racism. The main reason is because Jackson was in a state of decline for many years due to poor leadership which has caused many people to move into suburbs and away from the city, and there isn't much to do there. As in all cities, there are areas where crime is more prevalent. Some of those areas very close to downtown.

Downtown is starting to make a comeback, as evidenced by the new Telecommunications Center, renovated King Edward, and many other projects contained in the link below.

http://www.downtown-jackson.com/inde...gs/development

There isn't much to do downtown yet, but it will get there.

[brickpatio]

Vicksburg is at once charming, historic, gritty and racially diverse. Downtown is full of historic buildings and various states of restoration. The military park is gorgeous, a 12 mile drive of hills, forests, picturesque cemeteries, and huge monuments. Note today's posting by Desert Kid, who recently visited Natchez and Vicksburg.

The most beautiful streets are Drummond Street and Chambers Street, lined with historic homes, and Fort Hill Drive which runs along the ridge that overlooks the river from 300 feet up.

The newer, suburban style subvisions on the outskirts of Vicksburg are normal, modern subdivions. But Vicksburg is blessed with rollling hills, ravines, and hardwood forests, which makes for some picturesque lots out near the Country Club and north of town roughly off Oak Ridge Rd.

Vicksburg, especially historic Vicksburg, is truly diverse, meaning that it's a mixture of the charming and picturesque interlaced in spots with streets lined with old-timey shotgun houses. And it's racially diverse.

Vicksburg is extremely social and friendly. Overall, to be happy in Vicksburg, I would guess it would be someone who appreciates history, character, charm, economic and racial diversity, a slower pace, smaller scale, proximity to the river, hills and forests, and still with relatively normal modern shopping (Kroger, Wal Mart, Home Depot etc) and an easy 45 minutes to the Jackson area which is loaded with nice shopping and restaurants.

[poptones]

I don't know why you'd be worried about downtown Jackson anyway if you were living in Vicksburg. Louisiana is right across the river, Jackson is almost an hour away.

I think I would love living in Vicksburg, although I'm a history nut. I didn't see anything scary when I've been there to visit. The presence of the Casinos will ensure some baseline of security in the area.

[bearjumps]

My husband's family is from Vicksburg, so I visit there often. If you use to live in Atlanta and love it there, you will probably find Vicksburg very boring. You actually have to drive to Jackson for shopping at Target...Personally I don't know any good bar/good place to listen to bands there (I could very well be wrong). And you can forget about walking from home to work/at night. I mean you can walk around your neighborhood (if it's safe), but if you need to get to a store or something, you definitely need a car.

[Singer4Him]

Let me preface this post with this disclaimer: These are MY opinions and I realize that there are those who would disagree.

That being said, I've lived in Vicksburg for almost ten years and in that time, the city has declined dramatically. The mall when we first moved had a lot to offer considering the size of the city, however, now, unless you want Belk, JC Penney or Dillards, you just about have to go to either Jackson or Monroe, LA for much else. For most of my shopping (other than grocery), I go to Jackson/Flowood/Ridgeland/Madison.

As far as restaurants are concerned, it's very limited in Vicksburg. Again, we usually go to the above mentioned places when we go "out." In the city there's Garfields, Goldies Trail BBQ, Rowdys (Catfish), Cracker Barrell, Billy's Italian (excellent!!!), Toney's, Roca, Rusty's, and several Chinese/Japanese restaurants. As you can see there are very few chain restaurants.

At one time, we had no theater (movie) but it has resumed, although there isn't always a great selection and since most people don't just go to a movie but rather do dinner and a movie, most people go to either Clinton, Madison or Pearl. Malco Grandview in Madison is the best by far, IMHO.

To be quite honest, I don't go downtown a lot unless I go to the library. If I worked closer to that area, it would be one thing but none of the shopping such as WalMart, Kroger, Walgreens or Home Depot are close to that area, so I normally stay closer to I-20 where that type of shopping is.

Since I don't drink, I'm not the one to give you any info with regard to bars, etc. I will say that Vicksburg, and Jackson even, is a LONG way from life in Atlanta!!! I know a lot of people who work in Vicksburg but who actually live in Clinton which is about 30 miles to the east and much closer to the Jackson area.

Hope this helps!

[ashleyjones33]

i live in vicksburg and i will tell you that there is absolutely nothing to do here...no places to eat or go out and listen to music, or to shop. you will have to drive to jackson for everything (about 45min) like i do..and you will like it there...lots of stuff to do!

[Allison Boehm]

Vicksburg is magical! It's beautiful and loaded with wonderful history! There is plenty to do ! I have lived all over the United States and love it here! Planning to retire and investing in making it better! I fell in love with the history and the city . Come visit and see for yourself!