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I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. Mississippi is rated, year after year, as being the worst (or among the worst) place in America, to be Black, or to be a woman. It's also the worst place to be a child, or to be poor. And it's getting WORSE. The state government seems dedicated to making things uncomfortable for everyone who's not middle-of-the-middle-class (or richer). Budgets for healthcare for the poor, and for institutional care, are being slashed to surreal - even cruel - levels. And the Medical Industry, which basically owns the Legislature, is making sure that nurse practitioners (and nonconformist/off-the-grid doctors), who DO go out into the countryside to help the poor, are being hobbled, and even shut down.
Any area that's low-crime, generally is an area WITHOUT SIDEWALKS. The older towns are where the sidewalks are. And they're also where you'll find the crime.
Since there are few sidewalks, rollerblading would only be feasible in parks. Try it on a street, and if the vicious-breed dogs don't get you, THE DRIVERS WILL. Every few days, there's another story about someone being hit by a car. Often, it's DELIBERATE - basically like target practice. Then, there are the people in cars, who throw things at cyclists and pedestrians.
And you can forget about public transportation in low-crime areas (not that it's exactly great in the inner cities, either: something which has a devastating effect on the elderly, the poor, and the disabled). Once public transportation moves in, the problems start (Jackson Jambalaya: Anna Stephens buys another house), and those with resources start moving away.
For reasons which become obvious once you've been in Mississippi for a while, movie theatres are pretty-much impossible. People misbehave IN the theatres. And, if you so much as look to see who's creating the disturbance, they'll get you in the parking lot. Jackson is hardly the only city in the state, which is without a cinema. Our little "Picture Show Experience" happened in Rankin County, when we tried to see 'The Age of Innocence', in '93. We barely made it to our car, before a pack of White Trash kids attacked. Luckily, Volvos were hard to dent, back then. We haven't been inside a cinema since then - a quarter-century after that scare. We don't even consider the POSSIBILITY of going inside a cinema (unless it's to a gala event in some grand old restored cinema, in a city FAR FROM THE SOUTH). And we're hardly unique in that respect. The menacing teens, by the way, come in all colors.
The state's only zoo is in Jackson. Feral dogs blamed for killing six animals at Jackson Zoo | KFOR.com Need I say more? Bowling alleys and pool halls, in the Deep South, are not places where nice girls go. If you're above going into a casino (so am I), then you'd DEFINITELY be avoiding those other places. I know they're considered respectable in many states. But in Mississippi - well - I don't know any virtuous woman who would entertain such an idea. Come to think of it, I don't even know any Mississippi women of questionable virtue, who'd be caught-dead going into a pool hall or a bowling alley.
As far as air quality goes, Mississippi ranks among the top spots for pollen count(Jackson leads the NATION), and for air pollution (herbicides and pesticides). https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jackson...ergy-capitals/
Mississippi is a wonderful place, for high-earning, self-sufficient people, who can afford to buy homes in good neighborhoods in decent-sized towns. The countryside, and the tiny towns, are becoming too risky. (Police chief suspended after pot-smoking video surfaces | Daily Mail Online) You have to surround yourself with "winners" - people whose sober and responsible lifestyles mean they can afford those pricey houses in the good neighborhoods. Essentially, prosperous people band-together for safety, in these deluxe suburbs and exurbs.
Mississippi's a wonderful place, if you can afford central air in your home, and can afford a large, safe, newish vehicle (with a good air conditioner), and can afford to drive that large vehicle twenty to thirty thousand miles per year (or more). EVERYTHING you'll want to do/buy/see will involve a substantial drive, on some of America's worst roads (UPDATED: Feds Close Over 100 Mississippi Bridges, Senator Says | Jackson Free Press | Jackson, MS) - shared with some of the nation's worst drivers. Really, I'm talking about needing Lexus LX, BM X5, Range Rover, Mercedes GLS, in order to be relatively safe.
You have to become an expert at risk-avoidance and risk-management, if you want to thrive in Mississippi.
But some people DO thrive there. If you like keeping yourself entertained, taking care of a LARGE yard, decorating a large house, dressing to-the-nines, going to the gym, having flawless hair and makeup (the competition is FIERCE, in Middle Class Mississippi: the winners there, can hold their own against the winners anywhere), and can PAY for all of that, then you'll have a great quality of life.
It's all about learning how to insulate yourself against the climate, the losers, the pathos, the depressing lowest-common-denominator mentality, and the danger (and about making bloody-well-sure you'll always have the money to do so).
You have to create your own microcosm - your own 'bubble'. Those who do, thrive. Those who can't or don't, shrivel up and rot.
There is a lot in your comment that I agree with. Tupelo is a little different, and so is the area up close to Memphis, and of course the coast is different still, but not without problems.
I have to smile at your observations about sidewalks. I have said the same thing many times but worded it a little differently - I have said that if you are within walking distance of Trouble, it will find you. But the reverse is true, too - if you are alone out in the country, you might do well to buy yourself a doberman pinscher. Or two.
Theaters in Tupelo are safe. In fact, most places in Tupelo are safe. The thing that will kill most newcomers is the endless circle chatter as people talk about each other. In fact, they talk about each other to the exclusion of anything else, except maybe college football. I have seen newcomers move to Memphis and commute to Tupelo simply because there was no way to fit in. Women, especially.
I am fortunate in that my instinct is to be a loner, so insulating myself takes little effort. Even so, I confess that if there were really any choice I would not live in Mississippi. I was disappointed when my grandson chose to stay. He is now engaged to a girl from Oxford, so that story is written before it has hardly begun. Yay, Ole Miss.
I have visited 49 states and 19 foreign countries. I encourage the OP in his (her) quest to find a home. Years ago, when I had no real home, I was being discharged from the navy in Seattle and was open to choose my home. I chose San Diego to make my start and while that was a good choice in 1971 it would not be now. Now, I would choose the mid-west. I would start with Logan, UT.
I know a couple who just recently journeyed through the south by car. Nice couple in their forties. Both natives of California. They each agreed that Mississippi was beautiful and the people were open and friendly. Natchez, Hattiesburg, and along the coast somewhere. Abundant wildlife!
For reasons which become obvious once you've been in Mississippi for a while, movie theatres are pretty-much impossible. People misbehave IN the theatres. And, if you so much as look to see who's creating the disturbance, they'll get you in the parking lot. Jackson is hardly the only city in the state, which is without a cinema. Our little "Picture Show Experience" happened in Rankin County, when we tried to see 'The Age of Innocence', in '93. We barely made it to our car, before a pack of White Trash kids attacked. Luckily, Volvos were hard to dent, back then. We haven't been inside a cinema since then - a quarter-century after that scare. We don't even consider the POSSIBILITY of going inside a cinema (unless it's to a gala event in some grand old restored cinema, in a city FAR FROM THE SOUTH). And we're hardly unique in that respect. The menacing teens, by the way, come in all colors.
This is kind of funny. I've been married to a Mississippi native for more than a decade and we've gone to the movies in Madison, outside of Jackson. It was one of the nicest theaters I've ever been in (short of the old famous ones like the late, great Ziegfeld in NYC). No problems with other customers. My in-laws do live about an hour away from that theater and that's the closest one to their house, but that's because they live way off the beaten path. And surely the movie theater we go to isn't the only one in the state that isn't full of ferocious teens.
We are possibly moving to the coast in the next several months, and I can tell you that down by the water there is a walking path (suitable for rollerblading) through Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, and Long Beach. I would guess a lot of other gulf-side towns have the same (but I haven't checked). And those towns are pretty safe. I wouldn't rule out towns near casinos just because you don't go. The nearby areas are very chill and have a lot to offer. They tend to have a strong New Orleans influence.
DeSoto county is DECLINING. It was a nice place as recent as 10 years ago, but that's changed. Unfortunately, houses and rent were made too cheap and many undesirables from Memphis have moved in. The schools are ghetto and fast food places are filled with rude, disrespectful employees. At this point, it's still not exactly dangerous, but I'm sure that will be a different story in another 10 years or so.
DeSoto county is DECLINING. It was a nice place as recent as 10 years ago, but that's changed. Unfortunately, houses and rent were made too cheap and many undesirables from Memphis have moved in. The schools are ghetto and fast food places are filled with rude, disrespectful employees. At this point, it's still not exactly dangerous, but I'm sure that will be a different story in another 10 years or so.
Ha, yeah, it's not the country club utopia of 10 years ago I guess. People say this all the time. They say it about Hoover, AL too. I'm not exactly sure what people want.
I will say this, Desoto County does need to recruit/attract/retain some independent businesses so they can keep growing on a solid foundation, rather than rely solely on outpouring from Memphis. Hoover has done this too.
I hate to say it, but GG is dead on. Things were different, before crime destroyed Jackson. Now, we live in a nice, gated subdivision in Madison. Great neighbors, beautiful, safe to go to grocery store at night. I wonder how long it will last,
I hate to say it, but GG is dead on. Things were different, before crime destroyed Jackson. Now, we live in a nice, gated subdivision in Madison. Great neighbors, beautiful, safe to go to grocery store at night. I wonder how long it will last,
Madison will fall, but it will be the last to fall. Flowood/Rez has already started on the very slow downward spiral. Small houses, no code enforcement and apartments are slowing dragging the area down.
Mary Hawkin's vision and iron will made Madison and will ensure Madison's future for years to come. Smaller houses are already being built in Gluckstadt and with some of the shady builders, homes less than ten years old are already needing serious work.
Ha, yeah, it's not the country club utopia of 10 years ago I guess. People say this all the time. They say it about Hoover, AL too. I'm not exactly sure what people want.
I will say this, Desoto County does need to recruit/attract/retain some independent businesses so they can keep growing on a solid foundation, rather than rely solely on outpouring from Memphis. Hoover has done this too.
That's Desoto county catch .22 right there. Majority of their growth & commerce are thanks to the Memphis exodus. Prior to the 90s Southaven wasn't in the top 10 but now number 3. So it's businesses aren't really declining dramatically.
I hate to say it, but GG is dead on. Things were different, before crime destroyed Jackson. Now, we live in a nice, gated subdivision in Madison. Great neighbors, beautiful, safe to go to grocery store at night. I wonder how long it will last,
"Before crime destroyed Jackson"
Im under the impression that crime was always there. When did mysterious suddenly appear....
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