Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
2HHI, great post! i repped you for it. I thought Mississippi's coast was filled with casinos and other properties. What towns can you actually buy a house (antebellum) overlooking the gulf? I thought Alabama was the better state for buying a house on the coast...
What is it about the weather that is so great? What is so beautiful about the topography? many of us have never been! is it the magnolia trees? Is it 70 degrees in March? What is it?
I think my best bet is to continue working in Chicago for a few years, save up some Chicago money and then spend it in mississippi where i'll get more bang for my buck.
2HHI, great post! i repped you for it. I thought Mississippi's coast was filled with casinos and other properties. What towns can you actually buy a house (antebellum) overlooking the gulf? I thought Alabama was the better state for buying a house on the coast...
What is it about the weather that is so great? What is so beautiful about the topography? many of us have never been! is it the magnolia trees? Is it 70 degrees in March? What is it?
I think my best bet is to continue working in Chicago for a few years, save up some Chicago money and then spend it in mississippi where i'll get more bang for my buck.
Isn't the majority of MS flat? I mean flat in comparison to our big hills which are called mountains in the U.S. I like some hills but when i was near Tupelo it was pretty much flat but i loved the trees. I think they were pine?
I take it the north, mid and coastal areas of MS are very much like different planets? Just curious thanks.
Most of MS is flat. There are some hills along the Mississippi River around Vicksburg and Port Gibson, some smaller ones along the Pearl River north of Columbia, and the largest are the foothills of the Appalachian in the northeast corner of the state. There is also Woodall Mountain (really just a big hill) which is the highest elevation in MS at 806 ft.
As for geography, most of MS is about the same. Yes, you are thinking correctly about pine trees. We have an abundance of them. They grow quickly, shed pine needles all year long, and are known to snap in very high winds, aka hurricanes, tornadoes, etc. Hardwood trees are very common as well, like oak, walnut, pecan, etc. The pines are treated more as a crop than anything, harvested for their wood, because they grow so quickly compared to hardwoods. That's enough about trees. The coast is, well... the coast. They have a beach and sand. Central MS is known for its expansive clays, aka "Yazoo Clay." It's like a sponge and makes building construction/maintenance difficult. Northern MS is usually a little cooler than the rest of the state, but not by much.
Most of MS is flat. There are some hills along the Mississippi River around Vicksburg and Port Gibson, some smaller ones along the Pearl River north of Columbia, and the largest are the foothills of the Appalachian in the northeast corner of the state. There is also Woodall Mountain (really just a big hill) which is the highest elevation in MS at 806 ft.
As for geography, most of MS is about the same. Yes, you are thinking correctly about pine trees. We have an abundance of them. They grow quickly, shed pine needles all year long, and are known to snap in very high winds, aka hurricanes, tornadoes, etc. Hardwood trees are very common as well, like oak, walnut, pecan, etc. The pines are treated more as a crop than anything, harvested for their wood, because they grow so quickly compared to hardwoods. That's enough about trees. The coast is, well... the coast. They have a beach and sand. Central MS is known for its expansive clays, aka "Yazoo Clay." It's like a sponge and makes building construction/maintenance difficult. Northern MS is usually a little cooler than the rest of the state, but not by much.
Ah cool, thanks for clearing that up for me. Personally i love pine trees we get alot of them here too and many others they look good in a yard
Which are the nicest cities/towns you would say in MS? I have been told that Tupelo, Oxford, Hernando, Meridian, Brandon are very nice and progressive/modern.
Ah cool, thanks for clearing that up for me. Personally i love pine trees we get alot of them here too and many others they look good in a yard
Which are the nicest cities/towns you would say in MS? I have been told that Tupelo, Oxford, Hernando, Meridian, Brandon are very nice and progressive/modern.
That's a difficult question to answer, because it depends a lot on culture and what one might expect out of a "nice" city or town. From what you stated, it seems you are seeking progressive/modern places. Out of your list there, the only one I would consider progressive or modern would be Tupelo. Oxford is very active, but it has a strong grasp on its history, which is apparent with almost every event hosted there. That's not a bad thing by any means, but it doesn't seem like that is what you are looking for. I can't comment on Hernando as I know nothing of it except that it is a suburb of Memphis, TN. Meridian is getting better, but slowly. Brandon has a small, nice downtown with potential, but most of the storefronts are empty due to the ownership being majority elderly and they see no reason to sell. For the most part, Brandon is a suburb of Jackson made up of many large neighborhoods.
I don't know of any suburban towns/cities that I consider modern, as the term 'modern' itself, to me, highlights characteristics of contemporary styles that reject traditionally accepted forms and emphasize experimentation and creativity. All the suburbs around here are basically cookie cutter neighborhoods, each house with a garage facing the street, all having identical mailboxes, same wood fences, one 6' tree planted in every other front yard... I can't think of anything more boring actually.
They make sense to peoples' wallets and it provides a roof to sleep under at night, but it is a poor example of synergetic community. How does anyone who lives under a 'homeowners association' expect to be creative when you have to get approval to paint your house or plant a tree? Why have we become a society that thinks it is ok to be REQUIRED to get permission to have visitors park their cars on the street because there is not enough room in your driveway? Our society has become obsessed with money and property values rather than investing in moral and ethical community values.
Sorry to get off topic a little, but maybe you'll understand my answers to your questions better now.
In my opinion, only the larger cities in Mississippi have any glimpse of progressive and modern thinking. Cities like Jackson, Tupelo, Gulfport, Biloxi, Hattiesburg, etc. These are not towns that are dependent on another city for its existence. They are self sustainable and provide many more opportunities. In order to have these opportunites, there needs to be a large enough population that yields enough diversity within the businesses, activities, social networks, etc. Without that, the choices are minimal. I grew up in small towns in Mississippi, and everyone hung out at the same place, same time every weekend. You knew everybody and everybody knew you. There were no secrets and therefore no privacy. Now, I live in a city where I get to meet new people every single day. I pass on my experiences as do others to me. It is a state of constant change, hence why I see Jackson as being progressive and modern.
I could tell you things all day long, but it will never compare to real life experience. The only way to get a sense of place is to actually inhabit it, for no two people or their perceptions are alike.
Likes:
Weather, the best.
Topography, the most beautiful state in the union, and I've seen them all except AK
Architecture: Nothing beats a southern antebellum house, especially overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.
People: friendly, down to earth, not pretentious...and definitely NOT backwards.
Entertainment: NEVER boring...always something to do...nothing like being able to walk out of your beachfront hi rise condo and stroll down a strikingly beautiful beach and sunset and enter a world class resort and see world class entertainment...or top rated golf...or deep sea fishing...or world class art galleries...and this is just the Gulf Coast...dont forget Jackson and the International Ballet Competition...which rotates between other world class cities of other nations...but when in the USA...they come to Jackson. Lets also not forget Natchez and its charms, Vicksburg and its History, Tupelo and The King, Tunica and its resorts...I could go on and on about the desirability of MS....but not enough room here.
Boring, redneck and backwards are very subjective terms. Depends on who you talk to and your definition of those terms.
Again, I encourage all to go to Mississippibelieveit.com and find out the real MS...you may surprise yourself.
I guess I am just different from you. I like snow, mountains, big cities, and lakes, not to mention, Neo-Gothic, Italianate, and some futuristic architecture, and there are many places I can go fishing. I am kind of a coffee-shop and jazz kind of person.
I guess I am just different from you. I like snow, mountains, big cities, and lakes, not to mention, Neo-Gothic, Italianate, and some futuristic architecture, and there are many places I can go fishing. I am kind of a coffee-shop and jazz kind of person.
Coffee shops, jazz, and lakes we have Are you a fan of the Blues?
That's a difficult question to answer, because it depends a lot on culture and what one might expect out of a "nice" city or town. From what you stated, it seems you are seeking progressive/modern places. Out of your list there, the only one I would consider progressive or modern would be Tupelo. Oxford is very active, but it has a strong grasp on its history, which is apparent with almost every event hosted there. That's not a bad thing by any means, but it doesn't seem like that is what you are looking for. I can't comment on Hernando as I know nothing of it except that it is a suburb of Memphis, TN. Meridian is getting better, but slowly. Brandon has a small, nice downtown with potential, but most of the storefronts are empty due to the ownership being majority elderly and they see no reason to sell. For the most part, Brandon is a suburb of Jackson made up of many large neighborhoods.
I don't know of any suburban towns/cities that I consider modern, as the term 'modern' itself, to me, highlights characteristics of contemporary styles that reject traditionally accepted forms and emphasize experimentation and creativity. All the suburbs around here are basically cookie cutter neighborhoods, each house with a garage facing the street, all having identical mailboxes, same wood fences, one 6' tree planted in every other front yard... I can't think of anything more boring actually.
They make sense to peoples' wallets and it provides a roof to sleep under at night, but it is a poor example of synergetic community. How does anyone who lives under a 'homeowners association' expect to be creative when you have to get approval to paint your house or plant a tree? Why have we become a society that thinks it is ok to be REQUIRED to get permission to have visitors park their cars on the street because there is not enough room in your driveway? Our society has become obsessed with money and property values rather than investing in moral and ethical community values.
Sorry to get off topic a little, but maybe you'll understand my answers to your questions better now.
In my opinion, only the larger cities in Mississippi have any glimpse of progressive and modern thinking. Cities like Jackson, Tupelo, Gulfport, Biloxi, Hattiesburg, etc. These are not towns that are dependent on another city for its existence. They are self sustainable and provide many more opportunities. In order to have these opportunites, there needs to be a large enough population that yields enough diversity within the businesses, activities, social networks, etc. Without that, the choices are minimal. I grew up in small towns in Mississippi, and everyone hung out at the same place, same time every weekend. You knew everybody and everybody knew you. There were no secrets and therefore no privacy. Now, I live in a city where I get to meet new people every single day. I pass on my experiences as do others to me. It is a state of constant change, hence why I see Jackson as being progressive and modern.
I could tell you things all day long, but it will never compare to real life experience. The only way to get a sense of place is to actually inhabit it, for no two people or their perceptions are alike.
I guess its really hard to explain online but i like a mix of old and new just now a ghost town or somewhere run down but i like outdoors things and a town with big city ammenities, your right though best to live somwhere to get a feel for it but i just wondered where was a good start and it seems Tupelo wins.
I guess its really hard to explain online but i like a mix of old and new just now a ghost town or somewhere run down but i like outdoors things and a town with big city ammenities, your right though best to live somwhere to get a feel for it but i just wondered where was a good start and it seems Tupelo wins.
Just so you know, Tupelo, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Hattiesburg all have populations in the 35,000 - 65,000 range. If you're looking for more, Jackson has app. 175,000.
I dunno how you can really make an assessment of any major area. I lived in LA, a city of like 14 Million people, and it was both modern and old, diverse and homogenous, family oriented and extremely dangerous. On any given street you could go five blocks and experience a pretty substantial change in living conditions. About the only universal trait was everywhere you went you had to endure traffic. I lived five miles straight up Sunset blvd from my office and it took me 30 to 45 minutes every day to get home.
I think the internet makes "sustainable and modern" a bit moot. Here I used to live in the country, about an hour from starkville and two hours from jackson, and I was able to do business with folks from all over the world (selling via ebay), obtain pretty much whatever I wanted within a few days (Amazon, Newegg, ebay), but was still fairly isolated - and definitely didn't have to endure that traffic. Now I live in a small town at the crossroads of two interstates and realize what I was missing in the country but still enjoy all that other stuff that DOESN'T come with "modern" places. I don't have to get a permit to work on my home unless I am making it bigger, I don't have to worry about being ticketed if a friend parks in the street, and I sure don't have to answer to anyone about what color I paint my house, or even if I want to put a hot tub in the front yard In that same half hour it used to take me to get home from the office in LA, I can drive to a substantially larger town (Grenada) where one can enjoy many "modern conveniences" but still without too much traffic hassles.
Course, I no longer have a pond and 30 acres where I can walk around naked outside with the ol' lady (no one wants to see that, us all being fat, lazy and stupid)... can't pee under a tree... can't just go cut a few trees and sawmill them when I want to build something... can't plant beans in the woods for the deer... it's amazing what you miss when it's gone. Sometimes I even miss Los Angeles... but mostly I just miss having 30 acres and a woods to play in.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Are you a fan of the Blues?
