Meridian

Meridian, Mississippi
—  City  —
Nickname(s): Queen City
Location of Meridian in Lauderdale County
Coordinates: 32°22′29″N 88°42′15″W / 32.37472°N 88.70417°W / 32.37472; -88.70417Coordinates: 32°22′29″N 88°42′15″W / 32.37472°N 88.70417°W / 32.37472; -88.70417
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
County	Lauderdale
Founded	1854
Incorporated	February 10, 1860
Government
- Mayor	Cheri M. Barry
Area
- Total	45.9 sq mi (118.8 km2)
- Land	45.1 sq mi (116.9 km2)
- Water	0.8 sq mi (1.9 km2)
Elevation	344 ft (105 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	39,968
- Density	885.9/sq mi (342.0/km2)
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code(s)	39301-39307
Area code(s)	601
FIPS code	28-46640
GNIS feature ID	0673491
Website	www.meridianms.org

Meridian is a city in Lauderdale County, Mississippi, United States. The city is the county seat of Lauderdale County, the sixth largest city in Mississippi,^[1] and the principal city of the Meridian, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area. The city's 38,232 inhabitants, as reported in the 2008 United States Census estimates, are governed by a city council headed by Mayor Cheri M. Barry. The city is located 93 mi (150 km) east of Jackson, MS; 154 mi (248 km) west of Birmingham, AL; 202 mi (325 km) northeast of New Orleans, LA; and 231 mi (372 km) southeast of Memphis, TN.^[2]

Meridian has a rich past and deep roots in railroading history. Established in 1860 at the intersection of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad and Southern Railway of Mississippi, the city relied heavily on the rails and goods transported on them.^[3] The city's historic Amtrak station now provides several other modes of transportation including the Meridian Transit System, Greyhound Buses, and Trailways, averaging 242,360 passengers per year.^[4][5]

During the American Civil War, much of the city was burned to the ground by General William Tecumseh Sherman in the Battle of Meridian.^[6] After the war, the city was rebuilt and entered a "Golden Age." From c 1890 to 1930, Meridian was the largest city in Mississippi and a leading center for manufacturing in the South.^[7] During this time, many of the sites and buildings in the city's nine registered historic districts were built, and most still survive today.^[8]

Since the 1950s, the city's population has been declining,^[9] but the decline has slowed somewhat after an annexation in 2006^[10] and the influx of displaced coastal residents after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.^[11] The reason for the population decline lies in the city's struggle to create a modern economy based on newer industries after the decline of the railroad industry.^[8] In 2003, Mainstreet Meridian intensified the economic revitalization by launching its "Vision 2003" program, attempting to restore downtown to its original prosperity.^[12]

History

A monument in Rose Hill Cemetery honoring Lewis A. Ragsdale, one of the founders of Meridian.

Originally inhabited by the Choctaw Native Americans, the area which is now called Meridian was purchased by the United States under the terms of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek in 1830.^[7] After the treaty was ratified, European-American settlers officially began to move into the area after decades of squatting.^{[citation needed]} Richard McLemore, the first settler of Meridian,^[7] began offering free land to newcomers in order to attract more settlers to the region and develop the area.^[8] Most of Richard McLemore's land was bought by Lewis A. Ragsdale, a lawyer from Alabama, in 1853. John T. Ball, a merchant from Kemper County, bought the remaining 80 acres (0.32 km²).^[13] Ragsdale and Ball, now known as the founders of the city,^[4] began to compete with each other by laying out lots for new development on their respective land sections.^{[citation needed]}

Ball erected a station house on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad named Sowashee by the owners of the railroad after the nearby Sowashee Creek. Fierce competition continued between Ball and Ragsdale; Ragsdale wanted to name the new settlement Ragsdale City, and Ball (along with most citizens) supported Meridian.^[14] When the Southern Railway of Mississippi intersected the Mobile and Ohio in Meridian, William Crosby Smedes, the president of the Southern Railway, sided with Ball and suggested to the owners of the Mobile and Ohio that Sowashee be renamed Meridian. The Mobile and Ohio accepted the name, and the town was officially incorporated as Meridian on February 10, 1860.^[13][14]

Union General William Tecumseh Sherman invaded Meridian in 1864

When the American Civil War began in 1861, Meridian was a small village. The town's strategic position at the railroad junction led to the construction of several military installations for the war.^[13] During the Battle of Meridian in 1864, General William Tecumseh Sherman led troops into the city, destroying the railroads and burning much of the area to the ground. After the destruction of the city, Sherman is reported to have said, "Meridian, with its depots, store-houses, arsenal, hospitals, offices, hotels, and cantonments no longer exists."^[6] Despite the destruction, the railroad lines in the city were repaired only 26 working days after the battle.^[7]

The town experienced a boom in the aftermath of the Civil War and experienced its "Golden Age" from 1880 to 1910.^[8] The railroads in the area provided for a means of transportation and an influx of industries, which caused a population boom.^[8] As the population rose, commercial activity increased in the downtown area. Between 1890 and 1930 Meridian was the largest city in Mississippi and a leading center for manufacturing in the South.^[7] Industry profits helped finance the construction of most of the city's major buildings, including the Grand Opera House in 1890, the Wechsler School in 1894, two Carnegie libraries in 1913, and the Threefoot Building, Meridian's tallest skyscraper, in 1929.^[7]

Downtown Meridian in the early 1900s (photo taken near intersection of 22nd Ave and 4th St looking north)

The city continued to grow thanks to a commission government which brought in 90 new industries in 1913 and a booming automobile industry in the 1920s. Even through the stock market crash of 1929 and the following Great Depression, the city continued to attract new businesses. With escapism becoming popular in the culture during the depth of the Depression, the S. H. Kress & Co. building, built to "provide luxury to the common man,"^{[cite this quote]} opened in downtown Meridian, as did the Temple Theater, which was used as a movie house.^[15]

After a brief slowdown of the economy at the end of the Depression, the country entered World War II, which renewed the importance of railroads. The rails were essential to transport gasoline and scrap metal to build military vehicles, so Meridian became the region's rail center once again. This renewed prosperity continued until the 1950s when the automobile and Interstate Highway System became more popular than passenger rails.^[15] The decline of the railroad industry caused significant job losses, resulting in a population decline as workers left for other areas. The population has since continued to decrease as the city has struggled to create a modern economy based on newer industries.^[8]

Andrew Goodman, James Chaney, and Michael Schwerner

During the American Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, Meridian was a major center of organizing and activism.^{[citation needed]} James Chaney and other local residents, along with Michael Schwerner ,his wife Rita and Andrew Goodman, volunteers from the North, worked on creating a community center to help prepare African Americans in the area to regain the power to vote.^[16]

Whites in the area didn't agree with the activism,^{[citation needed]} and racial tension often translated to violence. In June 1964, Chaney, Michael Schwerner, and Goodman went to Neshoba County, Mississippi to meet with members of a black church which had been bombed and burned. The three young men disappeared that night on their way back to Meridian,^[16] and their bodies were discovered, buried in an earthen dam, two months later. Seven Klansmen were convicted for the murders and three were acquitted in the Mississippi civil rights workers murders trial.^[17] In 2005, the case was reopened, and Edgar Ray Killen was convicted and sentenced to sixty years in prison.^[18] Meridian later honored Chaney by renaming a portion of 49th Avenue after him^{[citation needed]} and holding a memorial service annually.^[19]

In an attempt to revitalize the economy, Meridian is undergoing a major gentrification effort.^{[citation needed]} The project owes its beginning to the construction of a new Amtrak Station in 1997, which sparked a citywide effort to restore downtown to its lively prosperity of the early 20th century.^[3] After the Rosenbaum Building was renovated and reopened in 2001 and Weidmann's restaurant reopened in 2002,^[20] Mainstreet Meridian launched a program called "Vision 2003," prioritizing the continued revitalization of downtown. Mainstreet Meridian, along with The Riley Foundation, helped renovate the historic Grand Opera House in 2006 into the "Mississippi State University Riley Center for Education and the Performing Arts." A six-story parking garage, built to provide parking for the future Riley Center, opened in 2005.^[12][20] Plans are now underway to renovate the Threefoot Building into an upscale hotel before the end of 2009.^[21]

Many more projects have been designed and proposed in the city, including bridge improvements in several locations, the construction of several museums in downtown, an African-American Business District on 5th Street, as well as several murals and public arts projects on various buildings' facades.^[22] Mainstreet Meridian also plans to increase residential housing and create more night time activities in downtown. More downtown property and business owner involvement is also encouraged.^[12]

Historic districts

Meridian contains nine historic districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places, illustrating the city's rich history. One district, the Meridian Downtown Historic District, is a combination of two older districts, the Meridian Urban Center Historic District and the Union Station Historic District. Many architectural styles are present in the districts, most from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Italianate, Art Deco, Late Victorian, and Bungalow. The districts are:^[23][24]

 1  East End Historic District — roughly bounded by 18th St, 11th Ave, 14th St, 14th Ave, 5th St, and 17th Ave.

 2  Highlands Historic District — roughly bounded by 15th St, 34th Ave, 19th St, and 36th Ave.

 3  Meridian Downtown Historic District — runs from the former Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad north to 6th St between 18th and 26th Ave, excluding Ragsdale Survey Block 71.

 4  Meridian Urban Center Historic District — roughly bounded by 21st and 25th Aves, 6th St, and the railroad.

 5  Union Station Historic District — roughly bounded by 18th and 19th Aves, 5th St, and the railroad.

 6  Merrehope Historic District — roughly bounded by 33rd Ave, 30th Ave, 14th St, and 8th St.

 7  Mid-Town Historic District — roughly bounded by 23rd Ave, 15th St, 28th Ave, and 22nd St.

 8  Poplar Springs Road Historic District — roughly bounded by 29th St, 23rd Ave, 22nd St, and 29th Ave.

 9  West End Historic District — roughly bounded by 7th St, 28th Ave, Shearer's Branch, and 5th St.

Government

Local

City Hall before restoration efforts

Meridian has operated under the mayor-council or "strong mayor" form of government since 1985.^[25] A mayor is elected every four years by the population at large, and the five members of the city council are elected every four years from each of the city's five wards. The mayor, the chief executive officer of the city, is responsible for administering and leading the day-to-day operations of city government. The city council is the legislative arm of the government, setting policy and annually adopting the city's operating budget.^[26] City Hall is located at 601 24th Avenue, and since September 13, 2007, the building has been undergoing a restoration to its original 1915 appearance. Temporary City Hall is located at 2412 7th Street.^[27]

The current mayor of the city is Cheri M. Barry. Members of the city council include Dr. George M. Thomas, representative from Ward 1, Mary A.B. Perry, representative from Ward 2, Barbara Henson, representative from Ward 3, Jesse E. Palmer, Sr., representative from Ward 4 and President of the council, and Bobby R. Smith, representative from Ward 5. The council clerk is Pam McInnis.^[26]

State

The Mississippi Senate district map divides the city into three sections.^[28] The northern tip of the city is in the 31st State Senate District and seats Terry Clark Burton (R). A strip of the city from the southwest corner up to the northeast corner comprises part of the 32nd State Senate District and seats Sampson Jackson, II (D). The western and southeastern portions of the city lie in the 33rd State Senate District and seats Videt Carmichael (R).^[29]

In the Mississippi House of Representatives districts, the city is divided into four districts.^[30] The southern and eastern portions of the city reside in House District 81 and is represented by Steven A. Horne (R). The city's core makes up the entirety of House District 82 and is represented by Wilbert L. Jones (D). Surrounding House District 82 is House District 83, represented by Greg Snowden (R). The western section of the city, along with a small section in the north, lie in House District 84 and are represented by Tad Campbell (R).^[31]

National

The city is located in Mississippi's 3rd congressional district, represented by Gregg Harper (R), who has been in office since 2009. Lauderdale County, home to Meridian, has voted for the Republican candidate in every United States presidential election since 1972.^[32]

Demographics

The city has historically experienced a highly inconsistent rate of growth. Since the city's founding, the population constantly increased until 1970, though at varying rates as high as 165% and as low as 0.2%. In the 1970 census the population decreased, then slightly increased by 1980, after which the population has continued to slowly decline. Between 1980 and 2000, the population declined over 16%.^[33] As of the census of 2000, the city's population was 39,968. Of the 17,890 housing units inside city limits, 15,966 were occupied, 10,033 of them by families. The population density was 885.9 inhabitants per square mile (342.0 /km²). Out of the 15,966 occupied households, 31.1% had children under the age of 18, 36.2% were married couples living together, 23.3% consisted of a female householder with no husband present, and 37.2% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.06.^[34] The average household size has constantly decreased since 1970 when it was 3.04. On the other hand, Meridian's median age has increased from 30.4 in 1970 to 34.6 in 2000. This indicates that the population is growing older and partially explains why the average household size has been declining, since the elderly tend to live in single person households.^[33]

While the overall population growth of the city has been inconsistent, there has been a steady growth in the number of non-white residents. The only decline in this population was between 1960 and 1970, when the city's overall population saw a large decline. As the number of non-white residents increased, the number of white residents decreased. Between 1980 and 2000, the number of white residents dropped by 11,030 (38.6%). Since the overall population of Lauderdale County has remained fairly constant, this data suggests that white residents have been moving to more rural or suburban areas,^[33] perhaps explained by the "white flight" syndrome.^{[citation needed]} In the 2000 Census, the racial makeup of the city was 54.37% African American, 43.99% White, 0.60% Asian, 0.17% Native American, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.08% of the population.^[34] The city's African American majority places it on a small list of such places.^{[citation needed]}

The 2000 Census reported that the median income for a household in the city was $25,085, and the median income for a family was $31,062. Males had a median income of $29,404 versus $19,702 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,255. About 24.6% of families and 28.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.8% of those under age 18 and 22.0% of those age 65 or over.^[34] In 2008 the unemployment rate for the city was 9.1%, an increase from 8.6% in 2007. The unemployment rate is higher than both the state and national averages, 7.0% and 7.2% respectively. Also, inflation is higher in the city than in the nation as a whole. With a 7.1% increase in consumer price index (CPI), the city total was more than 2% higher than the national average of 4.9%.^[35]

Geography and climate

Meridian is located in the North Central Hills region of Mississippi in Lauderdale County. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 45.9 sq mi (119 km²), of which 45.1 sq mi (117 km²) is land and 0.8 sq mi (2.1 km²) is water. The city is 93 mi (150 km) east of Jackson, MS; 154 mi (248 km) west of Birmingham, AL; 202 mi (325 km) northeast of New Orleans, LA; 231 mi (372 km) southeast of Memphis, TN; and 297 mi (478 km) west of Atlanta, GA.^[2] The area surrounding the city is covered with cotton and corn fields along with oak and pine forests, and its topography consists of clay hills and the bottom lands of the head waters of the Chickasawhay River.^[13]

The natural terrain of the area has been modified in the urban core of the city by grading, but it maintains its gentle rolling character in the outlying areas. Numerous small creeks are found throughout the city and small lakes and woodlands lie in the northern and southern portions of the city. Sowashee Creek, for which the city was initially named, runs through the southern portion of the city and branches off into Gallagher's Creek, which flows through the center of the city. Loper's Creek runs through the far-western part of the city while smaller creeks including Shearer's Branch, Magnolia Creek, and Robbins Creek are dispersed throughout the city.^[8]

Meridian is in the humid subtropical climate zone. The average high temperature during summer months (June through August) is around 90 °F (32 °C) and the average low temperature is around 70 °F (21 °C). In winter months (December through February) the average high temperature is around 60 °F (16 °C) and the average low temperature is around 35 °F (2 °C). The warmest month of the year is July, with an average high temperature of 92.9 °F (33.8 °C), and the coldest month of the year is January with an average low temperature of 34.7 °F (1.5 °C).

The average annual precipitation in the city is 58.65 in (1,490 mm). Rainfall is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year, and the wettest month of the year is March, in which an average of 6.93 in (176 mm) of rain falls.^[36] The Meridian area can sometimes experience severe Thunderstorms which produce strong winds, large hail and sometimes tornadoes.

Economy

In Meridian's early days, the economy depended greatly upon the railroads in the area. The city was the largest in Mississippi at the turn of the 20th century, with five major rail lines and 44 trains coming in and out of the city daily.^[3] The city's economy not only depended on the rails but the goods, such as timber and cotton, transported on them. With these rail-based industries, the city was a great economic power in the state and region from c.1890 through 1930.^[7] Though its economy slowed with the decline of the railroading industry in the 1950s, the city has adapted, moving from a largely rail-based economy to a more diversified one, with manufacturing ranging from electronic music and sound equipment to aircraft parts to steel fabrication and roofing material.

The city's 178 healthcare and social assistance institutions, including six hospitals, contribute greatly to its economy by providing 5,698 jobs to residents of Meridian and the surrounding area. Retail is another major employer in the city, with 378 institutions employing 4,892 people.^[38] Nearly $2 billion annually is spent on retail purchases in the city.^[39] The 633,685-square-foot (58,871.3 m²) Bonita Lakes Mall offers over one hundred shopping venues, including department stores, specialty shops, restaurants, eateries, and United Artists Theatres.^[40] Phase I of the construction of Meridian Crossroads, a shopping center in the Bonita Lakes area, was completed in November 2007, providing a major boost to retail in the area. The 375,000-square-foot (34,800 m²) plaza contains many shopping and dining centers, including Best Buy, Bed Bath and Beyond, Lane Bryant, Rue 21, Ross Stores Inc., Petco, LifeWay Christian Bookstore, and Books-A-Million, along with Olive Garden, Chili's, and Outback Steakhouse.^[39] Phase II is projected to boost the region's economy even more.^[22] Also, the shopping district on North Hills Street has continued to expand, and in March 2007, additional retail and office space was opened near the Highway 19 Super Walmart.^[41]

The city is also home to two military facilities, Naval Air Station Meridian and Key Field, which supply more than 4,000 jobs to the city's residents.^[42] NAS Meridian provides training for naval carrier pilots and other enlisted personnel. Also housed at the base is the Regional Counter-Drug Training Academy (RCTA), which provides training for law enforcement in many southeastern states for the war on drugs. Containing the first local Department of Homeland Security in the state, the city is the leader in a nine county regional response team and a twenty-nine county regional response task force.^[35] Key Field is the site of the famous flight by brothers Fred and Al Key ("The Flying Keys") which set a world endurance flight record in 1935.^[43] Key Field is now home to the 186th Air Refueling Wing of the Air National Guard and a support facility for the 185th Aviation Brigade of the Army National Guard. The site also contains an exhibit reviewing the history of aviation, and is the home of Meridian's Aviation Museum.

Peavey Electronics Corporation, which has manufactured guitars, amplifiers, and sound equipment since 1965, operates its headquarters in the city. Other businesses in the area include Avery Dennison, Structural Steel Services, Sara Lee, Tower Automotive, and Teikuro Corporation. The city is also home to four industrial parks. New businesses in the city are expected to bring in more than $250 million in new investments and add around 670 jobs.^[42]

In downtown, the MSU Riley Center provides revenue from tourism, arts, and entertainment sales.^[22] The Riley Center attracts more than 60,000 visitors to downtown Meridian annually for conferences, meetings, and performances.^[35] Loeb's Department Store on Front St has remained a Mississippi clothing landmark, having passed through four generations of family ownership. The store has been selling fine men's and women's clothing since 1887, when the store was first opened by Alex Loeb.^[44]

Culture

Arts

Meridian's Grand Opera House, renovated in 2006

Meridian and its citizens have contributed greatly^{[peacock term]} to culture and the arts in the surrounding area. Known for more than a century of arts, the city is the cultural center^{[peacock term]} for east central Mississippi.^[45] The city's former Grand Opera House was built in 1889 by two half brothers, Israel Marks and Levi Rothenberg. During its operation the opera house attracted many famous artists from around the nation, the very first being Johann Strauss II,^{[verification needed]} who directed "The Gypsy Baron."^[46] After closing in the 1930s due to the Great Depression, the opera house was closed and abandoned for nearly 70 years. A grant in 2000 by the Riley Foundation, along with other local grants, helped spark downtown's revitalization.^{[citation needed]} The opera house's renovation was completed in September 2006 under the new name "Mississippi State University Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts." The Riley Center, which includes a 950-seat auditorium for live performances, a 200-seat studio theater, and 30,000 sq ft (2,787 m²) of meeting space,^[47] attracts more than 60,000 visitors to downtown Meridian annually for conferences, meetings, and performances.^[35]

Meridian Little Theatre

There are two other locations in the city used for large productions, the Hamasa Shrine Temple Theater and Meridian Little Theatre. The Temple Theater houses a 778-pipe organ, the equivalent^{[clarification needed]} of a 100-piece symphony orchestra, one of two Theater Organs still in their original installations in the state. With seating for 1800 persons, the silent movie era was a prosperous time for the Temple. At the time, it was one of the largest stages in the United States, second only to the Roxy Theater in New York City. Today, seating 1576 persons, the Temple is used year-round for area events, live stage shows, plays, concerts, Hamasa Shrine functions, and public screenings of classic movies.^[48] Meridian Little Theatre, one of the South’s oldest subscription-based community theatres, was built in 1932 and currently provides entertainment to residents and visitors to Meridian and Lauderdale County, entertaining over 22,000 guests each season, making it Mississippi’s largest^{[clarification needed]} community theatre.^[49]

One of the first art organizations in the city, The Meridian Art League, was established in February 1933. Art exhibitions were originally held in Lamar Hotel in downtown Meridian, but after a name change to Meridian Art Association in 1949, exhibitions were held at various locations around the city. After the Carnegie library at 25th Ave and 7th St was closed, the Art Association remodelled the building into the Meridian Museum of Art to serve as a permanent home for exhibits.^[50] The museum was opened in 1970 and has since served as the region's premier^{[peacock term]} public museum, featuring rotating exhibitions as well as many educational programs for both students and adults. Over thirty exhibitions are held annually, ranging from traditional decorative arts to ethnographic and tribal materials, photography, crafts, and many other works of art. The collection also includes 18th and 19th century portraits, 20th century photography, and several sculptures.^[51]

In 1978, the Meridian Council for the Arts (MCA) was founded. During its first year, the organization presented its first program, Kaleidoscope, for children from 6 to 12 years of age. Among the first member organizations were the Meridian Little Theatre, Meridian Museum of Art, and the Meridian Symphony Orchestra,^[52] all of which MCA now oversees in addition to other organizations and festivals in the city, including the Community Art Grants Program and the annual Threefoot Festival.^[53][54] In 1987 MCA was declared the official arts agency for the city and was expanded to the entire county in 1989.^[52]

Recreation

Dentzel Carousel in Highland Park

The city contains several recreational parks, including Highland Park, Bonita Lakes, and Lake Okatibbee. Highland Park houses a Jimmie Rodgers museum which displays the original guitar of "The Singing Brakeman" and other memorabilia of his life and career, as well as railroad equipment from the steam-engine era. In addition to the museum building itself, there are outside memorials, and a vintage steam locomotive on display.^{[citation needed]} A Mississippi Blues Trail historic marker has been placed in Meridian to honor the city as the birthplace of Jimmie Rodgers and emphasizes his importance to the development of the blues style of music in Mississippi. The city was the first site to receive this designation outside the Mississippi Delta.^[55] Each year since 1953, the city has held a festival during May to honor the anniversary of Rodgers's death.^[56]

The park is also home to a 19th century carousel manufactured around 1895 by Gustav Dentzel of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Highland Park Dentzel Carousel has been in operation since 1909, is a National Historic Landmark, and is the world's only two-row stationary Dentzel menagerie in existence. Its house is the only remaining original carousel building built from a Dentzel blueprint.^[57] Around Town Carousels Abound is a public arts project of 62 carousel horses, representing the historic carousel. Sixty-two pieces have been sponsored by local businesses and citizens, and design of the horses was conceived and painted by local artists. They are placed throughout the city and county.^[58]

Upper lake at Bonita Lakes park

Two major lake areas in the city are Bonita Lakes and Lake Okatibbee. Bonita Lakes is a city-owned, 3,300-acre (13 km²) park including three lakes. The park also includes the Long Creek Reservoir and Lakeview Municipal Golf Course, along with nature trails, a jogging and walking track, biking paths, horseback riding trails, pavilions, picnic facilities, boat ramps, paddle boats, concessions, and fishing.^{[citation needed]} Along with the lakes, the Bonita Lakes area includes Bonita Lakes Mall, Bonita Lakes Crossing, and Bonita Lakes Plaza.^[40] Lake Okatibbee is a 7,150-acre (28.9 km²) establishment containing a 4,144-acre (16.77 km²) lake which offers boating, fishing, swimming, water, skiing, picnicking, hunting, hiking and camping.^[59] Splashdown Country Water Park, a 25-room motel, and cabins are located on the lake.^{[citation needed]}

Since 1992, Meridian has been a host of the State Games of Mississippi, the state's largest annual amateur multi-sport event.^{[60][dead link]} In its first year 1,800 athletes competed in eleven sports, and since then over 50,000 athletes have competed in the games statewide.^{[61][dead link]} Originally the games were held in one weekend, but as more sports were added, the event was expanded to two weekends.^[62] In 2008, almost 4,800 athletes from over 300 Mississippi cities, towns and communities competed in 27 sports.^{[60][dead link]} The games are held at several sports parks, including Northeast Park, Sammie Davidson Complex, and other various fields throughout the city. Northeast Park is an 85-acre (34 ha) park on Highway 39 that contains ten tennis courts, four softball fields, three soccer fields, an asphalt track, and a large picnic pavilion.^[63] The Sammie Davidson Sports Complex includes six tennis courts, four softball fields, and a half-mile track. Other sports fields include the Meridian Jaycee Soccer Complex, Sykes Park, and Phil Hardin Park.^[64]

There are also several golf courses in the city, including the aforementioned Lakeview Municipal Golf Course, an 18-hole course open to the public daily.^[65] Briarwood County Club, located on Highway 39 North, is a private club with golf, swimming, fishing, and dining facilities.^[66] Other golf courses serving the city include Northwood Country Club, Okatibbee Creek Golf Center, and Ponta Creek Golf Course.^[65]

Transportation

Railroads

Meridian's Union Station.

Amtrak's Crescent line connects Meridian with the cities of New York City, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Baltimore, Maryland; Washington, D.C.; Charlotte, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; Birmingham, Alabama; and New Orleans, Louisiana. The Union Station Multi-Modal Transportation Center (MMTC) is located at 1901 Front Street, part of the Meridian Downtown Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Originally built in 1906, but later demolished in 1966 then rebuilt in 1997, the station includes several modes of transportation including the Meridian Transit System, Amtrak, Norfolk Southern rail corridor, Greyhound buses, Trailways and other providers of transit services. The number of passengers on Amtrak trains, Greyhound buses, and Meridian Transit System buses averages 242,360 per year.^[5]

Air Transportation

The city is served by Meridian Regional Airport, located at Key Field, 2811 Airport Boulevard South, 3 mi (4.8 km) southwest of the city. At 10,004 foot (3,049 m), the airport's runway is the longest public runway in Mississippi. The airport, which has been in service since 1930, offers daily flights to Atlanta, Georgia.^[67]

During the Great Depression, residents of the city contemplated abandoning the airport because of the cost of maintenance, but in 1935 Brothers Fred and Al Key, managers of the airport, thought of a way to keep the airport operating. From June 4 until July 1, 1935, the brothers flew over the city in their plane, the "Ole Miss." The record they established in their 27 days aloft, totaling 653 hours and 34 minutes, attracted enough publicity and funds to the city to keep the airport running. Key Field is therefore named after the brothers, whose flight endurance record remains unbroken in conventional flight.^[68]

Highways

Highways in Meridian

Interstate Highways

Interstate 20
Runs west through Jackson, MS, eventually terminating near Kent, TX, and east through Tuscaloosa, AL, eventually terminating in Florence, SC.
Interstate 59
Joins with I-20 in the city and runs north through Tuscaloosa, AL, ending in Wildwood, GA. It also runs south through Hattiesburg, MS, and on to Slidell, LA.

U.S. Highways

U.S. Highway 11
Runs parallel to Interstate 59 south to New Orleans, LA, and north all the way to the US-Canada border.
U.S. Highway 45
Transnational route which runs north through Columbus, MS, to the US-Canada border and south through Quitman, MS, to Mobile, AL, and the Gulf of Mexico.
U.S. Highway 80
Runs west through Jackson, MS, to Dallas, TX, and east through Demopolis, AL, all the way to Tybee Island, GA and the Atlantic Ocean.

State Highways

Mississippi Highway 19
Runs north to West, MS, and south to the Mississippi-Alabama border, where it continues as Alabama State Route 10.
Mississippi Highway 39
Begins in Meridian and runs north to Shuqualak, MS.
Mississippi Highway 145
Formerly US 45, but now only exists as an alternate route in several cities.
Mississippi Highway 493
Begins in Meridian and runs north to Lynville, MS.

Education

Meridian Community College has served the city since 1937

Though there were several schools in the city before 1884, they were privately owned and only enrolled about 400 students. The city did not build its first publicly-owned school until September 1884.^[69] From this school and later additions, the Meridian Public School District grew to its current size, which now includes 7 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, 2 junior high schools, 1 high school, and two other schools.^[70] The city also contains several private schools including Calvary Christian School, Lamar School, Russell Christian Academy, and St. Patrick's Catholic School.^{[citation needed]} The campus of Meridian High School, the main high school in the district, occupies 37 acres (15 ha), including six buildings and 111 classrooms. The school is made up of grades 10-12 and enrolls approximately 1,500 students.^[71]

Meridian is home to two post-secondary educational institutions. Meridian Community College, founded in 1937, is located at 910 Highway 19 N and offers free tuition for four semesters to graduates from the Meridian Public and Lauderdale County School Districts as well as homeschooled children who reside inside Lauderdale County.^[72] Originally known as Meridian Junior College and located at Meridian High School, the college moved to its present location in 1965. After desegregation laws were passed, MJC merged with T.J. Harris Junior College in 1970, which had previously enrolled African-American students. The name change from Meridian Junior College to Meridian Community College took place In 1987 "to more accurately reflect the diversity of opportunities it provides for a growing community area."^[73] Mississippi State University also operates a campus in the city. As of the Fall 2008 semester, 763 students from 33 counties throughout the state and several in Alabama attended the college.^[74]

Meridian is served by the Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library, located at the corner of 7th Street and 26th Avenue. The city originally had two Carnegie libraries, both built in 1913 – one for African-Americans and one for whites. A group of women had formed the Fortnightly Book and Magazine Club in the 1880s and began raising money to build a library for the city. The books they collected and shared within the club were later the basis of the library collection for Meridian. With wide support for the library, the club enlisted Israel Marks, a city leader, to approach the national philanthropist Andrew Carnegie for funding assistance.^[75] The African-American library was built at 13th Street and 28th Avenue on land donated by St. Paul Methodist Church, and the library for whites was established in a building originally owned by members of the First Presbyterian Church of Meridian, who sold it to the city on September 25, 1911.^[76] The African-American library was the first and only library for blacks in the state until after World War I^[77] and is the only Carnegie library ever built for African Americans in the country.^[78] The two libraries served the city until 1967, when the institutions became integrated because of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, combined their collections, and moved all materials to their current location.^[79] The former white library was renovated and converted into the Meridian Museum of Art in 1970, and the former African-American library was demolished on May 28, 2008.^[80]

Media

Print

The headquarters of Meridian's primary newspaper, The Meridian Star

The primary^{[clarification needed]} daily newspaper in the city is The Meridian Star, which has been in operation since 1898. The paper was originally named The Evening Star but was renamed in 1915 and has been Meridian's only daily newspaper since 1921. With a daily circulation^{[year needed]} of over 16,000,^[81] the paper serves Lauderdale County as well as adjacent portions of western Alabama and eastern Mississippi.

Though the Meridian Star is the only newspaper printed in the city, there have been a few other historical newspapers. One such paper is the Memo Digest, a ten to twenty page publication published during the 1970s. The Digest focused on issues relevant to the African-American population of the region, gathering a circulation of about 5,000 people.^[82] Other newspapers in the city have included The Colored Messenger,^[83] The State,^[84] The Weekly Mercury,^[85] The Blade, Weekly Echo, Fair Play, Headlight, Meridian Morning Sun, Teacher and Preacher, and Clarion.^[82]

Television

This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2009)

Radio

This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2009)

Notable natives and residents

Notes

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Meridian, Mississippi

• Official City of Meridian Website
  • Online Videos from Meridian's Official Website
• Lauderdale County Tourism

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Lauderdale County, Mississippi County seat: Meridian Cities Meridian Towns Marion CDPs Collinsville | Meridian Station | Nellieburg Unincorporated communities Bailey | Daleville | Kewanee | Lauderdale | Russell | Toomsuba | Whynot

v • d • e   State of Mississippi Jackson (capital) Topics Mississippians | Governors | Lieutenant Governors | Legislature | State Parks | State Landmarks | Music | History | Geography | Visitor Attractions Regions The Delta | Golden Triangle | Gulf Coast | Mississippi Plain | Natchez District | Pine Belt | Tennessee Valley Metros Gulfport-Biloxi | Hattiesburg | Jackson | Memphis (TN) | Pascagoula Larger cities Biloxi | Clarksdale | Clinton | Columbus | Greenville | Gulfport | Hattiesburg | Jackson | Meridian | Olive Branch | Pascagoula | Pearl | Ridgeland | Southaven | Starkville | Tupelo | Vicksburg Smaller cities Bay St. Louis | Brandon | Brookhaven | Canton | Cleveland | Corinth | Gautier | Greenwood | Grenada | Horn Lake | Indianola | Itta Bena | Laurel | Long Beach | Madison | McComb | Moss Point | Natchez | Ocean Springs | Oxford | Pass Christian | Picayune | Tunica | Waveland | West Hattiesburg (Oak Grove) | West Point | Yazoo City Counties Adams | Alcorn | Amite | Attala | Benton | Bolivar | Calhoun | Carroll | Chickasaw | Choctaw | Claiborne | Clarke | Clay | Coahoma | Copiah | Covington | DeSoto | Forrest | Franklin | George | Greene | Grenada | Hancock | Harrison | Hinds | Holmes | Humphreys | Issaquena | Itawamba | Jackson | Jasper | Jefferson | Jefferson Davis | Jones | Kemper | Lafayette | Lamar | Lauderdale | Lawrence | Leake | Lee | Leflore | Lincoln | Lowndes | Madison | Marion | Marshall | Monroe | Montgomery | Neshoba | Newton | Noxubee | Oktibbeha | Panola | Pearl River | Perry | Pike | Pontotoc | Prentiss | Quitman | Rankin | Scott | Sharkey | Simpson | Smith | Stone | Sunflower | Tallahatchie | Tate | Tippah | Tishomingo | Tunica | Union | Walthall | Warren | Washington | Wayne | Webster | Wilkinson | Winston | Yalobusha | Yazoo