{{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2017}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Meridian, Mississippi | settlement_type = City | nickname = Queen City | motto = "A Better Longitude On Life" | image_skyline = {{multiple images | border = infobox | total_width = 300 | perrow = 1/2/2/1 | caption_align = center | image1 = Downtown Meridian from City Hall.jpg | alt1 = Downtown Meridian | caption1 = A view of downtown from the third floor of Meridian City Hall; the 16-story Threefoot Building dominates the skyline | image2 = Meridian December 2018 19 (Meridian City Hall).jpg | alt2 = City Hall | caption2 = Meridian City Hall | image3 = Meridian December 2018 20 (Meridian Museum of Art).jpg | alt3 = Merdian Art Museum | caption3 = Meridian Museum of Art | image4 = Riley Center Meridian MS.JPG | alt4 = Riley Center | caption4 = Riley Center | image5 = Meridian December 2018 25 (Temple Theater).jpg | alt5 = Temple Theater | caption5 = Temple Theater }} | image_caption = | image_flag = Meridian, MS flag.gif | image_seal = | image_map = Lauderdale_County_Mississippi_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Meridian_Highlighted.svg | mapsize = 250px | map_caption = Location of Meridian in Lauderdale County | image_map1 = | mapsize1 = | map_caption1 = | pushpin_map = Mississippi#USA | pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States | pushpin_label = Meridian | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name = United States | subdivision_name1 = Mississippi | subdivision_name2 = Lauderdale | government_type = Mayor-council government | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Percy Bland (D) | established_title = Incorporated | established_title2 = | established_date = {{Start date and age|1860|2|10|p=fy}} | established_date2 = | area_magnitude = | area_total_sq_mi = 54.51 | area_total_km2 = 141.17 | area_land_sq_mi = 53.74 | area_land_km2 = 139.19 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.76 | area_water_km2 = 1.98 | area_urban_sq_mi = | area_urban_km2 = | area_metro_sq_mi = | area_metro_km2 = | population_as_of = 2020 | population_note = | population_total = 35052 | population_metro = 107449 | population_urban = | population_density_km2 = 251.83 | population_density_sq_mi = 652.24 | timezone = CST | utc_offset = −6 | timezone_DST = CDT | utc_offset_DST = −5 | coordinates = {{coord|32|22|29|N|88|42|15|W|region:US-MS|display=inline,title}} | elevation_m = 105 | elevation_ft = 344 | website = {{URL|www.meridianms.org}} | postal_code_type = ZIP code(s) | postal_code = 39301-39307 | area_code = 601 | blank_name = FIPS code | blank_info = 28-46640 | blank1_name = GNIS feature ID | blank1_info = 0673491 | footnotes = | pop_est_as_of = | pop_est_footnotes = | population_est = | unit_pref = Imperial | area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_28.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=July 24, 2022}}</ref> | population_footnotes = }}
'''Meridian''' is the eighth most populous city in the U.S. state of Mississippi,<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> with a population of 35,052 at the 2020 census.<ref name="2020 census">{{cite web |title=Meridian city, Mississippi - Census Bureau Profile |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Meridian_city,_Mississippi?g=160XX00US2846640 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=1 December 2023}}</ref> It is the county seat of Lauderdale County and the principal city of the Meridian, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area. Along major highways, the city is {{convert|93|mi|abbr=on}} east of Jackson; {{convert|154|mi|abbr=on}} southwest of Birmingham, Alabama; {{convert|202|mi|abbr=on}} northeast of New Orleans, Louisiana; and {{convert|231|mi|abbr=on}} southeast of Memphis, Tennessee.
Established in 1860, at the junction of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad and Southern Railway of Mississippi, Meridian built an economy based on the railways and goods transported on them, and it became a strategic trading center. During the Civil War, General William Tecumseh Sherman burned much of the city to the ground in the Battle of Meridian (February 1864). Rebuilt after the war, the city entered a "Golden Age". It became the largest city in Mississippi between 1890 and 1930, and a leading center for manufacturing in the South, with 44 trains arriving and departing daily. Union Station, built in 1906, is now a multi-modal center, with access to Amtrak and Greyhound Buses averaging 242,360 passengers per year. Although the economy slowed with the decline of the railroad industry, the city has diversified, with healthcare, military, and manufacturing employing the most people in 2010. The population within the city limits, according to 2008 census estimates, is 38,232, but a population of 232,900 in a {{convert|45|mi|adj=on}} radius and 526,500 in a {{convert|65|mi|adj=on}} radius, of which 104,600 and 234,200 people respectively are in the labor force, feeds the economy of the city.
The area is served by two military facilities, Naval Air Station Meridian and Key Field, which employ over 4,000 people. NAS Meridian is home to the Regional Counter-Drug Training Academy (RCTA) and the first local Department of Homeland Security in the state. Students in Training Air Wing ONE (Strike Flight Training) train in the T-45C Goshawk training jet. Key Field is named after brothers Fred and Al Key, who set a world endurance flight record in 1935. The 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 Mississippi Army National Guard. Ochsner Rush Health is the largest non-military employer in the region, employing 2,610 people. Among the city's many arts organizations and historic buildings are the Riley Center, the Meridian Museum of Art, Meridian Little Theatre, and the Meridian Symphony Orchestra. Meridian was home to two Carnegie libraries, one for whites and one for African Americans. The Carnegie Branch Library, now demolished, was one of a number of Carnegie libraries built for blacks in the Southern United States during the segregation era.
The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience (the MAX) is located in downtown Meridian. Jimmie Rodgers, the "Father of Country Music", was born in Meridian. Highland Park houses a museum which displays memorabilia of his life and career, as well as railroad equipment from the steam-engine era. The park is also home to the Highland Park Dentzel Carousel, a National Historic Landmark. It is the world's only two-row stationary Dentzel menagerie in existence.
Other notable natives include Miss America 1986 Susan Akin; James Chaney, an activist who was one of three civil rights workers murdered in 1964; singer Paul Davis; and Hartley Peavey, founder of Peavey Electronics headquartered in Meridian. The federal courthouse was the site of the 1966–1967 trial of suspects in the murder of Chaney and two other activists. For the first time, an all-white jury convicted a white official of a civil rights killing.<ref name="Robertson"/>
==History== {{Main|History of Meridian, Mississippi}}
===Early history=== thumb|upright|A monument in Rose Hill Cemetery honoring Lewis A. Ragsdale, one of the founders of Meridian. Previously inhabited by the Choctaw Native Americans, the area now called Meridian was obtained by the United States under the terms of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek in 1830 during the period of Indian removal.<ref name="website">{{cite web|url=http://www.meridianms.org/history.htm |title=History of Meridian, MS |access-date=June 7, 2008 |publisher=Official website of Meridian, MeridianMS.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604042331/http://www.meridianms.org/history.htm |archive-date=June 4, 2011 }}</ref> After the treaty was ratified, European-American settlers began to move into the area.
After receiving a federal land grant of about {{convert|2000|acres}},<ref name="mclemore">{{Cite journal |last=Cook |first=Jody |date=December 4, 1979|journal=National Register of Historic Places|title=NRHP Nomination:McLemore Cemetery|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref> Richard McLemore, the first settler of Meridian,<ref name="website"/> began offering free land to newcomers to attract more settlers to the region and develop the area.<ref name="mra">{{cite web |url={{NRHP url|id=64000416}} |title=Meridian Multiple Resource Area Nomination | work=National Register of Historic Places |access-date=June 7, 2008 |publisher=National Park Service |date=December 18, 1979 |format=PDF}}</ref> Most of McLemore's land was bought in 1853 by Lewis A. Ragsdale, a lawyer from Alabama. John T. Ball, a merchant from Kemper County, bought the remaining {{Convert|80|acre|km2}}.<ref name="history">{{cite web|url=http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mslauder/meridian.html |title=History of Meridian, MS |access-date=June 7, 2008 |publisher=Don E. Wright |date=January 15, 2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929052255/http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mslauder/meridian.html |archive-date=September 29, 2008}}</ref> Ragsdale and Ball, now known as the founders of the city,<ref name="attractions">{{cite web|url=http://www.meridianms.org/culture_attraction.htm |title=City of Meridian, MS – Attractions |access-date=June 8, 2008 |publisher=Official Site of Meridian, MeridianMS.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509171110/http://www.meridianms.org/culture_attraction.htm |archive-date=May 9, 2008 }}</ref> began laying out lots for new development on their respective land sections.<ref name=history/>
There was much competition over the proposed name of the settlement. Ball and the more industrial residents of the city supported the name "Meridian," believing the term to be synonymous with "junction"; the more agrarian residents of the city preferred "''Sowashee''" (meaning "mad river" in Choctaw, from the name of a nearby creek); and Ragsdale proposed "Ragsdale City."<ref name=msguide1938>{{Cite book |author=Federal Writers' Project of the Works Progress Administration (Miss.) |url=https://archive.org/details/mississippiguide00federich|title=Mississippi:A Guide to the Magnolia State|publisher=Hastings House|location=New York|year=1938}}</ref><ref name="railroad">{{cite web |last=Nussbaum |first=Mick |url=http://www.queenandcrescent.org/meridian_rr_history.html |title=Meridian Railroad History |access-date=June 8, 2008 |publisher=National Railway Historical Society, Queen & Crescent Chapter |date=August 5, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230161332/http://www.queenandcrescent.org/meridian_rr_history.html |archive-date=December 30, 2010 }}</ref> Ball erected a station house on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad – the sign on which would alternate between "Meridian" and "Sowashee" each day. Eventually the continued development of the railroads led to an influx of railroad workers who overruled the others in the city and left "Meridian" on the station permanently.<ref name=msguide1938/> The town was officially incorporated as Meridian on February 10, 1860.<ref name="history"/>
[[Image:General sherman.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Union Army General William Tecumseh Sherman fought and won the Battle of Meridian in 1864.]]
===Civil War and Reconstruction era=== At the start of the American Civil War in 1861, Meridian was still a small village. But the Confederates made use of its strategic position at the railroad junction and constructed several military installations there to support the war.<ref name="history"/> During the Battle of Meridian in 1864, Union General William Tecumseh Sherman led troops into the city, destroying the railroads in every direction, as well as an arsenal and immense storehouses;<ref name=memoirs>{{cite web|last=Sherman |first=William T. |url=http://www.sonofthesouth.net/union-generals/sherman/memoirs/general-sherman-meridan-campaign.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130112230137/http://www.sonofthesouth.net/union-generals/sherman/memoirs/general-sherman-meridan-campaign.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 12, 2013 |title=Memoirs of General W.T. Sherman – Meridian Campaign |date=January 21, 1875 |location=St. Louis, Missouri |access-date=June 2, 2010 }}</ref> his forces burned many of the buildings to the ground.<ref name=sherman/> Sherman is reported to have said afterwards, "Meridian, with its depots, store-houses, arsenal, hospitals, offices, hotels, and cantonments no longer exists."<ref name="sherman">{{cite web|url=http://mshistory.k12.ms.us/index.php?id=2 |last=Dougherty |first=Kevin |title=Sherman's Meridian Campaign: A Practice Run for the March to the Sea |access-date=June 7, 2008 |work=Mississippi History Now |publisher=Mississippi Historical Society |date=April 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610222325/http://mshistory.k12.ms.us/index.php?id=2 |archive-date=June 10, 2011}}</ref> Despite the destruction, workers rapidly repaired the railroad lines and they were back in operation 26 working days after the battle.<ref name="website"/>
Race relations were tense during the Reconstruction era, as whites resisted freedmen being allowed to choose their labor, vote, and have freedom of movement. Following a fire that damaged many businesses, the riot of 1871 erupted, with whites attacking blacks in the community. The black community had expanded after the war, as people moved to the city for more opportunity and to create community away from white supervision.
===Golden Age and the Great Depression=== The town boomed in the aftermath of the Civil War, and experienced its "Golden Age" from 1880 to 1910.<ref name="mra" /> The railroads in the area provided for both passenger transportation and industrial needs, stimulating industry, businesses and a population boom.<ref name="mra"/> Related 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.<ref name="website"/>
The wealth generated by this strong economy resulted in residents constructing many fine buildings, now preserved as historic structures, including the Grand Opera House in 1890,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.meridianms.org/2000project.htm |title=Grand Opera House Project |access-date=June 6, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209005620/http://www.meridianms.org/2000project.htm |archive-date=February 9, 2010 }}</ref> the Wechsler School in 1894,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.meridianms.org/artwechsler.htm |title=The Wechsler Project |access-date=June 6, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090713201017/http://www.meridianms.org/artwechsler.htm |archive-date=July 13, 2009 }}</ref> two Carnegie libraries in 1913,<ref>{{cite news |last=McKee |first=Anne |url=http://meridianstar.com/editorials/x681098601/I-could-write-a-book |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710223345/http://meridianstar.com/editorials/x681098601/I-could-write-a-book |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 10, 2012 |title=I could write a book... |newspaper=The Meridian Star |date=January 10, 2008 |access-date=June 6, 2010 }}</ref> and the Threefoot Building, Meridian's tallest skyscraper, in 1929.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://intelligenttravel.typepad.com/it/2007/11/the-tallest-thr.html|title=Intelligent Travel: The Tallest Threefoot Building in Town|access-date=June 6, 2010}}</ref>
thumb|Downtown Meridian in the early 1900s (photo taken near intersection of 22nd Ave and 4th St looking north) [[File:Meridian Union Station Postcard.jpg|thumb|Meridian Union Station in the early 1900s]] The city continued to grow thanks to a commission government's efforts to bring in 90 new industrial plants 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,"<ref name=DowntownHD>National Register of Historic Places nomination form for Meridian Downtown Historic District. January 16, 2007. National Park Service.</ref> opened in downtown Meridian, as did the Temple Theater, which was first used as a movie house.<ref name=DowntownHD/> The federal courthouse was built in 1933 as a WPA project.<ref name="Robertson"/>
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 again. This renewed prosperity continued until the 1950s, when the affordability of automobiles and the subsidized Interstate Highway System drew off passengers from the trains.<ref name=DowntownHD/> The decline of the railroad industry, which went through considerable restructuring among freight lines as well, caused significant job losses. The city's population declined as workers left for other areas.<ref name="mra"/>
===Civil Rights movement=== During the American Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, Meridian was home to a Council of Federated Organizations (COFO) office and several other activist organizations.<ref name="DowntownHD" /> James Chaney and other local residents, along with Michael Schwerner, his wife Rita, and Andrew Goodman, volunteers from New York City, worked to create a community center. They held classes during Freedom Summer to help prepare African Americans in the area to prepare to regain their constitutional franchise, after having been excluded from politics since disenfranchisement in 1890.<ref name="schwerner">{{cite web|url=http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/price&bowers/Schwerner.htm |title=Biography of Michael Schwerner |publisher=University of Missouri-Kansas City |access-date=June 8, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515025355/http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/price%26bowers/Schwerner.htm |archive-date=May 15, 2008}}</ref> Whites in the area resented the activism, and physically attacked civil rights workers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crmvet.org/docs/msrv64.pdf|title=Mississippi: Subversion of the Right to Vote|publisher=Civil Rights Movement Archive|page=5|access-date=January 5, 2010}}</ref> In June 1964, Chaney, Schwerner, and Goodman went to Neshoba County, Mississippi, to meet with members of a black church that had been bombed and burned. The three disappeared that night on their way back to Meridian.<ref name="schwerner" /> Following a massive FBI investigation, their murdered bodies were found two months later, buried in an earthen dam.
Seven Klansmen, including a deputy sheriff, were convicted by an all-white jury in the federal courthouse in Meridian of "depriving the victims of their civil rights".<ref name="Robertson"/> Three defendants were acquitted in the trial for the murders of Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner.<ref>{{cite web|last=Klopfer |first=Susan |url=http://themiddleoftheinternet.com/Chaney_Goodman_Schwerner.htm |title=Civil Rights Murders |access-date=June 8, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501073239/http://themiddleoftheinternet.com/Chaney_Goodman_Schwerner.htm |archive-date=May 1, 2008}}</ref> This was the first time that a white jury had convicted "a white official in a civil rights killing."<ref name="Robertson">Campbell Robertson, "Last Chapter for a Courthouse Where Mississippi Faced Its Past", ''New York Times'', September 18, 2012, p. 1, 16</ref>
In 2005, the state brought charges in the case for the first time. Edgar Ray Killen was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 60 years in prison.<ref>{{cite news |first=Ariel |last=Hart |title=41 Years Later, Ex-Klansman Gets 60 Years in Civil Rights Deaths |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/24/national/24killen.html |work=The New York Times |date=June 24, 2005 |access-date=August 22, 2009 }}</ref> Meridian later honored Chaney by renaming a portion of 49th Avenue after him and holding an annual memorial service.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crmvet.org/anc/2007arch/0706csg.htm |title=43rd Annual Mississippi Civil Rights Martyrs Memorial Service and Conference and Caravan for Justice |publisher=Civil Rights Movement Archive |access-date=August 21, 2009 |date=May 10, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100505052304/http://www.crmvet.org/anc/2007arch/0706csg.htm |archive-date=May 5, 2010 }}</ref>
===Modern history=== Starting in the 1960s and following the construction of highways that made commuting easier, residents began to move away from downtown in favor of new housing subdivisions to the north. After strip commercial interests began to move downtown, the city worked to designate several areas as historic districts in the 1970s and 80s to preserve the architectural character of the city.<ref name=mra /> The Meridian Historic Districts and Landmarks Commission was created in 1979, and the Meridian Main Street program was founded in 1985.<ref name=mra />
[[File:Meridian from 22nd Ave Bridge.jpg|thumb|Looking into downtown Meridian from the 22nd Avenue Bridge in 2008. The Hotel Meridian was later demolished.]] Meridian Main Street organized several projects to revitalize downtown. This included construction of a new Amtrak Station in 1997, based on the design of the historic train station used during Meridian's Golden Age; it had been demolished.<ref name=unionstation /> Other projects included renovation of the Rosenbaum Building in 2001 and Weidmann's Restaurant in 2002, as well as support for integrated urban design.<ref name="journal">{{cite news|last=Jeter |first=Lynne |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa5277/is_200407/ai_n24281501 |title=Strategic center of the South, Meridian poised for takeoff |publisher=BNET Business Network |work=The Mississippi Business Journal |location=Meridian, MS |date=July 19, 2004 |access-date=June 8, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090728181431/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa5277/is_200407/ai_n24281501/ |archive-date=July 28, 2009}}</ref> Meridian Main Street, along with The Riley Foundation, helped renovate and adapt the historic Grand Opera House in 2006 for use as the "Mississippi State University Riley Center for Education and the Performing Arts."<ref name="journal"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.msurileycenter.com/about_us/history_renovation.cfm |title=MSU Riley Center – History and Renovation |access-date=May 26, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223042552/http://www.msurileycenter.com/about_us/history_renovation.cfm |archive-date=December 23, 2007 }}</ref>
After ownership of the Meridian Main Street was transferred to the Alliance for Downtown Meridian in late 2007,<ref>{{cite web |last=Jacob |first=Jennifer |url=http://meridianstar.com/local/x681097081/Downtown-Alliance-takes-over-Main-Street-organization |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710003829/http://meridianstar.com/local/x681097081/Downtown-Alliance-takes-over-Main-Street-organization |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 10, 2012 |title=Meridian Star – Downtown Alliance Takes Over Main Street Organization |date=December 19, 2007 |access-date=May 25, 2010 }}</ref> the two organizations, along with the Meridian Downtown Association, spearheaded the downtown revitalization effort.<ref name=together>{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Jennifer Jacob |url=http://meridianstar.com/local/x546253503/Working-together |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130111064112/http://meridianstar.com/local/x546253503/Working-together |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 11, 2013 |title=Meridian Star – Working Together |date=November 18, 2009 |newspaper=The Meridian Star |access-date=May 25, 2010 }}</ref> The Alliance serves as an umbrella organization, allowing the other two organizations to use its support staff and housing, and in turn the Alliance serves as a liaison between the organizations.<ref name=together/> Plans were underway to renovate the Threefoot Building, but newly elected Mayor Cheri Barry killed the plans in early 2010.<ref>{{cite news |last=Jacob |first=Jennifer |url=http://www.meridianstar.com/local/local_story_003003708.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910064800/http://www.meridianstar.com/local/local_story_003003708.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 10, 2012 |title=Barry, Smith make plans for 2010 |date=January 2, 2010 |newspaper=The Meridian Star |location=Meridian, MS |access-date=January 26, 2010 }}</ref> Today, the Alliance helps to promote further development and restoration downtown; its goal is to assist businesses such as specialty shops, restaurants, and bars because these help downtown become more active during the day and at night. The Meridian Downtown Association is primarily focused on increasing foot traffic downtown by organizing special events, and the Meridian Main Street program supports existing businesses downtown.<ref name=together/>
===Hotels=== {| style="float:right; background:#eee; border:1px solid #ddd; margin:5px" |+ '''Historic hotels in Meridian''' |- |166px |128px |- |Great Southern Hotel (1890) |Hotel Meridian (1907) |- |155px |138px |- |Union Hotel (1908) |Lamar Hotel (1927) |} {{Main|Hotels in Meridian, Mississippi}} Given Meridian's site as a railroad junction, its travelers have attracted the development of many hotels. Even before Meridian reached its "Golden Age," several large hotels, including the Great Southern and the Grand Avenue hotels, were built before the start of the 20th century.<ref name=shankhotels>{{cite book |last=Shank |first=Jack |title=Meridian: The Queen with a Past|publisher=Southeastern Printing Company|location=Meridian, Mississippi|year=1986|isbn=0-9616123-2-0|volume=II|pages=6–12|chapter=Chapter 2: A City of Hotels}}</ref> With the growth of the railroads and the construction of the original Union Station in 1906, many hotels were constructed for passengers and workers.<ref name=DowntownHD/> The Elmira Hotel was constructed in 1905,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.meridianms.org/downtownhistoricresources/1.html|title=Elmira Hotel|publisher=City of Meridian|access-date=January 3, 2012}}</ref> and the Terminal Hotel was constructed in 1910.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.meridianms.org/downtownhistoricresources/4.html|title=Terminal Hotel|publisher=City of Meridian|access-date=January 3, 2012}}</ref> Hotel Meridian was constructed in 1907, and Union Hotel was built in 1908.<ref name=shankhotels/> Union Hotel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979,<ref name=nris/> and both Hotel Meridian and Grand Avenue Hotel were listed as contributing properties to the Meridian Urban Center Historic District.<ref name=DowntownHD/>
As the city grew, the hotels reflected ambitions of the strong economy, as evidenced by the 11-story skyscraper Lamar Hotel built in 1927.<ref name=shankhotels/> Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, the Lamar Hotel was adapted for use as a county annex building.<ref name=nris/> In 1988 it was listed as a Mississippi Landmark.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.apps.mdah.ms.gov/Public/prop.aspx?id=16636&view=facts&y=774|title=Lamar Hotel|publisher=Mississippi Department of Archives and History|access-date=January 4, 2012}}</ref> The E.F. Young Hotel was built in 1931.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.efyoungjr.com/current/The_Legacy/the_legacy.html|title=The Legacy|publisher=E.F. Young, Jr., Manufacturing Company|year=1999|access-date=January 4, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704111540/http://www.efyoungjr.com/current/The_Legacy/the_legacy.html|archive-date=July 4, 2008|df=mdy-all}}</ref> A staple in the African-American business district that developed west of the city's core, the hotel was one of the only places in the city during the years of segregation where a traveling African American could find a room.<ref name=DowntownHD/>
As the city suburbs developed in the 1960s and '70s, most hotels moved outside of downtown. Rehabilitation of the Riley Center in 2006 has increased demand and a push for a new downtown hotel.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Jennifer Jacob |url=http://meridianstar.com/local/x657346372/Threefoot-Building-Part-1-Looking-at-all-our-options |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712170711/http://meridianstar.com/local/x657346372/Threefoot-Building-Part-1-Looking-at-all-our-options |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 12, 2012 |title=Threefoot Building: Part 1 'Looking at all our options': Development, demolition and stabilization |date=June 27, 2010 |newspaper=The Meridian Star |access-date=January 5, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Frye |first=Georgia E. |url=http://meridianstar.com/local/x681064804/Riley-Center-officials-get-set-to-go |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712212522/http://meridianstar.com/local/x681064804/Riley-Center-officials-get-set-to-go |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 12, 2012 |title=Riley Center officials get set to go |date=August 20, 2006 |newspaper=The Meridian Star |access-date=January 5, 2012 }}</ref> The Threefoot Building has been proposed for redevelopment for this purpose, but restoration efforts stalled with a change in city administrations.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Jennifer Jacob |url=http://meridianstar.com/local/x2088985616/City-working-on-downtown-hotel |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710003256/http://meridianstar.com/local/x2088985616/City-working-on-downtown-hotel |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 10, 2012 |title=City working on downtown hotel |date=June 12, 2011 |newspaper=The Meridian Star |access-date=January 5, 2012 }}</ref> The Threefoot Preservation Society was formed in 2013 to raise public awareness and support for the building's renovation, featuring tours of the first floor and anniversary events.
===Historic districts=== {{Main|Historic districts in Meridian, Mississippi}} right|375px Meridian has nine historic districts that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 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:<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2007a}}</ref><ref name="historic">{{cite web|url=http://www.meridianms.org/com_historicneighbor.html |title=Historic Neighborhoods in Meridian |access-date=June 8, 2006 |publisher=Official website of Meridian, MeridianMS.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070706183851/http://www.meridianms.org/com_historicneighbor.html |archive-date=July 6, 2007}}</ref>
{{color box|#0000FF|1|white}} '''East End Historic District''' – roughly bounded by 18th St, 11th Ave, 14th St, 14th Ave, 5th St, and 17th Ave.
{{color box|#FF0000|2|white}} '''Highlands Historic District''' – roughly bounded by 15th St, 34th Ave, 19th St, and 36th Ave.
{{color box|#00FF00|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.
:{{color box|#FF0077|4}} '''Meridian Urban Center Historic District''' – roughly bounded by 21st and 25th Aves, 6th St, and the railroad.
:{{color box|#773300|5|white}} '''Union Station Historic District''' – roughly bounded by 18th and 19th Aves, 5th St, and the railroad.
{{color box|#770077|6|white}} '''Merrehope Historic District''' – roughly bounded by 33rd Ave, 30th Ave, 14th St, and 8th St.
{{color box|#7777FF|7}} '''Mid-Town Historic District''' – roughly bounded by 23rd Ave, 15th St, 28th Ave, and 22nd St.
{{color box|#FF00FF|8}} '''Poplar Springs Road Historic District''' – roughly bounded by 29th St, 23rd Ave, 22nd St, and 29th Ave.
{{color box|#000000|9|white}} '''West End Historic District''' – roughly bounded by 7th St, 28th Ave, Shearer's Branch, and 5th St.
==Geography== Meridian is located in the East Central Hills region of Mississippi in Lauderdale County. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|54.50|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|53.74|sqmi}} are land and {{convert|0.76|sqmi}}, or 1.40%, are water.<ref name="Gazetteer 2019">{{cite web |title=U.S. Gazetteer Files: 2019: Places: Mississippi |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_28.txt |access-date=March 31, 2020 |website=U.S. Census Bureau Geography Division}}</ref> Along major highways, the city is {{convert|93|mi|abbr=on}} east of Jackson, Mississippi; {{convert|154|mi|abbr=on}} west of Birmingham, Alabama; {{convert|202|mi|abbr=on}} northeast of New Orleans, Louisiana; {{convert|231|mi|abbr=on}} southeast of Memphis, Tennessee; and {{convert|297|mi|abbr=on}} west of Atlanta, Georgia.<ref name="distance">{{cite web |year=2003 |title=Meridian, MS |url=http://www2.netdoor.com/~takano/meridian.html |access-date=June 7, 2008 |publisher=Netdoor.com}}</ref> The area surrounding the city is covered with oak and pine forests, and its topography consists of clay hills and the bottom lands of the head waters of the Chickasawhay River.<ref name="history" />
The natural terrain of the area has been modified in the urban core of the city by grading, but 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 runs through the southern portion of the city and is fed by 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.<ref name="mra" />
===Climate=== Meridian is in the humid subtropical climate zone. The average high temperature during summer (June through August) is around {{convert|90|°F}} and the average low is around {{convert|70|°F}}. In winter (December through February) the average maximum is around {{convert|60|°F}} and minimum {{convert|35|°F}}. The warmest month is July, with an average high of {{convert|92.9|°F}}, and the coldest month of the year is January with an average low of {{convert|34.7|°F}}.
The average annual precipitation in the city is {{convert|58.65|in|mm|abbr=on}}. Rainfall is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year, and the wettest month of the year is March, in which an average of {{convert|6.93|in|mm|abbr=on}} of rain falls.<ref>{{cite web |title=Meridian, MS Weather |url=http://www.idcide.com/weather/ms/meridian.htm |access-date=June 8, 2008 |publisher=IDcide}}</ref> Much rainfall is delivered by thunderstorms which are common during the summer months but occur throughout the year. Severe thunderstorms – which can produce damaging winds and/or large hail in addition to the usual hazards of lightning and heavy rain – occasionally occur. These are most common during the spring months with a secondary peak during the fall months. These storms also bring the risk of tornadoes. {{Weather box | location = Meridian (Meridian Regional Airport), Mississippi (1991–2020 normals,<ref>Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.</ref> extremes 1889–present) | single line = Y | Jan record high F = 83 | Feb record high F = 86 | Mar record high F = 93 | Apr record high F = 95 | May record high F = 99 | Jun record high F = 104 | Jul record high F = 107 | Aug record high F = 106 | Sep record high F = 105 | Oct record high F = 102 | Nov record high F = 89 | Dec record high F = 84 | year record high F = 107 | Jan avg record high F = 74.7 | Feb avg record high F = 78.3 | Mar avg record high F = 83.9 | Apr avg record high F = 87.0 | May avg record high F = 92.5 | Jun avg record high F = 95.7 | Jul avg record high F = 98.3 | Aug avg record high F = 98.1 | Sep avg record high F = 95.3 | Oct avg record high F = 89.8 | Nov avg record high F = 81.3 | Dec avg record high F = 76.2 | year avg record high F = 99.5 | Jan high F = 59.0 | Feb high F = 63.8 | Mar high F = 71.2 | Apr high F = 78.2 | May high F = 85.3 | Jun high F = 91.0 | Jul high F = 93.3 | Aug high F = 93.1 | Sep high F = 88.9 | Oct high F = 79.5 | Nov high F = 68.7 | Dec high F = 61.1 | year high F = 77.8 | Jan mean F = 47.7 | Feb mean F = 51.7 | Mar mean F = 58.5 | Apr mean F = 65.4 | May mean F = 73.3 | Jun mean F = 80.0 | Jul mean F = 82.7 | Aug mean F = 82.2 | Sep mean F = 77.3 | Oct mean F = 66.6 | Nov mean F = 55.8 | Dec mean F = 49.9 | year mean F = 65.9 | Jan low F = 36.4 | Feb low F = 39.7 | Mar low F = 45.9 | Apr low F = 52.6 | May low F = 61.3 | Jun low F = 68.9 | Jul low F = 72.0 | Aug low F = 71.3 | Sep low F = 65.6 | Oct low F = 53.7 | Nov low F = 42.9 | Dec low F = 38.6 | year low F = 54.1 | Jan avg record low F = 18.2 | Feb avg record low F = 22.6 | Mar avg record low F = 27.4 | Apr avg record low F = 35.1 | May avg record low F = 45.3 | Jun avg record low F = 57.9 | Jul avg record low F = 64.1 | Aug avg record low F = 62.4 | Sep avg record low F = 50.5 | Oct avg record low F = 35.3 | Nov avg record low F = 26.3 | Dec avg record low F = 22.6 | year avg record low F = 16.0 | Jan record low F = 0 | Feb record low F = −6 | Mar record low F = 15 | Apr record low F = 28 | May record low F = 38 | Jun record low F = 42 | Jul record low F = 54 | Aug record low F = 49 | Sep record low F = 34 | Oct record low F = 24 | Nov record low F = 16 | Dec record low F = 2 | year record low F = -6 | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation inch = 5.61 | Feb precipitation inch = 5.35 | Mar precipitation inch = 5.66 | Apr precipitation inch = 5.56 | May precipitation inch = 4.20 | Jun precipitation inch = 4.64 | Jul precipitation inch = 5.11 | Aug precipitation inch = 4.36 | Sep precipitation inch = 3.17 | Oct precipitation inch = 3.86 | Nov precipitation inch = 4.21 | Dec precipitation inch = 5.27 | year precipitation inch = 57.00 | Jan snow inch = 0.2 | Feb snow inch = 0.0 | Mar snow inch = 0.3 | Apr snow inch = 0.0 | May snow inch = 0.0 | Jun snow inch = 0.0 | Jul snow inch = 0.0 | Aug snow inch = 0.0 | Sep snow inch = 0.0 | Oct snow inch = 0.0 | Nov snow inch = 0.0 | Dec snow inch = 0.1 | year snow inch = 0.6 | unit precipitation days = 0.01 in | Jan precipitation days = 9.9 | Feb precipitation days = 10.4 | Mar precipitation days = 10.0 | Apr precipitation days = 8.7 | May precipitation days = 9.1 | Jun precipitation days = 10.7 | Jul precipitation days = 11.9 | Aug precipitation days = 9.9 | Sep precipitation days = 7.0 | Oct precipitation days = 6.8 | Nov precipitation days = 8.3 | Dec precipitation days = 10.4 | year precipitation days = 113.1 | unit snow days = 0.1 in | Jan snow days = 0.2 | Feb snow days = 0.1 | Mar snow days = 0.1 | Apr snow days = 0.0 | May snow days = 0.0 | Jun snow days = 0.0 | Jul snow days = 0.0 | Aug snow days = 0.0 | Sep snow days = 0.0 | Oct snow days = 0.0 | Nov snow days = 0.0 | Dec snow days = 0.1 | year snow days = 0.5 | Jan humidity = 74.4 | Feb humidity = 71.1 | Mar humidity = 69.4 | Apr humidity = 70.4 | May humidity = 73.1 | Jun humidity = 73.9 | Jul humidity = 76.7 | Aug humidity = 76.7 | Sep humidity = 76.3 | Oct humidity = 74.7 | Nov humidity = 74.8 | Dec humidity = 74.8 | year humidity = 73.9 | source 1 = NOAA<ref name="NOWData JAN">{{cite web | url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=jan | title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data | publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | access-date = May 16, 2021}}</ref><ref name = "NOAA txt">{{cite web | url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00013865&format=pdf | title = Station: Meridian Key FLD, MS | work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020) | publisher = National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration | access-date = May 16, 2021}}</ref> | source 2 = World Meteorological Organization (relative humidity 1961–1990)<ref name=WMOCLINO> {{cite web | url = http://data.un.org/Data.aspx?d=CLINO&f=ElementCode:11;CountryCode:US;StatisticCode:94&c=2,5,6,7,10,15,18,19,20,22,24,26,28,30,32,34,36,38,40,42,44,46&s=CountryName:asc,WmoStationNumber:asc,StatisticCode:asc&v=2 | publisher = World Meteorological Organization | title = World Meteorological Organization Standard Normals 1961–1990 | access-date = May 22, 2021}}</ref> }}
==Demographics== {{US Census population | 1870 = 2709 | 1880 = 4008 | 1890 = 10624 | 1900 = 14050 | 1910 = 23285 | 1920 = 23339 | 1930 = 31954 | 1940 = 35481 | 1950 = 41893 | 1960 = 49374 | 1970 = 45083 | 1980 = 46577 | 1990 = 41036 | 2000 = 39968 | 2010 = 41148 | 2020 = 35052 | footnote = '''Source:''' [https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html US Census data] | align = right | align-fn = center }}
===2020 census===
As of the 2020 census, there were 35,052 people, 14,844 households, and 9,285 families residing in the city.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME%2CDP1_0021P%2CDP1_0024P%2CDP1_0025C%2CDP1_0049C%2CDP1_0045C%2CDP1_0069C%2CDP1_0073C%2CDP1_0125P%2CDP1_0126P%2CDP1_0129P%2CDP1_0133P%2CDP1_0137P%2CDP1_0138P%2CDP1_0139P%2CDP1_0141P%2CDP1_0142P%2CDP1_0143P%2CDP1_0145P%2CDP1_0146P%2CDP1_0147C%2CDP1_0148C%2CDP1_0149C%2CDP1_0156C%2CDP1_0157C%2CDP1_0158C%2CDP1_0159P%2CDP1_0160P&for=place%3A46640&in=state%3A28|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=March 28, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME%2CP1_001N%2CP1_003N%2CP1_004N%2CP1_005N%2CP1_006N%2CP1_007N%2CP1_008N%2CP1_009N%2CP2_001N%2CP2_002N%2CH1_001N%2CH1_002N&for=place%3A46640&in=state%3A28|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=March 28, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>
The median age was 36.9 years; 25.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.1% were 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>
For every 100 females there were 86.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 81.3 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>
Of all households, 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Married-couple households accounted for 26.4% of all households, 22.5% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present, and 45.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 37.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>
There were 17,175 housing units, of which 13.6% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.0%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>
90.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 9.4% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME%2CP2_002N%2CP2_003N&for=place%3A46640&in=state%3A28|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=March 28, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" |+Meridian racial composition as of the 2020 census<ref name="Census2020PL"/> !Race !Num. !Perc. |- |White |10,065 |28.7% |- |Black or African American |23,062 |65.8% |- |American Indian and Alaska Native |70 |0.2% |- |Asian |365 |1.0% |- |Pacific Islander |23 |0.1% |- |Some other race |482 |1.4% |- |Two or more races |985 |2.8% |- |''Hispanic or Latino'' |794 |2.3% |}
The city's growth has reflected the push and pull of many social and economic factors. The total population increased in each census from the city's founding until 1970, although varying from rates as high as 165% to as low as 0.2%. In the 1970 census the population decreased, then slightly increased by 1980, after which the population slowly declined, increasing again since the turn of the 21st century. Between 1980 and 2000, the population declined more than 14%.<ref name="demographics">{{cite web|url=http://www.meridianms.org/Comprehensive%20Plan.pdf |title=Meridian, MS, Comprehensive Revitalization Plan |publisher=Official Website of Meridian, MS |access-date=June 30, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511193009/http://www.meridianms.org/Comprehensive%20Plan.pdf |archive-date=May 11, 2008 }}</ref>
===2008 estimate===
In 2008, the city was the sixth largest in the state.<ref name="population">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/cities/SUB-EST2008-4.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704100052/http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/SUB-EST2008-4.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 4, 2009 |title=Population Estimates for All Places: 2000–2008 |access-date=July 2, 2009 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
===2010 census===
While the overall population growth of the city has varied, there has been a steady growth in the number and percentage of non-white residents.{{citation needed|date=April 2015}} The only decline in this group was between 1960 and 1970, when the city's overall population declined markedly. In the 2010 Census, the racial makeup of the city was 61.55% African American, 35.71% White, 0.9% Asian, 0.2% Native American, <0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.59% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.75% of the population.<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> <!--It's now 2015; what was the population in 2010?-->
===2000 census===
As of the 2000 census, the city's population was 39,968, and the population density was {{convert|885.9|PD/sqmi|1}}.<ref name="GR2" />
According to the 2000 Census, of the 17,890 housing units inside city limits, 15,966 were occupied, 10,033 of them by families. 31.1% of occupied households 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.<ref name="GR2" /> The average household size has steadily decreased since 1970, when it was 3.04. Meridian's median age has increased from 30.4 in 1970 to 34.6 in 2000.<ref name="demographics" />
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.<ref name="GR2" />
===Micropolitan area===
Meridian is the principal city in the Meridian micropolitan area, which as of 2009 consisted of three counties – Clarke, Kemper, and Lauderdale – and had a population of 106,139.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/metro/tables/2009/CBSA-EST2009-01.csv |title=Table 1. Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2009 (CBSA-EST2009-01) |format=CSV |work=2009 Population Estimates |publisher=United States Census Bureau, Population Division |date=March 23, 2010 |access-date=June 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100615175258/http://www.census.gov/popest/metro/tables/2009/CBSA-EST2009-01.csv |archive-date=June 15, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> There is a population of 232,900 in a {{convert|45|mi|adj=on}} radius and 526,500 in a {{convert|65|mi|adj=on}} radius.<ref name="embdc" />
===Religion=== The population of Meridian and its surrounds is fairly observant, with 65.2% of Lauderdale County affiliated with some type of religious congregation, compared to the national average of 50.2%.<ref name="citydata">{{cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/city/Meridian-Mississippi.html|title=Meridian, Mississippi City Data|access-date=June 17, 2010}}</ref> Of the affiliated in 2000, 30,068 (59.0%) were in the Southern Baptist Convention, 9,469 (18.6%) were with the United Methodist Church, and 1,872 (3.7%) were associated with the Catholic Church.<ref name="citydata" /><ref name="arda">{{cite web|url=http://www.thearda.com/mapsReports/reports/counties/28075_2000_Adherents.asp|title=Association of Religion Data Archives – Lauderdale County, Mississippi|year=2002|access-date=June 17, 2010}}</ref>
Immigrant Jews from Germany and eastern Europe were influential in commercial development of the city, building businesses and services.<ref name="jewinfluence">{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Jennifer Jacob |url=http://meridianstar.com/local/x546250800/Jewish-influence-shaped-Meridian-s-history |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130111042816/http://meridianstar.com/local/x546250800/Jewish-influence-shaped-Meridian-s-history |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 11, 2013 |title=Jewish Influence Shaped Meridian's History |newspaper=The Meridian Star |date=September 27, 2009 |access-date=June 9, 2010}}</ref> Congregation Beth Israel was founded in 1868, just before the city's "Golden Age."<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.isjl.org/history/archive/ms/HistoryofMeridianCongregations.htm |title=History of Congregations Beth Israel & Ohel Jacob, Meridian, Mississippi |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities |publisher=Institute of Southern Jewish Life |access-date=May 26, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071005093325/http://www.isjl.org/history/archive/ms/HistoryofMeridianCongregations.htm |archive-date=October 5, 2007}}</ref> Meridian once had the largest Jewish community in the state, with 575 Jewish people living in the city in 1927.<ref name="jewinfluence" /> Today, fewer than 40 Jews live in Meridian, most of whom are elderly.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.isjl.org/history/archive/ms/meridian.htm|title=Meridian, Mississippi|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities|publisher=Institute of Southern Jewish Life|access-date=June 9, 2010}}</ref> Romani people also call Meridian home, including Kelly Mitchell, Queen of the Gipsy Nation, from whom the city may have derived the nickname "Queen City".<ref name="jacob">{{cite news |url=https://www.meridianstar.com/news/local_news/queen-kelly-mitchell-a-slice-of-meridians-history/article_4c05f7f5-3739-5f8a-85e5-fd4a6d8924d1.html |newspaper=Meridian Star |accessdate=June 23, 2022 |title=Queen Kelly Mitchell; a slice of Meridian's history |first=Jennifer |last=Jacob |date=December 25, 2007}}</ref><ref name="jacob2">{{cite news |url=https://www.meridianstar.com/news/local_news/fortune-telling-ordinance-challenged/article_7e26c24a-9262-5edf-bad3-4cfd75fefd7d.html |newspaper=Meridian Star |accessdate=June 23, 2022 |first=Jennifer Jacob |last=Brown |title=Fortune telling ordinance challenged |date=February 13, 2011}}</ref> ==Economy== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="float:right; margin-left:3px; margin-top:1px; margin-bottom:1px; text-align:center;" |+ style="background:#f9f9f9; border:1px #aaa solid; border-bottom:none; padding:2px" | Major employers in East Mississippi<ref name="embdc">{{cite web |url=https://www.embdc.org/economic-development/existing-industry/ |title=Meridian, Mississippi Workforce |publisher=East Mississippi Business Development Corporation |access-date=10 May 2020 |archive-date=July 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704002131/https://www.embdc.org/economic-development/existing-industry/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> |- ! Employer !! Industry type !! Employees |- | style="text-align:left" | NAS Meridian || Military || 3,000 |- | style="text-align:left" | Ochsner Rush Health || Healthcare || 2,465 |- | style="text-align:left" | Anderson Regional Health System || Healthcare || 1,343 |- | style="text-align:left" | Mississippi Air National Guard || Military || 1,200 |- | style="text-align:left" | Meridian Public School District || Education || 1,000 |- | style="text-align:left" | East Mississippi State Hospital || Healthcare || 943 |- | style="text-align:left" | Lauderdale County School District || Education || 938 |- | style="text-align:left" | Walmart || Retail || 695 |- | style="text-align:left" | City of Meridian || Government || 530 |- | style="text-align:left" | iQor || Customer Service || 420 |- | style="text-align:left" | Alliance Health Center || Healthcare || 350 |- | style="text-align:left" | Meridian Community College || Education || 325 |- | style="text-align:left" | Avery Dennison || Manufacturing || 250 |- | style="text-align:left" | Peavey Electronics || Manufacturing || 250 |- | style="text-align:left" | Van Zyverden, Inc. || Flower Bulb Distribution || 250 |- | style="text-align:left" | Structural Steel Services || Manufacturing || 236 |- | style="text-align:left" | Atlas Roofing || Manufacturing || 220 |- | style="text-align:left" | Newell Paper || Wholesale || 215 |- | style="text-align:left" | Lockheed Martin || Manufacturing || 200 |- | style="text-align:left" | Tower Automotive || Automotive || 200 |- | style="text-align:left" | Bimbo Bakeries USA || Food || 185 |- | style="text-align:left" | Mitchell Distributing || Distribution || 120 |- | style="text-align:left" | Magnolia Steel || Manufacturing || 107 |- | style="text-align:left" | Southern Pipe and Supply || Distribution || 102 |- | style="text-align:left" | Southern Cast Products || Manufacturing || 81 |} Early on, the economy depended greatly upon the railroads in the area. The city was the largest in Mississippi around the start of the 20th century, with five major rail lines and 44 trains coming in and out daily.<ref name="unionstation">{{cite web|url=http://www.meridianms.org/transportunionstation.html |title=Union Station History |access-date=June 7, 2008 |publisher=Official website of Meridian, MeridianMS.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509171013/http://www.meridianms.org/transportunionstation.html |archive-date=May 9, 2008}}</ref> 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 about 1890 through 1930.<ref name="website" /> Though its economy slowed with the decline of the railroading industry in the 1950s,<ref name="mra" /> the city has adapted, moving from a largely rail-based economy to a more diversified one, with healthcare, military, and manufacturing employing the most people.<ref name="embdc" />
Along with Lauderdale County and the city of Marion, Meridian is served by the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation, which was formed in 1996 by a group of business leaders from the area.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.embdc.org/about-embdc/ |title=East Mississippi Business Development Corporation – About Us |publisher=East Mississippi Business Development Corporation |access-date=10 May 2020 |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804014432/https://www.embdc.org/about-embdc/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> While as of April 2010, the city's civilian labor force was only 15,420 people,<ref name="mdes2010">{{cite web|url=http://www.mdes.ms.gov/Home/docs/LMI/Publications/ALFS%20(Annual%20Labor%20Force)/prinalf2010.pdf |title=MDES Annual Labor Force Report |publisher=Mississippi Department of Employment Security |year=2010 |access-date=June 9, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527124228/http://mdes.ms.gov/Home/docs/LMI/Publications/ALFS%20%28Annual%20Labor%20Force%29/prinalf2010.pdf |archive-date=May 27, 2010}}</ref> there is a population of 232,900 in a {{convert|45|mi|adj=on}} radius and 526,500 in a {{convert|65|mi|adj=on}} radius, of which 104,600 and 234,200 people respectively are in the labor force.<ref name="embdc" /> The city thus serves as a hub of employment, retail, health care, and culture activities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.embdc.org/ |title=East Mississippi Business Development Corporation |access-date=10 May 2020}}</ref> Eighty percent of Lauderdale County's workers reside in the county while 90% live within 45 miles.<ref name="embdc" />
In April 2020, there were 5,101 people employed in the healthcare field in Lauderdale County.<ref name="embdc" /> Ochsner Rush Health is the largest healthcare organization in the region, employing 2,465 people, followed by Anderson Regional Health System with 1,343 and East Mississippi State Hospital with 943.<ref name="embdc" /> There are two hospitals in Meridian, as well as many other healthcare-related facilities. Anderson Regional Medical Center provides cardiovascular surgery, a Level II newborn intensive-care unit, and a health and fitness center. In December 2010, Anderson bought Riley Hospital and absorbed its employees, stroke treatment center and rehabilitation services.<ref>{{cite news |title=No. 3: Anderson RMC buys Riley Hospital |url=https://www.meridianstar.com/news/local_news/no-anderson-rmc-buys-riley-hospital/article_067634c7-2b14-5b87-8b51-0a6ff125d19b.html |access-date=10 May 2020 |publisher=The Meridian Star |date=1 January 2011}}</ref> In June 2021, Rush Foundation Hospital and its associated Rush Health Systems clinics were acquired by Ochsner Health Systems of New Orleans. Ochsner Rush Health continues to operate the Ochsner Specialty Hospital of Meridian, which offers long-term care for non-permanent patients who require more recovery time in a hospital setting. Other healthcare facilities in Meridian include the Alliance Health Center and East Mississippi State Hospital, the latter of which has been in operation since 1882.<ref>{{cite web |last=Morris |first=Joe |url=http://imageseastmississippi.com/article/services-location-top-list-meridian%E2%80%99s-health-care-strengths |title=Services, Location Top the List of Meridian's Health Care Strengths |publisher=Images East Mississippi |access-date=July 30, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110325081717/http://imageseastmississippi.com/article/services-location-top-list-meridian%E2%80%99s-health-care-strengths |archive-date=March 25, 2011}}</ref>
Retail is another major employer in the county, with 5,280 people employed in April 2010.<ref name="mdes2010" /> Nearly $2 billion annually is spent on retail purchases in the city.<ref name="crossroads">{{cite web|url=http://www.trotmancompany.net/retail_info.aspx?id=73 |title=Trotman Company – Meridian Crossroads |access-date=June 8, 2008 |publisher=The Trotman Company |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004181622/http://www.trotmancompany.net/retail_info.aspx?id=73 |archive-date=October 4, 2008}}</ref> The {{convert|633685|sqft|0|adj=on}} Uptown Meridian offers over one hundred shopping venues, including department stores, specialty shops, restaurants, eateries, and United Artists Theatres.<ref name="bonitalakes" /> Phase I of the construction of Meridian Crossroads, a {{convert|375000|sqft|adj=on}} shopping center in the Bonita Lakes area, was completed in November 2007, providing a major boost to retail in the area.<ref name="crossroads" /> 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 Walmart Supercenter.<ref name="2007economy">{{cite web|url=http://www.meridianms.org/FinReport_202007.pdf |title=City of Meridian, Mississippi: Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2007 |date=March 18, 2008 |publisher=City of Meridian |access-date=August 26, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080808114256/http://www.meridianms.org/FinReport_202007.pdf |archive-date=August 8, 2008}}</ref>
The area is also served by two military facilities, Naval Air Station Meridian and Key Field, which supply over 4,000 jobs to residents of the surrounding area.<ref name="video">{{cite web |url=http://www.elocallink.tv/clients3/ms/meridian/city-vp6l.php?movie=memsbus&spon=business |title=Business & Industry in Meridian, MS |publisher=Official website of Meridian, MeridianMS.org |access-date=June 8, 2008}}</ref> 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 narcotics training for law enforcement in many southeastern states. 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.<ref name="2008economy" /> Key Field is the site of the famous flight by brothers Fred and Al Key, who set a world endurance flight record in 1935.<ref name="keyfield">{{cite web |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/key-field.htm |title=Key Field ANG Base Meridian RAP, Mississippi |access-date=June 7, 2008 |publisher=GlobalSecurity.org |date=January 21, 2006}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.meridianairport.com/generalinformation.html |title=General Information |publisher=Meridian Airport Authority |access-date=August 4, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106020435/http://www.meridianairport.com/generalinformation.html |archive-date=January 6, 2010}}</ref> The site also contains an exhibit reviewing the history of aviation, and is the home of Meridian's Aviation Museum.<ref name="attractions" />
The total manufacturing employment of Lauderdale County in April 2010 was 2,850 people.<ref name="mdes2010" /> 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, Bimbo Bakeries USA, Tower Automotive, and Teikuro Corporation. The city is also home to four industrial parks.<ref name="video" />
In downtown, the MSU Riley Center provides revenue from tourism, arts, and entertainment sales.<ref name="2007report">{{cite web|url=http://www.meridianms.org/Annual_report07.pdf |title=Meridian, MS Annual Report 2007 |access-date=June 8, 2008 |publisher=Official website of Meridian, MeridianMS.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529062645/http://www.meridianms.org/Annual_report07.pdf |archive-date=May 29, 2008}}</ref> The Riley Center attracts more than 60,000 visitors to downtown Meridian annually for conferences, meetings, and performances.<ref name="2008economy">{{cite web|url=http://www.meridianms.org/FinReport_202008.pdf |title=City of Meridian, Mississippi: Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2008 |date=March 18, 2009 |publisher=City of Meridian |access-date=August 26, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604043510/http://www.meridianms.org/FinReport_202008.pdf |archive-date=June 4, 2011}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.loebsclothing.com/our-store.html |title=Loeb's – Our Store |publisher=Loeb's Department Store |access-date=10 May 2020 |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803212928/https://www.loebsclothing.com/our-store.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Culture== [[File:Meridian December 2018 20 (Meridian Museum of Art).jpg|thumb|Meridian Museum of Art]] 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 remodeled the building into the Meridian Museum of Art to serve as a permanent home for exhibits.<ref name="mckee">{{cite news|first=Anne |last=McKee |title=The Little Museum that could, and did, thrives into the Twenty-First century |url=http://www.meridianstar.com/columns/local_story_117004817.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904125211/http://www.meridianstar.com/columns/local_story_117004817.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 4, 2012 |work=Meridian Star |date=April 26, 2007 |access-date=August 27, 2009}}</ref> The museum was opened in 1970 and has since featured 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.<ref name="meridian">{{cite web|title=Culture & Recreation |url=http://www.meridianms.org/culture_attraction.htm |publisher=City of Meridian |date=July 12, 2008 |access-date=August 27, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822031832/http://www.meridianms.org/culture_attraction.htm |archive-date=August 22, 2009}}</ref>
The Meridian Council for the Arts (MCA) was founded as Meridian's and Lauderdale County's official arts agency in 1978. MCA operates its Community Art Grants program, the annual Threefoot Festival, several workshops, and other special events each year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://meridianarts.org/site1/who|title=Meridian Council for the Arts – Who We Are|publisher=Meridian Council for the Arts|access-date=May 26, 2010|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727080520/http://meridianarts.org/site1/who|archive-date=July 27, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> MCA is partnered with many arts organizations in the city and county including the Meridian Museum of Art, the Meridian Little Theatre, and the Meridian Symphony Orchestra.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://meridianarts.org/site1/our_partners|title=Meridian Council for the Arts – Our Partners|publisher=Meridian Council for the Arts|access-date=May 26, 2010|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727081843/http://meridianarts.org/site1/our_partners|archive-date=July 27, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Meridian Little Theatre, one of the South's oldest subscription-based community theatres, was built in 1932 and currently provides entertainment to residents of and visitors to Meridian and Lauderdale County, entertaining over 22,000 guests each season, making it Mississippi's most-attended community theatre.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.meridianlittletheatre.com/about/history/ |title=Meridian Little Theatre: History |publisher=Meridian Little Theatre |access-date=August 27, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714073527/http://www.meridianlittletheatre.com/about/history/ |archive-date=July 14, 2011}}</ref> The Meridian Symphony Orchestra (MSO) – founded in 1961 – played its first concert in 1962 and its first full season in 1963. In 1965 the MSO booked its first international soloist, Elena Nikolaidi, to perform with the orchestra. The Orchestra helped the Meridian Public School District develop its own orchestra and strings programs and also helped develop the Meridian Symphony Chorus. The current conductor is Dr. Claire Fox Hillard, who has been with the orchestra since 1991.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.meridiansymphonyorchestra.com/about_us.html |title=Meridian Symphony Orchestry – About Us |access-date=January 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100927224608/http://www.meridiansymphonyorchestra.com/about_us.html |archive-date=September 27, 2010}}</ref> The MSO celebrated its 50th anniversary in February 2011 with a performance from Itzhak Perlman.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.wtok.com/home/headlines/Symphonys_50th_Anniversary_Celebration_114749319.html|title=Symphony's 50th Anniversary Celebration Feb. 26|date=January 27, 2011|publisher=WTOK-TV|access-date=January 27, 2011|archive-date=July 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721142828/http://www.wtok.com/home/headlines/Symphonys_50th_Anniversary_Celebration_114749319.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:Meridian December 2018 32 (Mississippi State University - Meridian Riley Center).jpg|thumb|left|The Riley Center, renovated in 2006]] 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 hosted many famous artists and works, the first being a German company's rendition of Johann Strauss II's "The Gypsy Baron".<ref name="operahousehistory">{{cite web|last=Mitchell |first=Dennis J. |url=http://mshistory.k12.ms.us/articles/167/grand-opera-house-of-mississippi |title=Mississippi History Now – Grand Opera House of Mississippi |publisher=Mississippi Historical Society |access-date=May 22, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824052119/http://mshistory.k12.ms.us/articles/167/grand-opera-house-of-mississippi |archive-date=August 24, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Grand Opera House Project |url=http://www.meridianms.org/2000project.htm |publisher=City of Meridian |date=July 12, 2008 |access-date=August 27, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223160051/http://www.meridianms.org/2000project.htm |archive-date=December 23, 2008}}</ref> After closing in the late 1920s due to the Great Depression, the opera house was abandoned for nearly 70 years. A $10 million grant in 2000 by the Riley Foundation, a local foundation chartered in 1998, sparked the building's restoration while $15 million came from a combination of city, county, and federal grants.<ref name="operahousehistory" /> 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 {{convert|30000|sqft|0|abbr=on}} of meeting space,<ref>{{cite web|title=MSU Riley Center Overview |url=http://www.msurileycenter.com/about_us/overview.cfm |publisher=Mississippi State University Meridian Campus |date=July 8, 2008 |access-date=August 27, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714125857/http://www.msurileycenter.com/about_us/overview.cfm |archive-date=July 14, 2011}}</ref> attracts more than 60,000 visitors to downtown Meridian annually for conferences, meetings, and performances.<ref name="2008economy" />
Meridian is home to the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience (the MAEEX, pronounced MAX). The Mississippi Legislature approved the idea in 2001<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.msarts.org/about_us.html |title=Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Center – About Us |access-date=May 24, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727095536/http://www.msarts.org/about_us.html |archive-date=July 27, 2011}}</ref> and in 2006 promised $4 million in funding if private contributors could raise $8 million.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://meridianstar.com/editorials/x681054649/Arts-and-Entertainment-Center-gets-a-boost |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711191128/http://meridianstar.com/editorials/x681054649/Arts-and-Entertainment-Center-gets-a-boost |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 11, 2012 |title=Meridian Star – Arts and Entertainment Center Gets a Boost |date=March 29, 2006 |newspaper=The Meridian Star |access-date=May 24, 2010}}</ref> The city donated $50,000 to the cause in September 2007.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Ida |url=http://meridianstar.com/local/x681089105/City-donates-50-000-to-proposed-state-arts-and-entertainment-project |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710065136/http://meridianstar.com/local/x681089105/City-donates-50-000-to-proposed-state-arts-and-entertainment-project |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 10, 2012 |title=Meridian Star – City Donates $50,000 to Proposed State Arts and Entertainment Project |date=September 4, 2007 |newspaper=The Meridian Star |access-date=May 24, 2010}}</ref> In February 2009, the MAEC revealed its Hollywood-style Walk of Fame outside of the Riley Center in an attempt to promote the planned Hall of Fame. The first star on the walk was dedicated to Jimmie Rodgers, a Meridian native.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Ida |url=http://meridianstar.com/local/x681150456/Walk-of-Fame |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712114814/http://meridianstar.com/local/x681150456/Walk-of-Fame |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 12, 2012 |title=Meridian Star – Walk of Fame |date=February 15, 2009 |newspaper=The Meridian Star |access-date=May 24, 2010}}</ref> In September of the same year, the second star was revealed, recognizing B.B. King, a famous blues musician from Mississippi.<ref name="BBKing">{{cite web |last=Brown |first=Ron |url=http://www.msarts.org/downloads/MPB-News-BBKing.pdf |title=A Star for a King |publisher=Mississippi Public Broadcasting |date=September 4, 2009 |access-date=May 24, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727100439/http://www.msarts.org/downloads/MPB-News-BBKing.pdf |archive-date=July 27, 2011}}</ref> On June 1, 2010, authors Tennessee Williams, Eudora Welty, and William Faulkner were added to the walk.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://meridianstar.com/local/x1174316029/Rodgers-Williams-Welty-and-Faulkner-honored-in-Meridian-today |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120726151006/http://meridianstar.com/local/x1174316029/Rodgers-Williams-Welty-and-Faulkner-honored-in-Meridian-today |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 26, 2012 |title=Rodgers, Williams, Welty, and Faulkner Honored in Meridian Today |newspaper=The Meridian Star |date=June 1, 2010 |access-date=June 1, 2010}}</ref> Sela Ward was added to the walk on June 24, 2010.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Ida |url=http://meridianstar.com/local/x657342881/Sela-Ward-added-to-MAEC-Walk-of-Fame |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710030319/http://meridianstar.com/local/x657342881/Sela-Ward-added-to-MAEC-Walk-of-Fame |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 10, 2012 |title=Sela Ward added to the MAEC Walk of Fame |newspaper=The Meridian Star |date=June 24, 2010 |access-date=June 26, 2010}}</ref> The MAEEX opened on April 27, 2018 on the site of the former Montana's restaurant and the adjacent Meridian Hotel; the properties were acquired in July 2010 for $300,000.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Jennifer Jacob |date=July 27, 2010 |title=(10 a.m.) MEAC finds museum site downtown |url=http://meridianstar.com/breakingnews/x2105968683/-10-a-m-MEAC-finds-museum-site-downtown |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714035214/http://meridianstar.com/breakingnews/x2105968683/-10-a-m-MEAC-finds-museum-site-downtown |archive-date=July 14, 2012 |access-date=July 27, 2010 |newspaper=The Meridian Star}}</ref>
The '''Mississippi Hall of Fame''', housed within The Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience, was established to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the arts and entertainment industry.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2021-10-11 |title=Story – Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience |url=https://www.msarts.org/about/story/ |access-date=2025-03-03 |language=en-US}}</ref>
The inaugural class of inductees was announced in January 2017 at the Mississippi Capitol Rotunda, recognizing 18 influential figures: Walter Inglis Anderson, William Faulkner, Morgan Freeman, John Grisham, Jim Henson, Robert Johnson, James Earl Jones, B.B. King, George Ohr, Elvis Presley, Leontyne Price, Jimmie Rodgers, Sela Ward, Muddy Waters, Eudora Welty, Tennessee Williams, Oprah Winfrey, and Richard Wright.<ref name=":1" />
In August 2018, five additional artists were inducted: Jimmy Buffett, William Eggleston, Willie Morris, Charley Pride, and Howlin’ Wolf. In June 2019, the Hall of Fame expanded further with the inclusion of Margaret Walker, Bo Diddley, John Lee Hooker, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Tammy Wynette.[[File:Meridian December 2018 25 (Temple Theater).jpg|thumb|Hamasa Shrine Temple Theater]] Another location in the city used for large productions is the Hamasa Shrine Temple Theater. The Temple Theater houses a 778-pipe Robert Morgan organ, one of two Theater Organs still in their original installations in the state.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mcatos.org/temple.html|title=Meridian Chapter ATOS – Temple|access-date=May 24, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021132807/http://mcatos.org/temple.html|archive-date=October 21, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.meridiantempletheater.com/history.html|title=Meridian, Mississippi Temple Theater – History|access-date=May 24, 2010}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.meridiantempletheater.com |title=Temple Theater, Meridian, Mississippi |publisher=The Meridian Temple Theater |access-date=June 27, 2009}}</ref>
thumb|left|Dentzel Carousel in Highland Park 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=758|title=Steam Locomotive Information – Meridian & Bigbee RR No. 116|access-date=May 22, 2010}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Ida |url=http://www.meridianstar.com/local/local_story_123235658.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904150215/http://www.meridianstar.com/local/local_story_123235658.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 4, 2012 |title=Jimmie Rodgers honored with Blues Trail Marker |newspaper=The Meridian Star |date=May 3, 2007 |location=Meridian, MS |access-date=June 9, 2008}}</ref> Also, a Mississippi Country Music Trail marker was placed in Oak Grove Cemetery in honor of Rodgers on June 1, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dealy|first=Jessica|url=http://www.wtok.com/home/headlines/95371819.html|title=Rodgers Blazes Another Trail|publisher=WTOK|date=June 1, 2010|access-date=June 26, 2010|archive-date=July 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721141728/http://www.wtok.com/home/headlines/95371819.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Each year since 1953, the city has held a festival during May to honor the anniversary of his death.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Festival |url=http://www.jimmierodgers.com/festival.html |publisher=Jimmie Rodgers Foundation |date=August 21, 2009 |access-date=August 27, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023174703/http://www.jimmierodgers.com/festival.html |archive-date=October 23, 2008}}</ref>
The park is 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.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Charleton |first=James H. |title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Highland Park Dentzel Carousel & Shelter Building|url={{NHLS url|id=87000863}} |date=October 1985|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hopevillagems.org/carouselsabound |title=Around Town Carousels Abound |access-date=May 24, 2010 |publisher=Hope Village for Children |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305233941/http://www.hopevillagems.org/carouselsabound |archive-date=March 5, 2010}}</ref>
===Recreation=== thumb|Upper lake at Bonita Lakes park The city contains several recreational parks, including Highland Park, Bonita Lakes, and Okatibbee Lake. Highland Park contains picnic shelters, swimming pools, tennis courts, a baseball field, softball fields, and a playground,<ref name="nrhphighland">{{Cite journal |last=Charleton |first=James H. |title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Highland Park Dentzel Carousel & Shelter Building|url={{NHLS url|id=87000863}} |format=PDF|date = October 1985|publisher=National Park Service}} and {{NHLS url|id=87000863|title=Accompanying 1 photo, exterior, from 1985.|photos=y}} {{small|(290 KB)}}</ref> all open year-round to visitors.<ref name="attractions" /> Bonita Lakes is a city-owned, {{convert|3300|acre|km2|adj=on}} 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.<ref name="recreation" /> Along with the lakes, the Bonita Lakes area includes Uptown Meridian, Bonita Lakes Crossing, and Bonita Lakes Plaza.<ref name="bonitalakes">{{cite web |url=http://www.bonitalakesmall.com/shop/bonita.nsf/facts |title=Bonita Lakes Mall Fact Sheet |access-date=June 9, 2008 |publisher=CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080604164234/http://www.bonitalakesmall.com/shop/bonita.nsf/facts |archive-date=June 4, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Okatibbee Lake is a {{convert|7150|acre|km2|adj=on}} establishment containing a {{convert|4144|acre|km2|adj=on}} lake which offers boating, fishing, swimming, water skiing, picnicking, hunting, hiking and camping.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/op/rec/okatib/ |title=Okatibbee Lake |publisher=U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District |date=November 6, 2007 |access-date=June 9, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080113221550/http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/op/rec/okatib/ |archive-date=January 13, 2008}}</ref> Splashdown Country Water Park, a 25-room motel, and cabins are located on the lake.<ref name="recreation" />
thumb|left|Okatibbee Lake Since 1992, Meridian has been a host of the State Games of Mississippi, a statewide annual multi-sport event modeled after the Olympic Games.<ref name="stategamesfaq">{{cite web|url=http://www.stategamesofms.org/site1/faq/ |title=State Games of Mississippi – FAQ |access-date=May 22, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305225331/http://www.stategamesofms.org/site1/faq/ |archive-date=March 5, 2010 }}</ref> The organization is a member of the National Congress of State Games, which is affiliated with the U.S. Olympic Committee.<ref name="stategames">{{cite web|url=http://www.stategamesofms.org/site1/aboutus |title=State Games of Mississippi – About Us |access-date=May 22, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100511165543/http://www.stategamesofms.org/site1/aboutus |archive-date=May 11, 2010}}</ref> In its first year 1,200 athletes competed in twelve sports, and since then over 70,000 athletes have participated in the Games. In 2009, more than 4500 athletes participated in 27 sports.<ref name="stategamesfaq" /> All competitors in the games can compete in the Southeast Sports Festival, while medalists may move up to the bi-annual State Games of America.<ref name="stategames" />
Originally the games were held in one weekend in June, but as more sports were added, the event was expanded to two weekends.<ref>{{cite news |last=Swogetinsky |first=Steve |url=http://www.meridianstar.com/sports/local_story_168001543.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912021341/http://www.meridianstar.com/sports/local_story_168001543.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 12, 2012 |title=Opening ceremonies mark official start of games |work=Meridian Star |date=June 16, 2006 |access-date=July 16, 2009 }}</ref> Opening ceremonies always begin on the third Friday in June in downtown Meridian.<ref name="stategamesfaq" /> 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 {{convert|85|acre|adj=on}} park on Highway 39 that contains 10 tennis courts, four softball fields, three soccer fields, an asphalt track, and a large picnic pavilion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.meridianms.org/pr_parks.htm |title=Parks in Meridian, MS |publisher=MeridianMS.org, the official site of Meridian, MS |access-date=July 16, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090328164957/http://www.meridianms.org/pr_parks.htm |archive-date=March 28, 2009}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.meridianms.org/pr_fields.htm |title=Sports Fields in Meridian, MS |publisher=MeridianMS.org, the official site of Meridian, MS |access-date=July 16, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821125832/http://www.meridianms.org/pr_fields.htm |archive-date=August 21, 2008}}</ref>
There are several golf courses in the city, including the aforementioned Lakeview Municipal Golf Course, an 18-hole course open to the public daily.<ref name="recreation">{{cite web|url=http://www.meridianms.org/culture_recreation.htm |title=City of Meridian, MS – Recreation |publisher=MeridianMS.org, the official website of Meridian, MS |access-date=July 15, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090328164134/http://www.meridianms.org/culture_recreation.htm |archive-date=March 28, 2009}}</ref> Briarwood County Club, located on Highway 39 North, is a private club with golf, swimming, fishing, and dining facilities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://briarwoodcc.org/about.php|title=Briarwood Country Club Meridian, MS – About Us|publisher=Briarwood Country Club|access-date=July 15, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725101512/http://briarwoodcc.org/about.php|archive-date=July 25, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Other golf courses serving the city include Northwood Country Club, Okatibbee Creek Golf Center, and Ponta Creek Golf Course.<ref name="recreation" />
==Government and infrastructure== [[File:Meridian City Hall dedication after restoration.jpg|thumb|Meridian City Hall after restoration efforts]] thumb|right|Meridian City Council ward map {{See also|List of mayors of Meridian, Mississippi}}
Meridian has operated under the mayor-council or "strong mayor" form of government since 1985.<ref>{{cite web |title=Meridian, MS City Council |url=http://www.meridianms.org/govern_council.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514105433/http://www.meridianms.org/govern_council.htm |archive-date=May 14, 2008 |access-date=June 17, 2008 |publisher=Official Website of Meridian, MeridianMS.org}}</ref> A mayor is elected every four years by the population at-large. The five members of the city council are elected every four years from each of the city's five wards, considered single-member districts. 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.<ref name="citycouncil">{{cite web |title=Meridian, MS Elected & Appointed Officials |url=https://www.meridianms.org/government/elected-and-appointed-officials/ |access-date=July 4, 2021 |publisher=Official Website of Meridian, MeridianMS.org}}</ref>
City Hall, which has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places,<ref name="nris" /> is located at 601 23rd Avenue. The current mayor is Jimmie Smith. Members of the city council include Dr. George M. Thomas, representative from Ward 1, Dwayne Davis, representative from Ward 2, Joseph Norwood, representative from Ward 3, Romande Gail Walker, representative from Ward 4, and Tyeasha "Ty" Bell Lindsey, representative from Ward 5. The council clerk is Jo Ann Clark.<ref name="citycouncil" /> In total, the city employs 570 people.<ref name="embdc" />
The city has a Department of Homeland Security (DHS), becoming the only local DHS in the state. The team oversees an area of nine counties. Upon receiving $2.5 million in grants from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and other organizations, the department began training law enforcement offices from other Southern states in passenger rail rescue as well as offering civilian classes in basic handguns, Boy Scout first aid and hunting, and firearms training. The DHS helps during times of crisis such as Hurricane Ivan in September 2004, when the department helped establish and support shelters for 700 evacuees.<ref>{{cite web |title=Meridian, Mississippi Department of Homeland Security |url=http://www.meridianms.org/depart_homeland.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007163952/http://www.meridianms.org/depart_homeland.html |archive-date=October 7, 2009 |access-date=May 27, 2010 |publisher=MeridianMS.org, the official site of Meridian}}</ref> The city now serves as the leader of one of the task forces in the Mississippi DHS, a combination of three nine-county teams.<ref name="2009report">{{cite web |title=Meridian, MS 2009 Annual Report |url=http://www.meridianms.org/Meridian_AR_09.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622073614/http://www.meridianms.org/Meridian_AR_09.pdf |archive-date=June 22, 2011 |access-date=May 27, 2010 |publisher=MeridianMS.org, the official site of Meridian}}</ref>
Headed by police chief Lee Shelbourn since 2009, the Meridian Police Department consists of 115 full-time officers as well as part-time and reserve staff available.<ref>{{cite web |title=Meridian, Mississippi Police Department |url=http://www.meridianms.org/depart_police.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090901101723/http://www.meridianms.org/depart_police.html |archive-date=September 1, 2009 |access-date=May 27, 2010 |publisher=MeridianMS.org, the official site of Meridian}}</ref> In 2009, the department's Criminal Investigations Division responded to 4000 cases, 2000 of which were felonies.<ref name="2009report" /> In 2000, 2094 crimes were reported, up slightly from 2008 crimes the preceding year. Meridian has been described as "the safest city in Mississippi with more than 30,000 people."<ref>{{cite web |title=Police Department |url=http://www.meridianms.org/01ar_police.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121205550/http://www.meridianms.org/01ar_police.pdf |archive-date=November 21, 2008 |access-date=May 27, 2010}}</ref> The East Mississippi Correctional Facility is located in unincorporated Lauderdale County, near Meridian. It is operated by the GEO Group on behalf of the Mississippi Department of Corrections.<ref name="Profile">"[http://www.mdoc.state.ms.us/Five%20Private%20Prisons.htm Private Prisons] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150425153424/http://www.mdoc.state.ms.us/Five%20Private%20Prisons.htm|date=April 25, 2015}}." Mississippi Department of Corrections. Retrieved on November 19, 2010.</ref> The chief of the Meridian Fire Department is Anthony Clayton.<ref>{{cite web |title=Meridian, Mississippi Fire Department |url=http://www.meridianms.org/firetraining.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022233445/http://www.meridianms.org/firetraining.htm |archive-date=October 22, 2008 |access-date=May 27, 2010}}</ref> The fire department responded to more than 1600 calls in 2009, including 123 structural fires and 609 emergency service calls.<ref name="2009report" /> The Mississippi Department of Mental Health operates the East Mississippi State Hospital in Meridian.<ref>"[http://www.emsh.state.ms.us/index_files/Page422.htm Contact Us] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100916103947/http://www.emsh.state.ms.us/index_files/Page422.htm|date=September 16, 2010}}." East Mississippi State Hospital. Retrieved on October 31, 2010. "4555 Highland Park Drive Meridian, MS 39307."</ref><ref>"[http://www.emsh.state.ms.us/index_files/Page1108.htm Driving Directions] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314121810/http://www.emsh.state.ms.us/index_files/Page1108.htm|date=March 14, 2012}}." ([http://www.emsh.state.ms.us/index_files/image9781.jpg Direct image link] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314121816/http://www.emsh.state.ms.us/index_files/image9781.jpg|date=March 14, 2012}}) East Mississippi State Hospital. Retrieved on October 31, 2010.</ref><ref>"[http://www.emsh.state.ms.us/index_files/Page1056.htm Large Map] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314121828/http://www.emsh.state.ms.us/index_files/Page1056.htm|date=March 14, 2012}}." ([http://www.emsh.state.ms.us/index_files/image10741.jpg Direct image link] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314121859/http://www.emsh.state.ms.us/index_files/image10741.jpg|date=March 14, 2012}}) East Mississippi State Hospital. Retrieved on October 31, 2010.</ref> The United States Postal Service operates the Meridian,<ref>"[http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/meridian-2100-9th-st-meridian-ms-1372756 Post Office Location – MERIDIAN] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120821005341/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/meridian-2100-9th-st-meridian-ms-1372756|date=August 21, 2012}}." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on November 1, 2010.</ref> North Meridian,<ref>"[http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/north-meridian-5008-29th-ave-meridian-ms-1372762 Post Office Location – NORTH MERIDIAN] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120821005558/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/north-meridian-5008-29th-ave-meridian-ms-1372762|date=August 21, 2012}}." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on November 1, 2010.</ref> and the West Meridian Station post offices.<ref>"[http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/west-meridian-station-708-45th-ave-meridian-ms-1372764 Post Office Location – WEST MERIDIAN STATION] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601093604/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/west-meridian-station-708-45th-ave-meridian-ms-1372764|date=June 1, 2010}}." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on November 1, 2010.</ref>
In state politics, the Mississippi Senate district map divides the city into three sections.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mississippi Senate Districts Map |url=http://www.msjrc.state.ms.us/pdf/senate_plan_map.pdf |access-date=June 19, 2008 |publisher=Mississippi Standing Joint Reapportionment Committee}}</ref> The northern tip of the city is in the 31st State Senate District and seats Terry Clark Burton (Republican party). 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 (Democratic party). The western and southeastern portions of the city lie in the 33rd State Senate District and seats Videt Carmichael (Republican party).<ref>{{cite web |title=Mississippi State Senate Members |url=http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/members/ss_membs.xml |access-date=June 19, 2008}}</ref> In the Mississippi House of Representatives districts, the city is divided into four districts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mississippi House of Representatives Map |url=http://www.msjrc.state.ms.us/pdf/house_plan_map.pdf |access-date=June 19, 2008 |publisher=Mississippi Standing Joint Reapportionment Committee}}</ref> The southern and eastern portions of the city reside in House District 81 and are represented by Steven A. Horne (Republican party). The city's core makes up the entirety of House District 82 and is represented by Wilbert L. Jones (Democratic party). Surrounding House District 82 is House District 83, represented by Greg Snowden (Republican party). 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 (Republican party).<ref>{{cite web |title=Mississippi State House of Representative Members |url=http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/members/hr_membs.xml |access-date=June 19, 2008}}</ref>
On the national level, the city is located in Mississippi's 3rd congressional district, represented by Michael Guest (Republican party), who has been in office since 2019. Lauderdale County, home to Meridian, has voted for the Republican candidate in every United States presidential election since 1972. Before the shift to the Republican Party, white area voters supported Democratic Party candidates, as for decades since the late 19th century, it was a one-party state.<ref>{{cite web |year=2005 |title=Historical Presidential Election Results in Mississippi |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=2000&fips=28&off=0&elect=0&f=0 |access-date=June 17, 2008 |publisher=David Leip}}</ref>
==Transportation== ===Railroads and public transit=== [[Image:Union Station Meridian MS 1.JPG|thumb|Meridian's Union Station]] Amtrak's ''Crescent '' train connects Meridian with the cities of New York, 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 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 in 2007.<ref name="faq">{{cite web|url=http://www.meridianms.org/faq.html |title=Meridian, MS FAQ |access-date=June 7, 2007 |publisher=Official website of Meridian, MeridianMS.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070416024858/http://www.meridianms.org/faq.html |archive-date=April 16, 2007 }}</ref> The Meridian Transit System ceased operations in 2012 due to lack of funding support for local match by the mayoral administration.
===Air=== The city is served by Meridian Regional Airport, located at Key Field, 2811 Airport Boulevard South, {{convert|3|mi|abbr=on}} southwest of the city. At {{Convert|10004|foot|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 Dallas/Fort Worth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.meridianairport.com/|title=Meridian Regional Airport|access-date=July 15, 2009}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.meridianairport.com/generalinformation.html |title=Meridian Regional Airport – General Information |access-date=July 15, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090910171554/http://www.meridianairport.com/generalinformation.html |archive-date=September 10, 2009 }}</ref>
===Highways=== ;Interstate highways 25px '''Interstate 20'''<br /> Runs west through Jackson, Mississippi, eventually terminating near Kent, Texas, and east through Tuscaloosa, Alabama, eventually terminating in Florence, South Carolina.<br /> 25px '''Interstate 59'''<br /> Joins with I-20 in the city and runs north through Tuscaloosa, Alabama, ending in Wildwood, Georgia. It also runs south through Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and on to Slidell, Louisiana.
;U.S. highways 25px '''U.S. Highway 11'''<br /> Runs parallel to Interstate 59 south to New Orleans, Louisiana, and north all the way to the Canada–U.S. border at Rouses Point, New York.<br /> 25px '''U.S. Highway 45'''<br /> Transnational route which runs north through Columbus, Mississippi, to the U.S.-Canada border and south through Quitman, Mississippi, to Mobile, Alabama, and the Gulf of Mexico.<br /> 25px '''U.S. Highway 80'''<br /> Runs west through Jackson, Mississippi, to Dallas, Texas, and east through Demopolis, Alabama, all the way to Tybee Island, Georgia and the Atlantic Ocean.
;State highways 25px '''Mississippi Highway 19'''<br /> Runs north to West, Mississippi, and south to the Mississippi-Alabama border, where it continues as Alabama State Route 10.<br /> 25px '''Mississippi Highway 39'''<br /> Begins in Meridian and runs north to Shuqualak, Mississippi.<br /> 30px '''Mississippi Highway 145'''<br /> Formerly US 45, but now only exists as an alternate route in several cities.<br /> 30px '''Mississippi Highway 493'''<br /> Begins in Meridian and runs north to Lynville, Mississippi.
==Education== [[File:Meridian Community College.JPG|thumb|Meridian Community College has served the city since 1937]] Early public education in Meridian was based on the 1870 Mississippi Constitution. From 1870 to 1885, trustees appointed by the City Council served on the Board of School Directors, which had authority to operate the schools.<ref name=wechslernom>{{Cite journal |last=Rush |first=Fonda |date=May 29, 1991|journal=National Register of Historic Places|title=NRHP Nomination:Wechsler School|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref> Although 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.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/meridian00gray|title=Meridian Illustrated 1904|last=Gray|first=William F.|access-date=July 16, 2009|year=1904|publisher=T. Farmer|location=Meridian, Mississippi|pages=[https://archive.org/details/meridian00gray/page/12 12]–16}}</ref> The first public school for blacks in the city was held in facilities rented from St. Paul Methodist Church. The Mississippi Legislature amended the city charter in January 1888 to allow the city to maintain its own municipal school district, and in March of the same year $30,000 in bonds was approved for the city to build new public schools.<ref name=wechslernom /> From this bond, the Wechsler School was built in 1894, becoming the first brick public school building in the state built for blacks.<ref name=wechslernom />
From this early district and later additions, the Meridian Public School District grew to its current size, which now includes six elementary schools,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mpsd.k12.ms.us/2122101022173431497/site/default.asp |title=Meridian Public School District – Elementary Schools |access-date=June 6, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723155107/http://www.mpsd.k12.ms.us/2122101022173431497/site/default.asp |archive-date=July 23, 2011}}</ref> three middle schools,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mpsd.k12.ms.us/2122101022173444850/site/default.asp |title=Meridian Public School District – Middle Schools |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025032952/http://www.mpsd.k12.ms.us/2122101022173444850/site/default.asp |archive-date=October 25, 2011}}</ref> and three high schools.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mpsd.k12.ms.us/212210102217350743/site/default.asp |title=Meridian Public School District – High Schools |access-date=June 6, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723155156/http://www.mpsd.k12.ms.us/212210102217350743/site/default.asp |archive-date=July 23, 2011}}</ref> The city also contains several private schools, including Lamar School, Community Christian School, and St. Patrick's Catholic School.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allprivateschools.org/private-schools-meridian-ms.html|title=Private Schools in Meridian, Mississippi|access-date=June 6, 2010}}</ref> The campus of Meridian High School, the main high school in the district, occupies {{convert|37|acre}}, including six buildings and 111 classrooms. The school is made up of grades 9–12 and enrolls approximately 1,500 students.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mpsd.k12.ms.us/mh/about_us/history.htm |title=Meridian High School – History |publisher=Meridian Public School District |access-date=July 16, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723155035/http://www.mpsd.k12.ms.us/mh/about_us/history.htm |archive-date=July 23, 2011}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mcc.cc.ms.us/catalog/finaidfrms.htm |title=MCC Financial Aid |access-date=June 10, 2008 |publisher=Meridian Community College |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080518210548/http://www.mcc.cc.ms.us/catalog/finaidfrms.htm |archive-date=May 18, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mcc.cc.ms.us/catalog/mcchistory.htm |title=History of Meridian Community College |publisher=Meridian Community College |access-date=July 17, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061007072649/http://www.mcc.cc.ms.us/catalog/mcchistory.htm |archive-date=October 7, 2006}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://meridian.msstate.edu/admisenroll/quickfacts.html |title=MSU Meridian Quick Facts |publisher=Mississippi State University |date=March 6, 2008 |access-date=June 10, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080313184947/http://www.meridian.msstate.edu/admisenroll/quickfacts.html |archive-date=March 13, 2008}}</ref>
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 blacks 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.<ref>{{cite news |last=McKee |first=Anne |title=I could write a book... |url=http://www.meridianstar.com/editorials/local_story_011000708.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120908103405/http://www.meridianstar.com/editorials/local_story_011000708.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 8, 2012 |newspaper=The Meridian Star |location=Meridian, MS |date=January 11, 2008 |access-date=June 8, 2008}}</ref> The library for blacks 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fpcmeridian.com/history.html |title=FPC Meridian – History |access-date=August 21, 2009 |publisher=First Presbyterian Church of Meridian |date=October 17, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009105332/http://www.fpcmeridian.com/history.html |archive-date=October 9, 2008}}</ref> The African American library was the only library for blacks in the state until after World War I<ref>{{cite book |last=McMillen |first=Neil R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=egDocn9COn8C&pg=PA25|title=Dark Journey: Black Mississippians in the Age of Jim Crow|location=Chicago, Illinois|publisher=University of Illinois Press|year=1990|access-date=July 17, 2009 | isbn=978-0-252-06156-1}}</ref> and is the only Carnegie library ever built for African Americans in the country.<ref name=Merrehope>National Register of Historic Places nomination form for Merrehope Historic District. September 19, 1988. National Park Service.</ref> 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.<ref name="mckee" /> 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.<ref name=carnegiedemolish>{{cite news |last=Conner |first=Tametria |url=http://www.wtok.com/news/headlines/19334204.html |title=Former Carnegie Library Demolished |access-date=June 9, 2008 |publisher=WTOK News |location=Meridian, MS |date=May 28, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519085341/http://www.wtok.com/news/headlines/19334204.html |archive-date=May 19, 2011 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
==Media== [[File:Meridian December 2018 29 (The Meridian Star).jpg|thumb|The headquarters of Meridian's only daily newspaper, ''The Meridian Star'']] The only daily newspaper printed in the city is ''The Meridian Star'',<ref>{{cite book |last=Brown |first=Alan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S_xUkW_hl9UC&pg=PA140|title=Haunted Places in the American South|publisher=University Press of Mississippi|year=2002|isbn=1-57806-477-5}}</ref> which has been in operation since 1898.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lauderdalecoms.com/themeridianstar.htm|title=Lauderdale Count – The Meridian Star|access-date=June 6, 2010}}</ref> 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 of about 12,000 in March 2010,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abcas3.accessabc.com/ecirc/newsform.asp|title=ACCESS ABC: eCirc for Newspapers|publisher=Audit Bureau of Circulations|date=March 31, 2010|access-date=August 7, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101001095406/http://abcas3.accessabc.com/ecirc/newsform.asp|archive-date=October 1, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> the paper serves Lauderdale County as well as adjacent portions of western Alabama and eastern Mississippi.
Although the ''Meridian Star'' is now 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.<ref name=newspapers>{{cite book |last=Thompson |first=Julius Eric |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fQ4JiuThqfAC&pg=PA93|title=The Black press in Mississippi, 1865–1985|year=1993|publisher=University Press of Florida|isbn=0-8130-1174-4|access-date=July 21, 2009}}</ref> Other newspapers in the city have included ''The Colored Messenger'',<ref>{{cite book |first1=James Philip |last1=Danky |first2=Maureen E. |last2=Hady |url=https://archive.org/details/africanamericanne00dank|page=[https://archive.org/details/africanamericanne00dank/page/163 163] |title=African-American newspapers and periodicals|publisher=Harvard University Press|year=1998|isbn=0-674-00788-3|access-date=July 21, 2009}}</ref> ''The State'',<ref>{{cite book |author=Indiana Commissioner of Fisheries and Game|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TwDOAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA649|title=Biennial Report|year=1905|publisher=University of Michigan|access-date=July 21, 2009}}</ref> ''The Weekly Mercury'',<ref>{{cite book |author=United States Congress|author-link=United States Congress |publisher=Oxford University |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BqwFAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA4-PA372|title=Reports of Committees |year=1884|access-date=July 21, 2009}}</ref> ''The Blade'', ''Weekly Echo'', ''Fair Play'', ''Headlight'', ''Meridian Morning Sun'', ''Teacher and Preacher'', and ''Clarion''.<ref name=newspapers/>
The city is the principal city in the Meridian, Mississippi Designated Market Area (DMA), which includes 72,180 households with televisions.<ref>{{cite web|author=Nielsen Media Research |url=http://www.tvb.org/rcentral/markettrack/us_hh_by_dma.asp |title=US TV Households by Market |date=September 21, 2009 |work=TVB.org |publisher=Television Bureau of Advertising |access-date=June 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612143136/http://www.tvb.org/rcentral/markettrack/US_HH_by_DMA.asp |archive-date=June 12, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> WTOK-TV broadcasts as an ABC affiliate from the city, headquartered at 815 23rd Avenue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/callsign/query.hts?Form_Level=callsign&Call_Sign=WTOK|title=FCC Media Bureau – Call Sign Query|publisher=FCC|access-date=June 26, 2010}}</ref> WTOK operates two digital subchannels, WTOK-DT2, a MyNetworkTV affiliate, and WTOK-DT3, Meridian's CW.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bayou104.com/CW.html|title=CW/MyNetworkTV Stations|year=2007|access-date=June 27, 2010}}</ref> WMDN-TV is the market's CBS affiliate. WGBC-TV is the affiliate network carrying both FOX (WGBC-DT1) and NBC (WGBC-DT2) programming. Both stations share studios and transmitter facilities on Crestview Circle in unincorporated Lauderdale County, south of Meridian. Together, WGBC and WMDN are known as "The Meridian Family of Stations."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://waypoint-media.com/stations/|title=Stations {{!}} Waypoint-Media.com|language=en|access-date=2019-06-17|archive-date=June 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617150311/http://waypoint-media.com/stations/|url-status=dead}}</ref> WMAW-TV is the local affiliate of Mississippi Public Broadcasting.<ref name=mpb>{{cite web|url=http://www.mpbonline.org/about_us/coverage/index.htm |title=Mississippi Public Broadcasting – Coverage Maps |publisher=Mississippi Public Broadcasting |access-date=June 27, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420024217/http://www.mpbonline.org/about_us/coverage/index.htm |archive-date=April 20, 2010 }}</ref>
The city is also the principal city in the Meridian Arbitron Radio Market, which includes 64,500 people over the age of 12.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arbitron.com/home/mm001050.asp|title=Arbitron Radio Market Rankings|publisher=Arbitron|access-date=June 27, 2010}}</ref> WUCL (FM 105.7), headquartered at 3436 Highway 45 North,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiostationworld.com/search/address_info.asp?N=WJXM&L=MS&yp=30045|title=RadioStationWorld Address Information for WJXM|website=Radiostationworld.com|access-date=June 27, 2010}}</ref> takes the largest share of ratings in the market at 14.8% in Fall 2009. In the same period, WZKS (FM 104.1) was second with 11.1%, and WMOX (AM 1010) was third with 7.4%.<ref name=ratings>{{cite web |url=http://www1.arbitron.com/tlr/public/report.do |title=Arbitron Ratings Data |publisher=Arbitron |access-date=June 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526101343/http://www1.arbitron.com/tlr/public/report.do |archive-date=May 26, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Other popular stations in the market include WKZB (FM 97.9), WOKK (FM 97.1), WEXR (FM 106.9), WYHL (AM 1450), and WJXM (FM 95.1).<ref name=ratings/> Mississippi Public Broadcasting can be found on WMAW-FM (FM 88.1).<ref name=mpb/>
==Notable people== * John Luther Adams, composer; although more associated with Alaska, he was born in Meridian * Susan Akin, who won the Miss America beauty pageant in 1986<ref>{{cite news |last=Fitzgerald |first=Carl |url=http://meridianstar.com/editorials/x681112663/Remember-When-salutes-Meridians-Miss-America-Susan-Akin-Lynch |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710032908/http://meridianstar.com/editorials/x681112663/Remember-When-salutes-Meridians-Miss-America-Susan-Akin-Lynch |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 10, 2012 |title=Remember When Salutes Meridian's Miss America: Susan Akin Lynch |newspaper=The Meridian Star |date=June 26, 2008 |access-date=June 26, 2010}}</ref> * John Alexander, opera singer * Moe Bandy, country music singer * John Besh, New Orleans cuisine chef, TV personality, philanthropist, restaurateur and author<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/cuisine/chefs/chefbesh.html|title=Chef John Besh|website=New Orleans Online|publisher=New Orleans Tourism Marketing|access-date=2017-01-07|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303065534/http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/cuisine/chefs/chefbesh.html|archive-date=March 3, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref> * Big K.R.I.T., musician * Dennis Ray "Oil Can" Boyd, former Major League Baseball pitcher<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bostonspastime.com/history.html|title=Oil Can Boyd|website=Bostonpastime.com|access-date=June 26, 2010}}</ref> * Gil Carmichael, Meridian businessman, transportation specialist, and politician, was the Republican nominee for the Mississippi Senate in 1966 and 1967, U.S. Senate in 1972, governor in 1975 and 1979, and lieutenant governor in 1983<ref>{{cite web|url=http://library.msstate.edu/FindingAid/Gilbert_E._Carmichael_papers_finding_aid_MSS.338.pdf|title=Gilbert E. Carmichael papers|website=Librarymsstate.edu|access-date=May 5, 2014|archive-date=April 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412183415/http://library.msstate.edu/FindingAid/Gilbert_E._Carmichael_papers_finding_aid_MSS.338.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> * Brad Carter, engineer, Mississippi state senator (1996–2000), owner of WMER<ref name=wtok>{{cite news |title=Former state Senator Brad Carter dies |url=https://www.wtok.com/2024/07/04/former-state-senator-brad-carter-dies/ |publisher=WTOK |date=2019-07-03 |access-date=2024-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240708184300/https://www.wtok.com/2024/07/04/former-state-senator-brad-carter-dies/ |archive-date=2024-07-08 |url-status=live}}</ref> * James Chaney, one of the victims in the murders of Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner in 1964<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/price&bowers/Chaney.htm|title=Biography of James Chaney|access-date=June 26, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619184616/http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/price%26bowers/Chaney.htm|archive-date=June 19, 2010|df=mdy-all}}</ref> * Alvin Childress, actor, played the lead role on the ''Amos 'n' Andy Show''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aaregistry.org/historic_events/view/alvin-childress-actor-delta|title=Alvin Childress Biography|website=Aaregistry.org|access-date=June 26, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716110122/http://www.aaregistry.org/historic_events/view/alvin-childress-actor-delta|archive-date=July 16, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> * Austin Davis, NFL player * Paul Davis, singer-songwriter best known for the late 1970s and early 1980s pop hits "I Go Crazy" and "'65 Love Affair", was born in Meridian in 1948; after retiring, he returned to the city where he remained until his death in 2008<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p4034/biography|pure_url=yes}}|title=Paul Davis Biography|website=AllMusic|access-date=July 29, 2010}}</ref> * Winfield Dunn, former Governor of Tennessee, lived in Meridian<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nndb.com/people/602/000168098/|title=Winfield Dunn|website=Nndb.com|access-date=June 26, 2010}}</ref> * Cordera Eason, NFL player * Lemuel L. Foster (1891–1981), civil servant, community leader; born in Meridian<ref name="The New York Times-1981">{{Cite news |date=June 25, 1981 |title=Lemuel Foster, A Macy Executive and Specialist on Race Relations |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/25/obituaries/lemuel-foster-a-macy-executive-and-specialist-on-race-relations.html |access-date=June 30, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> * John Fleming, U.S. Representative for Louisiana's 4th congressional district 2009–2017, was born and raised in Meridian<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=F000456|title=John Fleming|website=Bioguide.congress.gov|access-date=June 26, 2010}}</ref> * Fred and Al Key, known as "The Flying Keys" – holders of the world flight endurance record – are Meridian natives. Al Key is also a former mayor of the city.<ref>{{cite news |last=McKee |first=Anne |url=http://meridianstar.com/editorials/x546250994/Great-Mississippians-The-Flying-Key-Brothers-Al-and-Fred |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714183836/http://meridianstar.com/editorials/x546250994/Great-Mississippians-The-Flying-Key-Brothers-Al-and-Fred |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 14, 2012 |title=Great Mississippians, The Flying Key Brothers |date=October 1, 2009 |newspaper=The Meridian Star |access-date=June 26, 2010 }}</ref> * Steve Forbert, folk singer best known for "Romeo's Tune" * Thomas F. Frist Sr., physician, businessman and co-founder of HCA Healthcare. * Paul Hardy, Negro leagues catcher<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=powelja04|title=Jay Powell Baseball States|publisher=Baseball Almanac|access-date=June 26, 2010}}</ref> * Ty Herndon, country music singer * Rodney Hood, professional basketball player * Pooley Hubert, college football player and coach *Leroy Jones, former professional boxer * Gregory Keyes, science fiction and fantasy writer<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mswritersandmusicians.com/mississippi-writers/j-gregory-keyes |title=J. Gregory Keyes |last1=Rice |first1=Ashley |last2=Ferguson |first2=Draneka |date=1999 |website=Mississippi Writers & Musicians |publisher=Mississippi Writers Project |access-date=10 May 2019 |quote=J. Gregory Keyes, also known as Greg Keyes, was born on April 11, 1963, in Meridian, Mississippi.}}</ref> * Diane Ladd, actress, actually born in Laurel, but raised in Meridian, where her parents resided<ref name="Legendary-Locals">{{cite book |last1=Davis Davidson |first1=June |last2=Putnam |first2=Richelle |date=2013 |title=Legendary Locals of Meridian |location=Charleston, South Carolina |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |page=10 |isbn=978-1-4671-0079-3}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800014970/bio |title=Diane Ladd Biography |publisher=Yahoo! Movies |access-date=June 26, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814031125/http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800014970/bio |archive-date=August 14, 2007}}</ref> * Lilian Lewis, zoologist.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Biographical Dictionary of Women in Science: Pioneering Lives from Ancient Times to the Mid-20th Century |date=2000 |publisher=Routledge |others=Marilyn Bailey Ogilvie, Joy Dorothy Harvey |isbn=0-415-92038-8 |location=New York |oclc=40776839}}</ref> * Alex M. Loeb, artist<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iPfA5Ha8wf4C&q=alex+loeb+art+meridian&pg=PA248|title=Art in Mississippi, 1720–1980|website=upress.state.ms.us/books/39|isbn=978-1-57806-084-9|access-date=May 3, 2018|last1=Black|first1=Patti Carr|year=1998|publisher=Univ. Press of Mississippi}}</ref> * Derrick McKey, NBA player<ref>{{cite web|last=Adam|first=Nick|url=http://www.wtok.com/sports/headlines/96183649.html|title=McKey in Meridian|date=June 11, 2010|publisher=WTOK|access-date=June 26, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721141655/http://www.wtok.com/sports/headlines/96183649.html|archive-date=July 21, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> * Eric McNair, former Major League Baseball player * Scott McQuaig, country singer and recording artist * Kelly Mitchell, Queen of the Gypsy Nation<ref name=jacob /> * Gillespie V. Montgomery, former U.S. representative, lived in Meridian<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M000865|title=Sonny Montgomery|website=Bioguide.congress.gov|access-date=June 26, 2010}}</ref> * Montez Murphy, former NFL defensive tackle * Hartley Peavey, founder of Peavey Electronics, which is headquartered in Meridian<ref>{{cite web |last=Peavey |first=Hartley |url=http://www.peavey.com/support/corporate/hartley.cfm |title=The Past and Present of Peavey Electronics |publisher=Peavey Electronics |access-date=June 26, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325042933/http://www.peavey.com/support/corporate/hartley.cfm |archive-date=March 25, 2010}}</ref> * Fred Phelps (1929–2014), leader of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, a recognized hate group<ref>{{cite web|url=http://godhatesfags.com/wbcinfo/phelpsbio.html|title=Brief Biography of Westboro Baptist Church Pastor Fred Phelps|website=Godhatesfags.com|access-date=September 9, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313152257/http://godhatesfags.com/wbcinfo/phelpsbio.html|archive-date=March 13, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nndb.com/people/908/000025833/ |title=Fred Phelps |website=Nndb.com |access-date=2017-05-02}}</ref> * Robert Pious (1908–1983), American painter and illustrator<ref>{{Cite book |last=Quattro |first=Ken |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zPfuDwAAQBAJ |title=Invisible Men: The Trailblazing Black Artists of Comic Books |date=2020-12-16 |publisher=IDW Publishing |isbn=978-1-68406-912-5 |pages=56–63 |language=en}}</ref> * Jay Powell, pitcher * Max Raisin (1881–1957), rabbi * David Charles Richardson, commander and vice admiral in the United States Navy<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.usni.org/heritage/richardson|title=D.C. Richardson|website=Usni.org|access-date=June 9, 2021}}</ref> * Jamal Roberts, winner of American Idol season 23<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/entertainment/2025/05/18/meridian-ms-p-e-teacher-jamal-roberts-wins-2025-american-idol/83672295007/ |title=Did Meridian, MS, singer Jamal Roberts win 'American Idol'?}}</ref> * Jimmie Rodgers, the "Father of Country Music", was born in the city in 1897. The Jimmie Rodgers Museum is located in Meridian, and the Jimmie Rodgers Festival has been an annual Meridian event since 1953.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jimmierodgers.com/biography.html |title=Jimmie Rodgers Biography |access-date=June 26, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328104239/http://www.jimmierodgers.com/biography.html |archive-date=March 28, 2010}}</ref> * David Ruffin, former lead singer of The Temptations, and his older brother Jimmy Ruffin were born in the surrounding area, Whynot and Collinsville, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|last=Aqua|first=Ben|url=http://www.mswritersandmusicians.com/musicians/david-ruffin.html|title=David Ruffin Biography|access-date=June 26, 2010|archive-date=November 26, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126022416/http://mswritersandmusicians.com/musicians/david-ruffin.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Inge|first=Kefauver|url=http://www.mswritersandmusicians.com/musicians/jimmy-ruffin.html|title=Jimmy Ruffin Biography|website=Mswritersandmusicians.com|access-date=June 26, 2010|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305171333/http://mswritersandmusicians.com/musicians/jimmy-ruffin.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> * Julian Rush (1936–2023), clergyman, playwright, and non-profit administrator<ref name='Music'>{{cite book |last=Hart Merrick |first=Lee |date=2001 |title=Julian Rush-Facing the Music: A Gay Methodist Minister's Story |url= |location=Lincoln, Nebraska |publisher=Writers Club Press |page= |quote=I was born in Mississippi, the grandson of a horse-loving urologist and one of two children of a pharmacist.|isbn=0-595-19658-6}}</ref> * Joe Stringfellow, NFL player<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.profootballarchives.com/stri03000.html |title=JOE STRINGFELLOW |publisher=profootballarchives.com |access-date=February 21, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302050524/http://www.profootballarchives.com/stri03000.html |archive-date=March 2, 2016}}</ref> * Pat Sansone, Guitarist from Wilco * Anne Mollegen Smith, magazine editor and writer<ref name='WW-US-WEP'>{{cite book |editor-last1=Johnson |editor-first1=Curt |year=1986–1987 |title=Who's Who in U.S. Writers, Editors & Poets |location=Highland Park, Illinois |publisher=December Press |publication-date=1987 |page=426 |issn=0885-4521}}</ref> * Tom Stuart, politician, from 1973 to 1977 was the first Republican to serve as mayor of Meridian in the 20th century<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.franklincountytimes.com/2001/11/19/tom-stuart-former-mayor-dies/|title=Sheila Blackmon/Meridian Star, Tom Stuart, former mayor, dies|date=November 19, 2001|work=Franklin County Times|access-date=June 5, 2014}}</ref> * Joni Taylor, Texas A&M Aggies women's basketball coach * Todd Tilghman, singer and lead pastor of Cornerstone Church in Meridian. A winner of 18th season of ''The Voice''. * Mary Oneida Toups, occultist known as the "Witch Queen of New Orleans" * Alejandro Villanueva, NFL player * Kenyatta Walker, All-American collegiate football player; Super Bowl XXXVII champion as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers * Lillian W. Walker, member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for East Baton Rouge Parish from 1964 to 1972<ref>[http://obits.theadvocate.com/obituaries/theadvocate/obituary.aspx?n=lillian-w-walker&pid=183213329&fhid=11073 ''The Advocate'': Lillian W. Walker obituary]- Retrieved 2017-10-14</ref> * Sela Ward, actress<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/70/Sela-Ward.html|title=Sela Ward Biography|website=Filmreference.com|access-date=June 26, 2010}}</ref> * Brad Watson, writer * James Wheaton, actor and director * Hayley Williams, lead singer of the band Paramore<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.askmen.com/celebs/women/singer_400/409_hayley_williams.html|title=Hayley Williams|publisher=AskMen.com|access-date=June 26, 2010}}</ref> * Al Wilson, singer * George Wilson – former NBA center (1964–1971)<ref name="CPS alumni">{{Cite web |title=John Marshall Metropolitan High School |work=Honor Roll of Alumni |publisher=CPSalumni.org |url=http://www.cpsalumni.org/honor_roll/1111 |access-date=21 January 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bach |first=John |title=George Wilson helps USA basketball stay perfect in '64 |journal=UC Magazine |publisher=University of Cincinnati |location=Cincinnati, OH, USA |date=January 2009 |url=http://www.magazine.uc.edu/0109/wilson.htm |access-date=21 January 2010 |quote=That's about the same year that Jif, the player, first leaped onto the basketball scene to lead Marshall High School, an all-black team from Chicago, to the first of two Illinois state championships. Recruited by many colleges, Big George chose UC because of his admiration for his hero, Oscar Robertson.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=George Wilson |work=statistics & biographic information |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wilsoge01.html |access-date=21 January 2010}}</ref> * John Louis Wilson Jr. (1898–1989), American architect<ref>{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Susan Heller |date=1989-11-04 |title=John L. Wilson Jr., 91, Architect Of Harlem River Houses, Is Dead |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/04/obituaries/john-l-wilson-jr-91-architect-of-harlem-river-houses-is-dead.html |access-date=2023-02-21 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> * Charles Young Jr., business executive and current member of the Mississippi House of Representatives * Charles L. Young Sr., business executive and former member of the Mississippi House of Representatives
==In popular culture== ===Non-fiction=== In ''South and West: From a Notebook'', Joan Didion recounts that she met a man while visiting Meridian in the 1970s who told her "The KKK which used to be a major factor in this community isn't a factor anymore, both the membership and the influence have diminished, and I cannot think of any place where the black is denied entrance, with the possible exception of private clubs."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Didion|first1=Joan|title=South and West: From a Notebook|date=2017|publisher=4th Estate|location=London, U.K.|isbn=978-0-00-825717-0|page=55}}</ref>
===Fictional characters=== Cullen Bohannon, the protagonist of the AMC series ''Hell on Wheels'', hails from Meridian, Mississippi, where he is a tobacco farmer and later a Confederate soldier during the American Civil War.<ref>This is mentioned first in the pilot, and again many times throughout the show, e.g., in season 3, episode 4.</ref>
In the movie ''X-Men'', the character Rogue hails from Meridian, Mississippi, and a small portion of the movie takes place there.
In the book ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' by Harper Lee, one of the characters, Dill Harris, is from Meridian.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/t/to-kill-a-mockingbird/character-analysis/dill-harris|title=To Kill a Mockingbird: Dill Harris | Character Analysis | Study Guide | Lit Note|website=Cliffsnotes.com|access-date=June 9, 2021}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} *[http://www.meridianms.org/ Official website] *[http://www.visitmeridian.com/ Lauderdale County Tourism] *{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Meridian (Mississippi)|display=Meridian, a city and the county-seat of Lauderdale county, Mississippi, U.S.A. |short=x}}
{{Meridian, Mississippi}} {{Lauderdale County, Mississippi}} {{Mississippi}} {{Mississippi county seats}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Meridian, Mississippi Category:Cities in Mississippi Category:Cities in Lauderdale County, Mississippi Category:County seats in Mississippi Category:Cities in the Meridian micropolitan area Category:Mississippi Blues Trail