Hattiesburg, Mississippi Growing Rapidly
Hattiesburg is located in south Mississippi. It is nicknamed “the hub” because it is centrally located between Mobile, New Orleans, the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and the state capitol, Jackson. The city of Hattiesburg has a population somewhere around 50,000 and counting. This city is definitely growing at a rapid pace.
Hattiesburg is the home to the University of Southern Mississippi. The university helps add to the appeal and enthusiasm in this city. USM has an enrollment of over 15,000, and it is growing steadily, along with the population.
Hattiesburg has been recognized nationally as one of the top 100 cities in which to retire. This is just one of the numerous honors that is has received because of its retirement amenities. Some of the reasons for Hattiesburg’s retirement hubbub include: low cost of living; the warm climate; continuing education possibilities; proximity to Mobile New Orleans, Jackson, and the Gulf Coast; shopping and dining; and availability of excellent and well-known medical facilities.
There are numerous things to keep you busy in “the hub.” There is the All-American Rose Garden, which is located on the University of Southern Mississippi campus. It is a beautiful site to see, and it is in bloom during the late spring and summer. There is the Hattiesburg Zoo, which is located in Kamper Park on Hardy Street. The Armed Forces Museum is something that you will not want to miss, especially if you are a history buff. It is located at Camp Shelby, just south of the city of Hattiesburg. It includes exhibits that cover as far back as the War of 1812. Hattiesburg also has two major festivals each year, HUBfest and The Old Time Festival. One is in the spring and the other is in the fall. These festivals normally draw thousands of visitors. They have arts and crafts booths, scrumptious food, and great musical entertainment. There is also the historic Saenger Theater. It opened in 1929, and it is on the National Register of Historic places, which is visible in its beautiful architecture. It often serves as the venue for performing arts groups, which have been known to put on some spectacular plays in the past. Of course, don’t forget all of the action at Southern Miss. Those Golden Eagles always have something keeping them busy, from football and baseball to concerts and dance performances. Of course, I cannot forget to mention one of Hattiesburg’s great outdoor attractions – The Longleaf Trace. The Longleaf Trace is a 41-mile long trail that is used for biking, hiking, and running. It is a beautiful trail. It runs through several cities. There are many places to stop along the way with restrooms and snacks. You can even rent a bike for your big day.
With the city’s population explosion, come many new businesses, especially on Highway 98 West. Just in the past few months a Target, Old Navy, Bed Bath & Beyond, Books-A-Million, and PetSmart (just to name a few) have all opened their doors on Highway 98 West. There are also several new restaurants that will be opening their doors in Hattiesburg this year. Building is definitely going strong in the Hattiesburg area. These newcomers are great additions to the already busy Turtle Creek Mall and the surrounding areas.
So, if you are looking for a place to visit, you may want to consider a small, charming city in the south – Hattiesburg, MS. The people are friendly, and the southern cooking alone will make the trip worth while. Take a trip to Hattiesburg. You’ll be glad that you did.
