Meridian, MS Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Meridian, MS: What You Need to Know

Meridian, the seat of Lauderdale County in east-central Mississippi, is home to the Naval Air Station (NAS) Meridian, which trains sailors and marines in aviation and technical fields. 

Job Opportunities

The NAS Meridian, which employs 3,000 military and civilian personnel, is the largest employer in the area. Six training squadrons and the Regional Counterdrug Training Academy are based at the facility. Other top employers in Meridian and Lauderdale County include Rush Health Systems, Anderson Regional Health System, Mississippi Air National Guard, and the Meridian Public School District.

Local History

In 1831, one year after the Choctaw Indians vacated their territories in Mississippi under the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, Richard McLemore of Virginia settled in the area. The town grew when the railroads arrived in 1855. Meridian was the state's largest city from 1890 to 1930. The city’s skyline was built during this period. Meridian gained notoriety in June 1964, the start of Freedom Summer, a grassroots initiative to register Blacks in the South to vote. Three civil rights workers were arrested allegedly for speeding. After they were released, they drove off in the direction of Meridian and disappeared. In 1967, seven members of the Ku Klux Klan were found guilty of various charges but not murder. The story was immortalized in the 1988 film “Mississippi Burning.”

Are There Any Tourist Attractions in Meridian?

Dunn’s Falls, a 65-foot manmade waterfall, used to be a power source for a gristmill. Today, it’s the site of a park with a picnic section and hiking and swimming areas. The park also features the historic Carroll-Richardson Gristmill, which is open for tours. The Dentzel Carousel is the only two-row stationary Dentzel menagerie carousel still operating. It was manufactured around 1895. All the animals are meticulously hand-carved of bass and poplar wood. Both the carousel and the carousel house are National Historic Landmarks.

Is Meridian an Affordable Place to Live In?

Meridian (population: 36,347) is fairly affordable, with a cost of living rate and housing costs that are 12.5% and 27.2% lower than the national average, respectively. The median gross rent is $728. However, food cost is 14.7% higher than the national average. The Magnolia State charges 0% to 5% in income tax and a statewide sales tax of 7%. 

Is It Rainy in Meridian?

Mississippi as a whole is one of the wettest states in the U.S. Meridian gets 57 inches of rain per year, a lot more than the U.S. average of 38 inches. On the positive, the city receives only one inch of snow annually. On May 9-12, 2019, heavy rainfall resulted in flooding across Mississippi. Meridian got six inches of rain. Some areas in metro Jackson reported flooding.