As one of the most populous cities in Mississippi, Hattiesburg has long been known for its many attractions – such as its public art and spots like the Pocket Alley and the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum – along with recreation like the Longleaf Trace and the Hattiesburg Zoo.
For those accomplishments and more, the Hub City has been ranked by Southern Living as No. 19 on its “South’s Best Cities on the Rise 2024,” which was published online March 6. The feature, which can be found at https://shorturl.at/opvFO, states that Hattiesburg has shed its reputation as a “stopover destination” with the help of its two universities, unique local businesses and a bustling downtown.”
“It’s a very special time right now to be living in Hattiesburg, but it’s also a very special time to be working to advance and improve Hattiesburg,” said Marlo Dorsey, executive director of Visit Hattiesburg. “When I look at this honor that we’ve received from what I believe is the gold standard, Southern Living, for beautiful communities that have excellent, well-thought-out master plans, a very strong sense of economic focus and economic vitality – I’m thrilled that they have us listed in the Top 25.
“When we go back and look at where we were five years ago, seven years ago, and where we are today, it’s a testament to people pulling in the same direction with a strategic focus. People who work at the city, our county supervisors, our private sector, many small businesses – they just believe in the future of Hattiesburg.”
Southern Living is a lifestyle magazine aimed at readers in the Southern United States featuring recipes, house plans, garden plans, and information about Southern culture and travel. The recognition as a South’s Best city is voted on by Southern Living’s readership from a “large list of cities based on research, reporting and [editors’] experiences.”
“This recognition not only highlights the beauty and allure of our city but also underscores the hard work and dedication of our community members who strive to make Hattiesburg a premier destination for travelers,” Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker said. “I am immensely proud to see our city recognized as a top travel destination in the South, and my hope is that we will continue to grow, flourish, and attract visitors from around the globe.”
Dorsey said new residents who have recently moved to the city also have contributed to the honor from Southern Living.
“It’s people of all ages, and we are a growing community,” she said. “This matters even more today – it’s so sweet to see where we were in April of 2020, just a few weeks into the (COVID-19) pandemic and wondering where we go from here, (and where we are now).
“We look back, and maybe we could have done some things differently, but wow – look at far we’ve come. Our economy has continued to grow – downtown, midtown, out west – when you look at the number of businesses of all different types and people from different walks of life that are investing here in Hattiesburg … there’s a lot of momentum.”
Other cities in the ranking included Gulfport; Lake Charles, Louisiana; Gainesville, Georgia; Spartanburg, South Carolina; and Huntsville, Alabama.
This is the second time in recent weeks that Hattiesburg has been featured in Southern Living. In February, Abby Thaxton, owner of the Lucky Rabbit on Mobile Street, was featured in an article titled “14 Kitchen Items You Should Always Buy Second-Hand.”
