The South’s No. 1 small town is in Mississippi, survey says. Why it’s special

A Mississippi city topped the list of must-visit locales for travelers in search of small-town charm, according to USA Today.

The city of Starkville packs plenty of it, as told by readers who voted it the No. 1 small town to visit in the South, per the outlet’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards list, published April 9.

Known as “Mississippi’s college town,” it was the only Magnolia State municipality to earn a spot on the top 10 list highlighting the region’s best cities with populations under 25,000.

The latest available census data shows Starkville is home to 24,360 residents. But what it lacks in size, it makes up for in community, creativity and charm, according to Mayor Lynn Spruill.

“To have been nominated again was a huge compliment and then to have won for a second consecutive year speaks volumes about the way that visitors and residents view our community,” Spruill told McClatchy News in an email.

“We have worked very hard to be a destination and a place of hospitality and I believe that this distinction shows that we have been successful,” she said.

So what makes it special?

“You’ll find a thriving arts scene, multiple historic districts, many opportunities for birdwatching, and plenty of great food,” editors wrote. “Be sure to check out the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library, a treasure trove of artifacts and correspondence.”

For the Readers’ Choice awards, nominees are chosen by a panel of experts, according to the outlet’s website. USA Today editors review the list, then invite readers to vote for their favorites for four weeks.

McClatchy News reached out to USA Today for the full methodology April 16 and was awaiting a response.

Starkville offers visitors a “unique blend of history, college sports, culture, natural beauty, and community spirit,” the city’s website says. There’s a smorgasboard of family-friendly attractions including the Skate Odyssey roller rink and Sam D. Hamilton National Wildlife Refuge.

It’s also home to Mississippi State University, where visitors can catch a football game or peruse a collection of more than 1.6 million insect specimens at the entomological museum.

Here’s how Starkville stacked up against other cities across the South:

1. Starkville, Mississippi
2. Lewisburg, West Virginia
3. Inverness, Florida
4. West Monroe, Louisiana
5. Safety Harbor, Florida
6. Clemson, South Carolina
7. Thomasville, Georgia
8. Cocoa Beach, Florida
9. Williamsburg, Virginia
10. Orange Beach, Alabama

Starkville is about a 120-mile drive northeast from downtown Jackson.

This story was originally published April 16, 2025 at 3:35 PM.

Tanasia Kenney

Sun Herald

Tanasia is a service journalism reporter at the Charlotte Observer | CharlotteFive, working remotely from Atlanta, Georgia. She covers restaurant openings/closings in Charlotte and statewide explainers for the NC Service Journalism team. She’s been with McClatchy since 2020.