Meridian, MS
Music connected to Meridian
About Meridian
- • Opera singer Leontyne Price was born and raised in Meridian.
- • Peavey Electronics, a major musical equipment manufacturer, was founded there.
- • Railroad junctions established Meridian as a transportation hub in the late 1800s.
- • Meridian was once nicknamed "The Queen City" of Mississippi.
- • The Great Fire of 1889 destroyed much of downtown Meridian.
- • Named for its location on a principal meridian, it was incorporated in 1860.
- • With around 35,000 people, it's smaller than Hattiesburg.
- • At 318 feet above sea level, it's slightly higher than surrounding areas.
- • Healthcare and social assistance are major employment sectors.
- • A sense of quiet Southern charm permeates the historic downtown streets.