Meridian, MS

Meridian is the county seat of Lauderdale County in eastern Mississippi and the center of its micropolitan area. Its importance grew from a strategic railroad junction, which made it valuable during the Civil War and later helped build a major rail and manufacturing city. Meridian also has military and training institutions, including the 186th Air Refueling Wing and Regional Counter-Drug Training Academy. It feels historic, working, and regional, with old rail-city architecture, arts institutions, and a stronger civic presence than many towns its size.