Southaven, MS

Southaven sits directly along the Mississippi-Tennessee border, originally springing up in the 1960s as a collection of starter neighborhoods developed by Holiday Inn founder Kemmons Wilson. Named simply for its location south of Memphis’s Whitehaven area, the town officially incorporated in 1980 and quickly took off. Over the past few decades, Southaven has expanded steadily eastward along Church and Getwell Roads, growing into DeSoto County's largest city with close to 60,000 residents who enjoy a blend of quiet residential streets and modern suburban conveniences.

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Proximity to Memphis shapes everyday life here. Downtown Memphis and the airport are both an easy 15 to 20 minute drive up Interstate 55, making it a popular spot for commuters. At the same time, you rarely have to leave city limits for daily necessities. Southaven serves as the regional retail and medical anchor for north Mississippi, featuring major employers like Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto, open-air shopping at Tanger Outlets, and countless dining spots lining the Goodman Road corridor.

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Neighborhoods vary noticeably depending on which part of town you explore. The western side near Highway 51 features established mid-century ranches with mature trees, while the eastern stretches offer newer master-planned communities with spacious brick homes and community pools. Home prices and property taxes tend to be lower than in many neighboring Shelby County suburbs, drawing a steady stream of young families and retirees. When you tour potential homes, it helps to drive through during weekday rush hours and weekend tournament times to check traffic flow and neighborhood activity.

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Entertainment and sports are central to the local routine. Snowden Grove Park is one of the premier youth baseball and softball hubs in the South, also serving as home to the BankPlus Amphitheater for outdoor summer concerts. Nearby, the Landers Center hosts Memphis Hustle basketball games, rodeos, and arena shows throughout the year. If you prefer a quieter afternoon outside, Central Park provides walking trails, a fishing lake, playgrounds, and disc golf, balancing out the busy tournament weekends with plenty of relaxed neighborhood green space.