Meridian, Mississippi Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

Population: 39,968. Estimated population in July 2024: 38,605 (-3.4% change)
Males: 18,250 (45.7%), Females: 21,718 (54.3%)

Lauderdale County

Zip codes: 39301, 39305, 39307.

Demographics

Median resident age: 34.6 years
Median household income: $25,085
Median house value: $59,600

Population by Race

Races in Meridian:

  • Black (54.4%)
  • White Non-Hispanic (43.5%)
  • Hispanic (1.1%)
  • Two or more races (0.6%)

Ancestries: United States (7.2%), English (5.3%), Irish (4.5%), German (3.1%), Scotch-Irish (2.1%), Subsaharan African (1.3%).

Elevation: 340 feet

Land area: 45.1 square miles

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Meridian

  • High school or higher: 72.3%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.6%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 7.2%
  • Unemployed: 9.4%
  • Mean travel time to work: 17.6 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Meridian city

  • Never married: 30.5%
  • Now married: 42.2%
  • Separated: 4.0%
  • Widowed: 11.2%
  • Divorced: 12.1%

0.7% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: -2,025 (-4.8%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers in Meridian:

  • ALLIANCE HEALTH CENTER (5000 HIGHWAY 39 NORTH)
  • JEFF ANDERSON REGIONAL MED CENTER (2124 14 ST)
  • RILEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (1102 CONSTITUTION AVENUE)
  • RUSH FOUNDATION HOSPITAL (1314 19TH AVE)
  • SPECIALITY HOSPITAL OF MERIDIAN,THE (1314 19TH AVENUE)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Meridian:

  • KEY FIELD (about 6 miles; MERIDIAN, MS; Abbreviation: MEI)
  • GOLDEN TRIANGLE REGIONAL (about 75 miles; COLUMBUS/W POINT/STARKVILL, MS; Abbreviation: GTR)
  • HATTIESBURG-LAUREL REGIONAL (about 77 miles; HATTIESBURG/LAUREL, MS; Abbreviation: PIB)

Other public-use airports nearest to Meridian:

  • CLARKE COUNTY (about 21 miles; QUITMAN, MS; Abbreviation: 23M)
  • JAMES H EASOM FIELD (about 31 miles; NEWTON, MS; Abbreviation: M23)
  • MALLARD (about 32 miles; YORK, AL; Abbreviation: 23A)

Amtrak station:
MERIDIAN (1901 FRONT ST.). Services: ticket office, partially wheelchair accessible, enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, full-service food facilities, free short-term parking, free long-term parking, taxi stand, intercity bus service, public transit connection.
 
Colleges/Universities in Meridian:

  • MERIDIAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE (Full-time enrollment: 2,455; Location: 910 HWY 19 N; Public; Website: WWW.MCC.CC.MS.US)
  • FINAL TOUCH BEAUTY SCHOOL (Full-time enrollment: 69; Location: 832 HWY 19 N STE 510; Private, for-profit)

Other colleges/universities with over 2000 students near Meridian:

  • JONES COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE (about 65 miles; ELLISVILLE, MS; Full-time enrollment: 4,072)
  • MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY (about 75 miles; MISSISSIPPI STATE, MS; Full-time enrollment: 14,613)
  • MISSISSIPPI UNIVERSITY FOR WOMEN (about 79 miles; COLUMBUS, MS; Full-time enrollment: 2,115)
  • HOLMES COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 92 miles; GOODMAN, MS; Full-time enrollment: 2,485)
  • UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI (about 93 miles; HATTIESBURG, MS; Full-time enrollment: 12,541)
  • SHELTON STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 98 miles; TUSCALOOSA, AL; Full-time enrollment: 3,635)
  • UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA (about 101 miles; TUSCALOOSA, AL; Full-time enrollment: 17,453)

Schools

Public high schools in Meridian:

  • MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 1,188; Location: 2320 32ND STREET; Grades: 10 – 12)
  • NORTHEAST LAUDERDALE HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 635; Location: 702 BRIARWOOD ROAD; Grades: 09 – 12)
  • SOUTHEAST ATTENDANCE CENTER (Students: 395; Location: 2362 LONGCREEK RAOD; Grades: 09 – 12)
  • ROSS COLLINS VOC CENTER (Location: 2640 24TH AVE; Grades: 09 – 12)

Private high schools in Meridian:

  • LAMAR MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 345; Location: 544 LINDLEY ROAD; Grades: 6 – 12)
  • THE KING’S ACADEMY (Students: 109; Location: 7387 STATE BLVD EXT; Grades: KG – 12)
  • CHRIST TEMPLE ACADEMY (Students: 107; Location: 4601 8TH ST; Grades: PK – 12)

Biggest public primary/middle schools in Meridian:

  • CLARKDALE ATTENDANCE CENTER (Students: 963; Location: 7000 HIGHWAY 145; Grades: KG – 12)
  • NORTHEAST LAUDERDALE ELEMENTARY (Students: 907; Location: 6750 NEWELL ROAD; Grades: KG – 04)
  • NORTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 793; Location: 7763 HIGHWAY 39 NORTH; Grades: 05 – 08)
  • WEST LAUDERDALE ELEMENTARY (Students: 689; Location: 10350 HIGHWAY 495; Grades: KG – 04)
  • OAKLAND HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 579; Location: 601 59TH AVE; Grades: PK – 05)
  • MAGNOLIA MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 561; Location: 1350 24TH STREET; Grades: 06 – 07)
  • GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER MIDDLE (Students: 559; Location: 900 44TH AVENUE; Grades: 06 – 07)
  • WEST HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 535; Location: 4100 32ND STREET; Grades: KG – 05)
  • NORTHWEST JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 529; Location: 4400 32ND STREET; Grades: 08 – 09)
  • POPLAR SPRINGS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 522; Location: 4101 27TH AVENUE; Grades: KG – 05)

Private primary/middle schools in Meridian:

  • LAMAR ELEMENTARY (Students: 280; Location: 544 LINDSEY RD; Grades: KG – 5)
  • ST PATRICK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 208; Location: 2700 DAVIS STREET; Grades: PK – 7)
  • CALVARY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL INC (Students: 106; Location: 3917 7TH ST; Grades: KG – 7)
  • NORTH HILLS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 28; Location: 5800 NORTH HILLS ST; Grades: 1 – 8)

Libraries

Library in Meridian:

  • MERIDIAN-LAUDERDALE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $1,032,375; Location: 2517 SEVENTH STREET; 118,302 books; 3,762 audio materials; 3,825 video materials; 219 serial subscriptions)