Founded by French colonists and once the capital of the Mississippi Territory, Natchez is known for the historic preservation of its estate homes and serves as a premier tourist attraction with its annual spring home tours called the Natchez Pilgrimage. If you want to live in an antebellum mansion, living here is as close as you'll get, since you'll be surrounded by them!
Like antebellum architecture? Love Spanish moss? Then this charming small city in the deep south is for you. Just 90 minutes from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Natchez boasts a cultured downtown and a population of 15,792.
Moving to Town
If you're looking for a house rental in Natchez, you'll have plenty of choices. From two-bedroom apartments for rent to condos for rent and serviced apartments, there are many options in town. Although there are often a variety of vacancies available in Natchez, you'll still want to allow a month to find the right rental property for you. Be sure to look in the local newspaper and online, and spend some time walking or driving around the various neighborhoods to find the best spot. Riverfront location what you're looking for? Lots of green space? You have plenty of choices.
Be sure to come equipped with the information most landlords require in order to sign a lease: bank information, W2s or tax returns, your credit report, and identification.
Neighborhoods
Spanish moss, a graceful river, and charming shops in town make Natchez a relaxing southern destination and a peaceful place to live. Here are some of our favorite Natchez neighborhoods.
Natchez City Center: A large section of this area fronts the Mississippi River. A solid mix of renters and owners reside in apartment buildings and houses both historic and more modern. Some were built considerably before 1939, while others range in age from the 1940s to the 1960s. The Isle of Capri Natchez Casino is located in this area.
Coverdale: With plenty of space between homes and the large St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge taking up a sizable chunk of this community, this area is considered remote by density. You'll find mostly small to medium single-family homes and mobile homes here, and while many properties are owner occupied, you can find a rental here with a little dedication. Most properties were built between 1940 and 1999. Both the Homochitto River and the Mississippi edge this area.
Kingston / Cranfield: This rural neighborhood has many single-family and mobile homes, mostly built between 1970 and 1999 with some homes skewing older, between 1940 and 1969. A number of small ponds dot the area -- bring your fishing rod! And bird-watchers, keep track of your binoculars here.
Pine Ridge / Foster: A rural area, mostly medium size, single-family homes and mobile homes are located here, with many owner occupied. Close to Highway 61 -- made famous by Bob Dylan -- this community is also located close to the Louisiana state line.
Living in Natchez
With an historic downtown and stellar views of the Mississippi River, Natchez is steeped in history and the arts. A lively entertainment scene and proximity to the Blues Trail means music aplenty. Nearby, the Natchez Trace Parkway covers some 444 miles through National park service lands that include sunken portions you can walk along, when the Trace was a postal road designated by President Thomas Jefferson. Indian burial mounds, lush green cypress swamps, and the dramatic ruins of old plantations are fascinating areas to hike around and explore. Taking a Sunday drive along the trail might lead you to any number of bucolic spots for a picnic or a moment of history.
The climate is humid and subtropical, so don't bring your down jacket when you move to town. Mild winters and falls and very warm summers are offset by a breeze off the Mississippi River. Fishing, boating, and wildlife watching are all excellent Natchez pastimes.
Public transportation is somewhat limited, so you'll want to have a car when living here. And get those wheels moving -- with beautiful scenic drives right at your doorstep, Natchez is a key stop on the Mississippi Blues Trail. Check out the markers and historic road houses.