Well, I left my motel room, down at the Starkville Motel. The town had to sleep, and I was feelin' fairly well. I strolled along the sidewalk 'neath the sweet magnolia trees. I was whistlin', pickin' flowers, swayin' in the southern breeze. -- from "Starkville City Jail" by Johnny Cash
Wherefore art thou Starkville, Mississippi? Oh, yes, you are only a few hoots away from the western state line of Alabama and some hollers from Interstate 55, with Highway 82 connecting both
Well, I left my motel room, down at the Starkville Motel. The town had to sleep, and I was feelin' fairly well. I strolled along the sidewalk 'neath the sweet magnolia trees. I was whistlin', pickin' flowers, swayin' in the southern breeze. -- from "Starkville City Jail" by Johnny Cash
Wherefore art thou Starkville, Mississippi? Oh, yes, you are only a few hoots away from the western state line of Alabama and some hollers from Interstate 55, with Highway 82 connecting both. Starkville advertises itself as "Mississippi's College Town" for a very good reason: it's the home of Mississippi State University (MSU.) But wait! There's more than meets the eye. The city is a great mix of historic Downtown, Main Street businesses, restaurants, and arts and culture, all delivered with Southern flair.
Moving Slower
No Romeos and Juliets here! The permanent population is 23,888 per the 2010 U.S. Census. The roads are likely filled with trailers and trucks holding life's necessities, like guitars or bedding going home for laundry day. Before criticizing, check your own closets! If moving within the city, it could be difficult to find an available rental truck or trailer.
Starkville is not on a major highway. I-55 is approximately 60 miles from the city. There's no choice but to drive 100 miles or more on narrower roads to reach Starkville, so don't think you can drive like a maniac to Starkville -- it's not possible.
That brings up another point. There are more than 20,000 students enrolled at MSU, and they can't all live on campus. You know what that means. Find a rental apartment well in advance of your move if you want to make sure you get the desired living arrangements. Have everything handy, too, because the landlords won't rent to just anyone. You need proof of income, a decent credit history and money to pay an application fee.
Neighborhoods for Everyone!
Center of the Historic Universe: Okay, this is the central neighborhood which is located between MSU to the east and Avenue of Patriots and Tally Ho to the west. Highway 12 is on the south edge, and Highway 182 is on the north. It's filled with historic homes, rental housing, bungalows, and homes converted to apartments.
Center of the City: South of Highway 12 and north of W. Poorhouse Road is the City Center neighborhood. The neighborhood has many of the apartments for rent in Starkville because it's not as historic, but it's still close to MSU.
Starkville NE of MSU: North of MSU are subdivisions and apartment complexes. They are south of Highway 82, and Highway 12 cuts right through it. This makes it easy to get around.
Starkville SE MSU: Sorry, most neighborhood areas are defined in relationship to campus. Don't let it put you off, though, because the neighborhood between S. Montgomery St. and Oktoc Road is a fun area. It's a short jaunt to MSU in the north and a short hop to the 100-acre Mississippi Horse Park to the south.
Sturgis: The places to rent in the Sturgis or Sturgis-West Point area in northwest Starkville get you lots of peace and quiet. Unlike the rest of the neighborhoods, this is a big area with large-lot properties for rent and apartment complexes with great views. The Tombigbee National Forest touches the northwest corner.
Picking Flowers and Ringing Cowbells
Johnny Cash passed through Starkville in 1965 and was arrested for public drunkenness. His defense was that he was picking wildflowers! Residents celebrate his one-night jail stay with events like The Johnny Cash Flower Pickin' Festival, and honest-to-goodness Cash relatives might attend. If a flower picking festival doesn't grab you, there are other ways to entertain yourself. You can attend a concert on the MSU campus, go hunting or hike the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge located 13 miles south of the city.
It's nice that Starkville has all walks of life, anyone else you can think of and anyone you can't think of. The Starkville Country Club is popular because it has a golf course. The restaurant choices are interesting. Whoever thought a Gordo's Peruvian Restaurant would be found in Starkville? You can hop around the world just driving restaurant-to-restaurant -- La Terraza Mexican Restaurant, Taste of China, Old Venice Pizza, and so on. These are in addition to Bulldog Deli, Remington's Hunt Club Bar & Grill, and Morris Bar-B-Que. This is definitely the New South.
