SperlingViews - Philadelphia, Mississippi

The Casinos (Silverstar and Golden Moon) owned Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, are the only business keeping this town alive. It is the biggest employer here in Philadelphia, MS. Philadelphia owes its' significant growth to Chief Martin who started these 2 casinos. Without these 2 casinos, this town will fall on its knees. The cost of living is low, but the salary is low as well. Housing prices has gone up quite a bit. The city is growing and there's a lot of development planned in the indian reservation that will booster the economy in the Neshoba and surrounding counties in the next few years. If you plan to move here, you better have a good job lined up and hold on to it until you retire. Jobs outside the casinos are hard to find. Winter is mild....summer is quite brutal. It's hot and humid. It could feel like 105 degrees in summer. People are generally friendly with some remaining rednecks, "anglo-saxon" mentality that you can find anywhere else in the nation. The closest mall and airport is in Meridian, MS, approximately 40 miles SE of Philadelphia. The annual Neshoba County Fair is a big thing among the locals here. Although some locals I spoke to told me it is this time the "klansmen" meet without the hood in their respective fair cabins (heck...whether its true or not...who really gives a shit!). Yep, you're right. In this county is where the famous 3 civil rights workers were killed sometime in 1964...remember the movie "Mississippi Burning"? We've lived here since '97. It's an ok place to live, but if you are young and you have an aspiration to better your life "financially, professionally,and culturally"....pack your things up and leave. This place has absolutely nothing like this to offer. Stay here long enough and you might get so accustomed to the good 'ol laid back way of life and become one of the local "yokels". Because I am still young and have dreams for a better future and life for me and my family I am in the process of looking for better place/s to live....outside this little town, and better still...outside Mississippi in general. Wish me luck!!![read more...]