This MS Coast town is 1 of the South’s best and is ‘on the rise,’ says Southern Living

When Southern Living Magazine recently threw a little love Gulfport’s way, it was based on more than the city’s award-winning restaurants and pretty beaches.

Gulfport ranked 12th in the magazine’s list of the South’s Best Cities on the Rise. The only other Mississippi town on this year’s list was Hattiesburg in 19th place.

Once editors culled a list from research, reporting and personal experiences. The magazine surveyed readers. Six weeks and 20,000 votes later, Gulfport was one of 25 Southern towns recognized for tourist attractions and new projects.

“These reader-selected cities have excellent food scenes, cool yet quaint downtown districts, incredible natural beauty, thriving arts communities, and the warmth our region is known for. And they’re not done growing,” said magazine editors.

In the cases of Huntsville, Alabama, and Alpharetta, Georgia, efforts at building new entertainment districts landed them on the list. Bowling Green, Kentucky, introduced electric vehicle manufacturing to the economic landscape while Spartanburg, South Carolina built a new baseball stadium.

Gulfport has a number of irons in the fire. The Gulfport Main Street Association teamed up with Mississippi Power, Mississippi Main Street and the City of Gulfport to issue facade grants that would give storefronts much needed “face lifts.”

The city’s master plan included extending downtown in phases through the development of districts, including Westside Downtown, Trackside Innovation District, Aquarium District and the Gulfside District.

Southern Living identified the Gulfport Town Center as a beacon of what’s to come. “…Natural attractions aren’t the only thing contributing to Gulfport’s tourism-driven economy,” said magazine editors. “Plans for Gulfport Town Center, a forthcoming development that will include 200 apartments, a multi-use hotel, and a business district, located at the intersection of Highways 90 and 49, say otherwise.”

Here’s Southern Living’s full list.

The South’s Best Cities On The Rise 2024

1. Wilmington, North Carolina
2. Franklin, Tennessee
3. Spartanburg, South Carolina
4. Huntsville, Alabama
5. Columbia, South Carolina
6. New Braunfels, Texas
7. Bowling Green, Kentucky
8. Cary, North Carolina
9. Alpharetta, Georgia
10. Bentonville, Arkansas
11. Covington, Louisiana
12. Gulfport, Mississippi
13. Palm Bay, Florida
14. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
15. Georgetown, Texas
16. Frederick, Maryland
17. Gainesville, Georgia
18. Clarksville, Tennessee
19. Hattiesburg, Mississippi
20. Morgantown, West Virginia
21. North Port, Florida
22. Lake Charles, Louisiana
23. Reston, Virginia
24. Edmond, Oklahoma
25. Dover, Delaware

Mona Moore

Sun Herald

Mona Moore was a Service Journalism Desk Editor for the Sun Herald in Mississippi; Mahoning Matters in Ohio; and the Ledger-Enquirer and Telegraph in Georgia. Originally from West Covina, California, she holds a bachelor’s and master’s in corporate and public communication from the University of South Alabama. Mona’s writing and photography have been recognized by press associations in Mississippi, North Carolina and Florida.