page:  = Meridian , Mississippi = 
   
   Meridian is the sixth largest city in the state of Mississippi , in the United States . It is the county seat of Lauderdale County and the principal city of the Meridian , Mississippi <unk> Statistical Area . Along major highways , the city is 93 mi ( 150 km ) east of Jackson , Mississippi ; 154 mi ( <unk> km ) west of Birmingham , Alabama ; 202 mi ( 325 km ) northeast of New Orleans , Louisiana ; and 231 mi ( 372 km ) southeast of Memphis , Tennessee . 
   Established in 1860 , at the intersection of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad and Southern Railway of Mississippi , Meridian 's economy was built on the railways and goods transported on them , and it became a strategic trading center . During the American Civil War , General William <unk> Sherman burned much of the city to the ground in the Battle of Meridian ( February , 1864 ) . 
   <unk> after the war , the city entered a " Golden Age " it become the largest city in Mississippi between 1890 and 1930 , and a leading center for manufacturing in the South , with 44 trains arriving and departing daily . Union Station , built in 1906 , is now a multi @-@ modal center , giving access to the Meridian Transit System , <unk> <unk> , and <unk> , averaging 242 @,@ 360 passengers per year . Although the economy slowed with the decline of the railroad industry , the city has diversified , with healthcare , military , and manufacturing employing the most people in 2010 . The population within the city limits , according to 2008 census estimates , is 38 @,@ 232 , but a population of 232 @,@ 900 in a 45 @-@ mile ( 72 km ) radius and 526 @,@ 500 in a 65 @-@ mile ( 105 km ) radius , of which 104 @,@ 600 and 234 @,@ 200 people respectively are in the labor force , feed the economy of the city . 
   The area is served by two military facilities , Naval Air Station Meridian and Key Field , which provide over 4 @,@ 000 jobs . <unk> Meridian is home to the Regional Counter @-@ <unk> Training Academy ( <unk> ) and the first local Department of Homeland Security in the state . Key Field is named after brothers Fred and Al Key , who set a world endurance flight record in 1935 . The field is now home to the 186th Air <unk> Wing of the Air National Guard and a support facility for the <unk> Aviation Brigade of the Army National Guard . Rush Foundation Hospital is the largest non @-@ military employer in the region , employing 2 @,@ 610 people . 
   Among the city 's many arts organizations and historic buildings are the Riley Center , the Meridian Museum of Art , Meridian Little Theatre , and the Meridian Symphony Orchestra . Meridian was home to two Carnegie libraries , one for whites and one for African Americans . The Carnegie Branch Library , now demolished , was one of a number of Carnegie libraries built for blacks in the Southern United States during the segregation era . 
   The city has been selected as the future location of the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Center ( <unk> ) . <unk> <unk> , the " Father of Country Music " , was born in Meridian . Highland Park houses a museum which displays <unk> of his life and career , as well as railroad equipment from the steam @-@ engine era . The park is also home to the Highland Park <unk> <unk> , a National Historic Landmark . It is the world 's only two @-@ row stationary <unk> menagerie in existence . Other notable natives include Miss America 1986 Susan <unk> , James <unk> – an activist who was killed in the Mississippi civil rights workers murders in 1964 , and Hartley <unk> , founder of <unk> <unk> headquartered in Meridian . The federal <unk> was the site of the 1966 @-@ 1967 trial of suspects in the murder of <unk> and two other activists ; it was the first time a white jury convicted a white official of a civil rights killing . 
   
   = = History = = 
   
   Previously inhabited by the <unk> Native Americans , the area now called Meridian was obtained by the United States under the terms of the Treaty of Dancing <unk> Creek in 1830 during the period of Indian <unk> . After the treaty was ratified , European @-@ American settlers began to move into the area . 
   After receiving a federal land grant of about 2 @,@ 000 acres ( <unk> ha ) , Richard <unk> , the first settler of Meridian , began offering free land to newcomers to attract more settlers to the region and develop the area . Most of <unk> 's land was bought in 1853 by Lewis A. <unk> , a lawyer from Alabama . John T. Ball , a merchant from <unk> County , bought the remaining 80 acres ( 0 @.@ 32 km2 ) . <unk> and Ball , now known as the founders of the city , began laying out lots for new development on their respective land sections . 
   There was much competition over the proposed name of the settlement . Ball and the more industrial residents of the city supported the name " Meridian , " believing the term to be synonymous with " junction " ; the more agrarian residents of the city preferred " <unk> " ( meaning " mad river " in a Native American language ) , from the name of a nearby creek ; and <unk> proposed " <unk> City . " Ball erected a station house on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad – the sign on which would alternate between " Meridian " and " <unk> " each day . Eventually the continued development of the railroads led to an influx of railroad workers who overruled the others in the city and left " Meridian " on the station permanently . The town was officially incorporated as Meridian on February 10 , 1860 . 
   Meridian was a small village at the start of the American Civil War in 1861 . Its strategic position at the railroad junction led to the Confederate construction of several military installations to support the war . During the Battle of Meridian in 1864 , General William <unk> Sherman led troops into the city , destroying the railroads in every direction , as well as an arsenal and immense <unk> ; his forces burned much of the buildings to the ground . Sherman is reported to have said afterwards , " Meridian , with its depots , store @-@ houses , arsenal , hospitals , offices , hotels , and <unk> no longer exists . " Despite the destruction , the railroad lines in the city were rapidly repaired , back in operation 26 working days after the battle . Race relations remained tense during the Reconstruction era , with the riot of 1871 following a fire that damaged many businesses . 
   The town <unk> in the aftermath of the Civil War , and experienced its " Golden Age " from 1880 to 1910 . The railroads in the area provided for a means of transportation and an influx of industries , which caused a population boom . As the population rose , commercial activity increased in the downtown area . Between 1890 and 1930 , Meridian was the largest city in Mississippi and a leading center for manufacturing in the South . Many of the city 's historic buildings were built during and just after this era , including the Grand Opera House in 1890 , the <unk> School in 1894 , two Carnegie libraries in 1913 , and the <unk> Building , Meridian 's tallest skyscraper , in 1929 . 
   The city continued to grow thanks to a commission government 's efforts to bring in 90 new industrial plants in 1913 and a booming automobile industry in the 1920s . Even through the stock market crash of 1929 and the following Great Depression , the city continued to attract new businesses . With <unk> becoming popular in the culture during the depth of the Depression , the S. H. Kress & Co. building , built to " provide luxury to the common man , " opened in downtown Meridian , as did the Temple Theater , which was used as a movie house . The federal <unk> was built in 1933 as a <unk> project . 
   After a brief <unk> of the economy at the end of the Depression , the country entered World War II , which renewed the importance of railroads . The rails were essential to transport gasoline and scrap metal to build military vehicles , so Meridian became the region 's rail center again . This renewed prosperity continued until the 1950s , when the automobile and Interstate Highway System became more popular than passenger rails . The decline of the railroad industry caused significant job losses , resulting in a population decline as workers left for other areas . 
   During the American Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s , Meridian was home to a Council of <unk> <unk> ( <unk> ) office and several other activist organizations . James <unk> and other local residents , along with Michael <unk> , his wife Rita , and Andrew Goodman , volunteers from the North , worked to create a community center , holding classes to help prepare African Americans in the area to regain the power to vote . Whites in the area resented the activism , and racial tension often resulted in violence . In June 1964 , <unk> , <unk> , and Goodman went to <unk> County , Mississippi , to meet with members of a black church that had been bombed and burned . The three disappeared that night on their way back to Meridian . Following a massive FBI investigation , their murdered bodies were found two months later , buried in an earthen dam . 
   Seven <unk> , including a deputy sheriff , were convicted in the federal <unk> in Meridian of " <unk> the victims of their civil rights " and three were acquitted in the Mississippi civil rights workers murders trial . It was the first time that a white jury had convicted " a white official in a civil rights killing . " In 2005 , the case was reopened by the state , which brought charges in the case for the first time . Edgar Ray <unk> was convicted of <unk> and sentenced to 60 years in prison . Meridian later honored <unk> by renaming a portion of 49th Avenue after him and holding an annual memorial service . 
   Starting in the 1960s and following the construction of highways that made <unk> easier , residents began to move away from downtown in favor of new housing subdivisions to the north . After strip commercial interests began to move downtown , the city worked to designate several areas as historic districts in the 1970s and 80s to preserve the architectural character of the city . The Meridian Historic <unk> and Landmarks Commission was created in 1979 , and the Meridian Main Street program was founded in 1985 . 
   Meridian Main Street organized several projects to <unk> downtown , including the construction of a new Amtrak Station in 1997 based on the design of the historic train station used during Meridian 's Golden Age ; it had been demolished . Other projects included the renovation of the <unk> Building in 2001 and <unk> 's Restaurant in 2002 , as well as support for integrated urban design . Meridian Main Street , along with The Riley Foundation , helped renovate and adapt the historic Grand Opera House in 2006 for use as the " Mississippi State University Riley Center for Education and the Performing Arts . " 
   After ownership of the Meridian Main Street was transferred to the Alliance for Downtown Meridian in late 2007 , the two organizations , along with the Meridian Downtown Association , spearheaded the downtown <unk> effort . The Alliance serves as an umbrella organization , allowing the other two organizations to use the its support staff and housing , and in turn the Alliance serves as a liaison between the organizations . Plans were underway to renovate the <unk> Building , but newly elected Mayor <unk> Barry killed the plans in early 2010 . Today , the Alliance helps to promote further development and restoration downtown ; its goal is to assist businesses such as specialty shops , restaurants , and bars because these help downtown become more active during the day and at night . The Meridian Downtown Association is primarily focused on increasing foot traffic downtown by organizing special events , and the Meridian Main Street program supports existing businesses downtown . 
   
   = = = Hotels = = = 
   
   Given Meridian 's site as a railroad junction , its travelers have attracted the development of many hotels . Even before Meridian reached its " Golden Age , " several large hotels , including the Great Southern and the Grand Avenue hotels , were built before the start of the 20th century . With the growth of the railroads and the construction of the original Union Station in 1906 , many hotels were constructed for passengers and workers . The <unk> Hotel was constructed in 1905 , and the Terminal Hotel was constructed in 1910 . Hotel Meridian was constructed in 1907 , and Union Hotel was built in 1908 . Union Hotel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 , and both Hotel Meridian and Grand Avenue Hotel were listed as contributing properties to the Meridian Urban Center Historic District . 
   As the city grew , the hotels reflected ambitions of the strong economy , as evidenced by the eleven @-@ story skyscraper Lamar Hotel built in 1927 . Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 , the Lamar Hotel was adapted for use as a county annex building . In 1988 it was listed as a Mississippi Landmark . 
   The <unk> Young Hotel was built in 1931 . A staple in the African @-@ American business district that developed west of the city 's core , the hotel was one of the only places in the city during the years of segregation where a traveling African American could find a room . 
   As the city suburbs developed in the 1960s and ' 70s , most hotels moved outside of downtown . <unk> of the Riley Center in 2006 has increased demand and a push for a new downtown hotel . The <unk> Building has been proposed for redevelopment for this purpose , but restoration efforts stalled with a change in city administrations . The <unk> Preservation Society was formed in 2013 to raise public awareness and support for the building 's renovation , featuring tours of the first floor and anniversary events . 
   
   = = = Historic districts = = = 
   
   Meridian has nine historic districts that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places . The Meridian Downtown Historic District is a combination of two older districts , the Meridian Urban Center Historic District and the Union Station Historic District . Many architectural styles are present in the districts , most from the late 19th and early 20th centuries , including Queen Anne , Colonial Revival , Italianate , Art Deco , Late Victorian , and <unk> . The districts are : 
   1 East End Historic District — roughly bounded by 18th St , 11th <unk> , 14th St , 14th <unk> , 5th St , and 17th <unk> . 
   2 Highlands Historic District — roughly bounded by 15th St , 34th <unk> , 19th St , and 36th <unk> . 
   3 Meridian Downtown Historic District — runs from the former Gulf , Mobile and Ohio Railroad north to 6th St between 18th and 26th <unk> , excluding <unk> Survey Block 71 . 
   4 Meridian Urban Center Historic District — roughly bounded by 21st and 25th <unk> , 6th St , and the railroad . 
   5 Union Station Historic District — roughly bounded by 18th and 19th <unk> , 5th St , and the railroad . 
   6 <unk> Historic District — roughly bounded by 33rd <unk> , 30th <unk> , 14th St , and 8th St. 
   7 Mid @-@ Town Historic District — roughly bounded by 23rd <unk> , 15th St , 28th <unk> , and 22nd St. 
   8 <unk> Springs Road Historic District — roughly bounded by 29th St , 23rd <unk> , 22nd St , and 29th <unk> . 
   9 West End Historic District — roughly bounded by 7th St , 28th <unk> , Shearer 's Branch , and 5th St. 
   
   = = Government and infrastructure = = 
   
   Meridian has operated under the mayor @-@ council or " strong mayor " form of government since 1985 . A mayor is elected every four years by the population at @-@ large . The five members of the city council are elected every four years from each of the city 's five wards , considered single @-@ member districts . The mayor , the chief executive officer of the city , is responsible for <unk> and leading the day @-@ to @-@ day operations of city government . The city council is the legislative arm of the government , setting policy and annually adopting the city 's operating budget . 
   City Hall , which has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places , is located at <unk> 23rd Avenue . The current mayor is Percy <unk> . Members of the city council include Dr. George M. Thomas , representative from Ward 1 , Kenneth Dustin <unk> , representative from Ward 2 , Barbara Henson , representative from Ward 3 , Kim Houston , representative from Ward 4 , and Randy <unk> , representative from Ward 5 . The council clerk is Pam <unk> . In total , the city employs 570 people . 
   The city established a Department of Homeland Security ( <unk> ) shortly after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 , becoming the only local <unk> in the state . The team <unk> an area of nine counties . Upon receiving $ 2 @.@ 5 million in grants from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and other organizations , the department began training law enforcement offices from other Southern states in passenger rail rescue as well as offering civilian classes in basic <unk> , Boy Scout first aid and hunting , and firearms training . The <unk> helps during times of crisis such as Hurricane Ivan in September 2005 , when the department helped establish and support shelters for 700 <unk> . The city now serves as the leader of one of the task forces in the Mississippi <unk> , a combination of three nine @-@ county teams . 
   <unk> by police chief Lee <unk> since 2009 , the Meridian Police Department consists of 115 full @-@ time officers as well as part @-@ time and reserve staff available . In 2009 , the department 's Criminal Investigations Division responded to 4000 cases , 2000 of which were <unk> . In 2000 , <unk> crimes were reported , up slightly from 2008 crimes the preceding year . Meridian has been described as " the <unk> city in Mississippi with more than 30 @,@ 000 people . " The East Mississippi <unk> <unk> is located in unincorporated Lauderdale County , near Meridian . It is operated by the <unk> Group on behalf of the Mississippi Department of <unk> . The chief of the Meridian Fire Department is Anthony Clayton . The fire department responded to more than 1600 calls in 2009 , including 123 structural fires and <unk> emergency service calls . 
   The Mississippi Department of Mental Health operates the East Mississippi State Hospital in Meridian . 
   The United States Postal Service operates the Meridian , North Meridian , and the West Meridian Station post offices . 
   In state politics , the Mississippi Senate district map divides the city into three sections . The northern tip of the city is in the 31st State Senate District and seats Terry Clark Burton ( R ) . A strip of the city from the southwest corner up to the northeast corner comprises part of the 32nd State Senate District and seats Sampson Jackson , II ( D ) . The western and southeastern portions of the city lie in the 33rd State Senate District and seats <unk> Carmichael ( R ) . In the Mississippi House of Representatives districts , the city is divided into four districts . The southern and eastern portions of the city reside in House District 81 and are represented by Steven A. <unk> ( R ) . The city 's core makes up the entirety of House District 82 and is represented by <unk> L. Jones ( D ) . Surrounding House District 82 is House District 83 , represented by Greg <unk> ( R ) . The western section of the city , along with a small section in the north , lie in House District 84 and are represented by <unk> Campbell ( R ) . 
   On the national level , the city is located in Mississippi 's 3rd congressional district , represented by Gregg Harper ( R ) , who has been in office since 2009 . Lauderdale County , home to Meridian , has voted for the Republican candidate in every United States presidential election since 1972 . Prior to the shift to the Republican Party , white area voters supported Democratic Party candidates , as for decades since the late nineteenth century , it was a one @-@ party state . 
   
   = = Demographics = = 
   
   The city 's growth has reflected the push and pull of many social and economic factors . The total population increased in each census from the city 's founding until 1970 , although varying from rates as high as 165 % to as low as 0 @.@ 2 % . In the 1970 census the population decreased , then slightly increased by 1980 , after which the population slowly declined , increasing again since the turn of the 21st century . Between 1980 and 2000 , the population declined more than 14 % . As of the census of 2000 , the city 's population was 39 @,@ 968 , and the population density was <unk> @.@ 9 inhabitants per square mile ( <unk> @.@ 0 / km2 ) . In 2008 , the city was the sixth largest in the state . The population increased as of 2010 . 
   Meridian is the principal city in the Meridian <unk> area , which as of 2009 consisted of three counties – Clarke , <unk> , and Lauderdale – and had a population of 106 @,@ 139 . There is a population of 232 @,@ 900 in a 45 @-@ mile ( 72 km ) radius and 526 @,@ 500 in a 65 @-@ mile ( 105 km ) radius . 
   While the overall population growth of the city has varied , there has been a steady growth in the number and percentage of non @-@ white residents . The only decline in this group was between 1960 and 1970 , when the city 's overall population declined markedly . In the 2010 Census , the racial makeup of the city was 61 @.@ 55 % African American , 35 @.@ 71 % White , 0 @.@ 9 % Asian , 0 @.@ 2 % Native American , < 0 @.@ 02 % Pacific Islander , 0 @.@ 59 % from other races , and 0 @.@ 89 % from two or more races . Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1 @.@ 75 % of the population . 
   According to the 2000 Census , of the 17 @,@ 890 housing units inside city limits , 15 @,@ <unk> were occupied , 10 @,@ <unk> of them by families . 31 @.@ 1 % of occupied households had children under the age of 18 , 36 @.@ 2 % were married couples living together , 23 @.@ 3 % consisted of a female <unk> with no husband present , and 37 @.@ 2 % were non @-@ families . 33 @.@ 2 % of all households were made up of individuals , and 14 @.@ 0 % had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older . The average household size was 2 @.@ 39 and the average family size was 3 @.@ 06 . The average household size has steadily decreased since 1970 , when it was 3 @.@ 04 . Meridian 's median age has increased from 30 @.@ 4 in 1970 to 34 @.@ 6 in 2000 . 
   The median income for a household in the city was $ 25 @,@ <unk> , and the median income for a family was $ 31 @,@ <unk> . Males had a median income of $ 29 @,@ <unk> versus $ 19 @,@ 702 for females . The per capita income for the city was $ 15 @,@ 255 . About 24 @.@ 6 % of families and 28 @.@ 6 % of the population were below the poverty line , including 40 @.@ 8 % of those under age 18 and 22 @.@ 0 % of those age 65 or over . 
   
   = = = Religion = = = 
   
   The population of Meridian and its surrounds is fairly <unk> , with 65 @.@ 2 % of Lauderdale County identifying as affiliated with some type of religious congregation , compared with the national average of 50 @.@ 2 % . Of the affiliated in 2000 , 30 @,@ <unk> ( 59 @.@ 0 % ) were in the Southern Baptist Convention , 9 @,@ <unk> ( 18 @.@ 6 % ) were with the United Methodist Church , and 1 @,@ <unk> ( 3 @.@ 7 % ) were associated with the Catholic Church . 
   <unk> Jews from Germany and eastern Europe were influential in commercial development of the city , building businesses and services . Congregation Beth Israel was founded in 1868 , just before the city 's " Golden Age . " Meridian once had the largest Jewish community in the state , with 575 Jewish people living in the city in 1927 . Today , fewer than 40 Jews live in Meridian , most of whom are elderly . 
   
   = = Geography and climate = = 
   
   Meridian is located in the North Central Hills region of Mississippi in Lauderdale County . According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 45 @.@ 9 sq mi ( 119 km2 ) , of which 45 @.@ 1 sq mi ( 117 km2 ) is land and 0 @.@ 8 sq mi ( 2 @.@ 1 km2 ) is water . Along major highways , the city is 93 mi ( 150 km ) east of Jackson , Mississippi ; 154 mi ( <unk> km ) west of Birmingham , Alabama ; 202 mi ( 325 km ) northeast of New Orleans , Louisiana ; 231 mi ( 372 km ) southeast of Memphis , Tennessee ; and <unk> mi ( 478 km ) west of Atlanta , Georgia . The area surrounding the city is covered with cotton and corn fields along with oak and pine forests , and its topography consists of clay hills and the bottom lands of the head waters of the <unk> River . 
   The natural terrain of the area has been modified in the urban core of the city by <unk> , but it maintains its gentle rolling character in the outlying areas . Numerous small creeks are found throughout the city and small lakes and woodlands lie in the northern and southern portions of the city . <unk> Creek runs through the southern portion of the city and branches off into Gallagher 's Creek , which flows through the center of the city . <unk> 's Creek runs through the far @-@ western part of the city while smaller creeks including Shearer 's Branch , Magnolia Creek , and <unk> Creek are dispersed throughout the city . 
   Meridian is in the humid subtropical climate zone . The average high temperature during summer ( June through August ) is around 90 ° F ( 32 ° C ) and the average low is around 70 ° F ( 21 ° C ) . In winter ( December through February ) the average maximum is around 60 ° F ( 16 ° C ) and minimum 35 ° F ( 2 ° C ) . The <unk> month is July , with an average high of 92 @.@ 9 ° F ( 33 @.@ 8 ° C ) , and the coldest month of the year is January with an average low of 34 @.@ 7 ° F ( 1 @.@ 5 ° C ) . 
   The average annual precipitation in the city is 58 @.@ 65 in ( 1 @,@ 490 mm ) . Rainfall is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year , and the wettest month of the year is March , in which an average of 6 @.@ 93 in ( 176 mm ) of rain falls . Much rainfall is delivered by thunderstorms which are common during the summer months but occur throughout the year . Severe thunderstorms - which can produce damaging winds and / or large hail in addition to the usual <unk> of lightning and heavy rain - occasionally occur . These are most common during the spring months with a secondary peak during the Fall months . These storms also bring the risk of tornadoes . 
   
   = = Economy = = 
   
   Early on , the economy depended greatly upon the railroads in the area . The city was the largest in Mississippi around the start of the 20th century , with five major rail lines and 44 trains coming in and out daily . The city 's economy not only depended on the rails but the goods , such as timber and cotton , transported on them . With these rail @-@ based industries , the city was a great economic power in the state and region from about 1890 through 1930 . Though its economy slowed with the decline of the <unk> industry in the 1950s , the city has adapted , moving from a largely rail @-@ based economy to a more diversified one , with healthcare , military , and manufacturing employing the most people . 
   Along with Lauderdale County and the city of Marion , Meridian is served by the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation , which was formed in 1996 by a group of business leaders from the area . While as of April 2010 , the city 's civilian labor force was only 15 @,@ 420 people , there is a population of 232 @,@ 900 in a 45 @-@ mile ( 72 km ) radius and 526 @,@ 500 in a 65 @-@ mile ( 105 km ) radius , of which 104 @,@ 600 and 234 @,@ 200 people respectively are in the labor force . The city thus serves as a hub of employment , retail , health care , and culture activities . <unk> percent of Lauderdale County 's workers reside in the county while 90 % live within 45 miles . 
   In April 2010 , there were 6 @,@ 260 people employed in the healthcare field in Lauderdale County . Rush Hospital is the largest healthcare organization in the region , employing 2 @,@ 610 people , followed by East Mississippi State Hospital with 1 @,@ 500 and Anderson Hospital with 1 @,@ <unk> . There are three hospitals in Meridian , as well as many other healthcare @-@ related facilities . Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center provides <unk> surgery , a Level II newborn intensive @-@ care unit , and a health and fitness center . Rush Foundation Hospital and the related Rush Health Systems operate a <unk> Hospital of Meridian , which offers long @-@ term care for non @-@ permanent patients who require more recovery time in a hospital setting . Riley Hospital has two centers for stroke treatment and rehabilitation services . Other healthcare facilities in Meridian include the Alliance Health Center and East Mississippi State Hospital , the latter of which has been in operation since 1882 . 
   Retail is another major employer in the county , with 5 @,@ 280 people employed in April 2010 . Nearly $ 2 billion annually is spent on retail purchases in the city . The <unk> @,@ <unk> @-@ square @-@ foot ( 58 @,@ <unk> m2 ) <unk> Lakes Mall offers over one hundred shopping venues , including department stores , specialty shops , restaurants , <unk> , and United Artists <unk> . Phase I of the construction of Meridian Crossroads , a 375 @,@ 000 @-@ square @-@ foot ( 34 @,@ 800 m2 ) shopping center in the <unk> Lakes area , was completed in November 2007 , providing a major boost to retail in the area . Also , the shopping district on North Hills Street has continued to expand , and in March 2007 , additional retail and office space was opened near the Highway 19 <unk> <unk> . 
   The area is also served by two military facilities , Naval Air Station Meridian and Key Field , which supply over 4 @,@ 000 jobs to residents of the surrounding area . <unk> Meridian provides training for naval carrier pilots and other enlisted personnel . Also housed at the base is the Regional Counter @-@ <unk> Training Academy ( <unk> ) , which provides <unk> training for law enforcement in many southeastern states . <unk> the first local Department of Homeland Security in the state , the city is the leader in a nine county regional response team and a twenty @-@ nine county regional response task force . Key Field is the site of the famous flight by brothers Fred and Al Key , who set a world endurance flight record in 1935 . Key Field is now home to the 186th Air <unk> Wing of the Air National Guard and a support facility for the <unk> Aviation Brigade of the Army National Guard . The site also contains an exhibit reviewing the history of aviation , and is the home of Meridian 's Aviation Museum . 
   The total manufacturing employment of Lauderdale County in April 2010 was 2 @,@ 850 people . <unk> <unk> Corporation , which has manufactured guitars , <unk> , and sound equipment since 1965 , operates its headquarters in the city . Other businesses in the area include Avery <unk> , Structural Steel Services , Sara Lee , Tower Automotive , and <unk> Corporation . The city is also home to four industrial parks . 
   In downtown , the <unk> Riley Center provides revenue from tourism , arts , and entertainment sales . The Riley Center attracts more than 60 @,@ 000 visitors to downtown Meridian annually for conferences , meetings , and performances . <unk> 's Department Store on Front St has remained a Mississippi clothing landmark , having passed through four generations of family ownership . The store has been selling fine men 's and women 's clothing since 1887 , when the store was first opened by Alex <unk> . 
   
   = = Culture = = 
   
   
   = = = Arts = = = 
   
   Known for more than a century of arts , Meridian contains many art and cultural organizations and hosts many cultural events . One of the first art organizations in the city , The Meridian Art League , was established in February 1933 . Art exhibitions were originally held in Lamar Hotel in downtown Meridian , but after a name change to Meridian Art Association in 1949 , exhibitions were held at various locations around the city . After the Carnegie library at 25th <unk> and 7th St was closed , the Art Association remodelled the building into the Meridian Museum of Art to serve as a permanent home for exhibits . The museum was opened in 1970 and has since featured rotating exhibitions as well as many educational programs for both students and adults . Over thirty exhibitions are held annually , ranging from traditional decorative arts to ethnographic and tribal materials , photography , crafts , and many other works of art . The collection also includes 18th and 19th century portraits , 20th century photography , and several sculptures . 
   The Meridian Council for the Arts ( <unk> ) was founded as Meridian 's and Lauderdale County 's official arts agency in 1978 . <unk> operates its Community Art Grants program , the annual <unk> Festival , several workshops , and other special events each year . <unk> is partnered with many arts organizations in the city and county including the Meridian Museum of Art , the Meridian Little Theatre , and the Meridian Symphony Orchestra . Meridian Little Theatre , one of the South 's oldest subscription @-@ based community theatres , was built in 1932 and currently provides entertainment to residents of and visitors to Meridian and Lauderdale County , entertaining over 22 @,@ 000 guests each season , making it Mississippi 's most @-@ attended community theatre . The Meridian Symphony Orchestra ( <unk> ) – founded in 1961 – played its first concert in 1962 and its first full season in 1963 . In 1965 the <unk> booked its first international soloist , <unk> <unk> , to perform with the orchestra . The Orchestra helped the Meridian Public School District develop its own orchestra and strings programs and also helped develop the Meridian Symphony Chorus . The current conductor is Dr. Claire Fox <unk> , who has been with the orchestra since 1991 . The <unk> will celebrate its 50th anniversary in February 2011 with a performance from <unk> <unk> . 
   The city 's former Grand Opera House was built in 1889 by two half brothers , Israel Marks and Levi <unk> . During its operation the opera house hosted many famous artists and works , the first being a German company 's rendition of Johann <unk> II 's " The <unk> Baron " . After closing in the late 1920s due to the Great Depression , the opera house was abandoned for nearly 70 years . A $ 10 million grant in 2000 by the Riley Foundation , a local foundation chartered in 1998 , sparked the building 's restoration while $ 15 million came from a combination of city , county , and federal grants . The opera house 's renovation was completed in September 2006 under the new name " Mississippi State University Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts . " The Riley Center , which includes a 950 @-@ seat auditorium for live performances , a 200 @-@ seat studio theater , and 30 @,@ 000 sq ft ( 2 @,@ 787 m2 ) of meeting space , attracts more than 60 @,@ 000 visitors to downtown Meridian annually for conferences , meetings , and performances . 
   Meridian is rightly considered an architectural treasure <unk> being one the nations most intact cities from the turn of the last century . Architecture students from around the nation and Canada are known to visit Meridian in groups as part of their <unk> due to numerous structures in the city having been designed by noted architects . The only home in the US south designed by noted Canadian born <unk> Louis S. <unk> , famous for <unk> the glass curtain wall skyscraper , is extant on Highland Park . The Frank Fort designed <unk> Building is generally considered one of the best Art Deco <unk> in the US and is often compared to Detroit 's famed Fisher Building . Noted California <unk> Wallace <unk> designed a number of homes in Meridian as well as in the Alabama Black Belt which <unk> the city across the nearby Alabama State line . He had relatives in Meridian and Selma who were executives in the then thriving railroad industry and would take commissions in the area when commissions in California were lean . His work is mostly concentrated in the lower numbered blocks of <unk> Springs Drive where his <unk> <unk> Springs Drive is often compared to the similarly designed Falcon <unk> , the Beverly Hills home in Benedict Canyon of Rudolph <unk> . One <unk> work was lost to an expansion of Anderson Hospital in 1990 and another in Marion Park burned in the 1950s . The Meridian Post Office with its interior done entirely of bronze and Verde marble is also noteworthy as a very fine example of the type of Post Office structures built in thriving and well to do cities in the 1920s and originally had <unk> lighting which was removed sadly during a 1960s <unk> and which are now in private residences on <unk> Springs Drive and in North Hills . 
   Meridian has also been selected as the future location of the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Center ( <unk> ) . The Mississippi Legislature approved the idea in 2001 and in 2006 promised $ 4 million in funding if private contributors could raise $ 8 million . The city donated $ 50 @,@ 000 to the cause in September 2007 . The <unk> , as proposed , would be located on 175 acres ( 71 ha ) at <unk> Lakes and consist of an outdoor amphitheatre , an indoor concert hall , and a Hall of Fame honoring Mississippi artists . The Hall of Fame will be located downtown in the old Montana 's building . That property and the adjacent Meridian Hotel building were acquired in July 2010 for $ 300 @,@ 000 . In February 2009 , the <unk> revealed its Walk of Fame outside of the Riley Center in an attempt to promote the planned Hall of Fame . The first star on the walk was dedicated to <unk> <unk> , a Meridian native . In September of the same year , the second star was revealed , recognizing <unk> King , a famous blues musician from Mississippi . On June 1 , 2010 , authors Tennessee Williams , <unk> <unk> , and William Faulkner were added to the walk . <unk> Ward was added to the walk on June 24 , 2010 . The <unk> plans to add many more Mississippi @-@ born stars to the Walk of Fame ; names mentioned include Morgan Freeman , Jimmy <unk> , Elvis Presley , Conway <unk> , and others . 
   Another location in the city used for large productions is the <unk> Shrine Temple Theater . The Temple Theater houses a <unk> @-@ pipe Robert Morgan organ , one of two Theater <unk> still in their original installations in the state . With seating for 1800 persons , the silent movie era was a prosperous time for the Temple . At the time , it was one of the largest stages in the United States , second only to the Roxy Theater in New York City . Today , seating <unk> persons , the Temple is used year @-@ round for area events , live stage shows , plays , concerts , <unk> Shrine functions , and public screenings of classic movies . 
   Highland Park houses a <unk> <unk> museum which displays the original guitar of " The Singing <unk> " and other <unk> of his life and career , as well as railroad equipment from the steam @-@ engine era . In addition to the museum building itself , there are outside memorials , and a vintage steam <unk> on display . A Mississippi Blues Trail historic marker has been placed in Meridian to honor the city as the birthplace of <unk> <unk> and emphasizes his importance to the development of the blues style of music in Mississippi . The city was the first site to receive this designation outside the Mississippi Delta . Also , a Mississippi Country Music Trail marker was placed in Oak Grove Cemetery in honor of <unk> on June 1 , 2010 . Each year since 1953 , the city has held a festival during May to honor the anniversary of his death . 
   The park is also home to a 19th @-@ century <unk> manufactured around 1895 by Gustav <unk> of Philadelphia , Pennsylvania . Highland Park <unk> <unk> has been in operation since 1909 , is a National Historic Landmark , and is the world 's only two @-@ row stationary <unk> menagerie in existence . Its house is the only remaining original <unk> building built from a <unk> <unk> . Around Town <unk> <unk> is a public arts project of 62 <unk> horses , representing the historic <unk> . Sixty @-@ two pieces have been sponsored by local businesses and citizens , and design of the horses was conceived and painted by local artists . They are placed throughout the city and county . 
   
   = = = Recreation = = = 
   
   The city contains several recreational parks , including Highland Park , <unk> Lakes , and <unk> Lake . Highland Park contains picnic shelters , swimming pools , tennis courts , a baseball field , <unk> fields , and a playground , all open year round to visitors . <unk> Lakes is a city @-@ owned , 3 @,@ 300 @-@ acre ( 13 km2 ) park including three lakes . The park also includes the Long Creek Reservoir and <unk> Municipal Golf Course , along with nature trails , a <unk> and walking track , <unk> paths , horseback riding trails , pavilions , picnic facilities , boat ramps , <unk> boats , concessions , and fishing . Along with the lakes , the <unk> Lakes area includes <unk> Lakes Mall , <unk> Lakes Crossing , and <unk> Lakes Plaza . <unk> Lake is a 7 @,@ 150 @-@ acre ( 28 @.@ 9 km2 ) establishment containing a 4 @,@ 144 @-@ acre ( 16 @.@ 77 km2 ) lake which offers boating , fishing , swimming , water skiing , <unk> , hunting , hiking and camping . <unk> Country Water Park , a 25 @-@ room <unk> , and cabins are located on the lake . 
   Since 1992 , Meridian has been a host of the State Games of Mississippi , a <unk> annual multi @-@ sport event modeled after the Olympic Games . The organization is a member of the National Congress of State Games , which is affiliated with the U.S. Olympic Committee . In its first year 1 @,@ 200 athletes competed in twelve sports , and since then over 70 @,@ 000 athletes have participated in the Games . In 2009 , more than <unk> athletes participated in 27 sports . All competitors in the games can compete in the Southeast Sports Festival while <unk> may move up to the bi @-@ annual State Games of America . 
   Originally the games were held in one weekend in June , but as more sports were added , the event was expanded to two weekends . Opening ceremonies always begin on the 3rd Friday of June in downtown Meridian . The games are held at several sports parks , including Northeast Park , <unk> Davidson Complex , and other various fields throughout the city . Northeast Park is an 85 @-@ acre ( 34 ha ) park on Highway 39 that contains ten tennis courts , four <unk> fields , three soccer fields , an asphalt track , and a large picnic pavilion . The <unk> Davidson Sports Complex includes six tennis courts , four <unk> fields , and a half @-@ mile track . Other sports fields include the Meridian <unk> Soccer Complex , <unk> Park , and Phil <unk> Park . 
   There are also several golf courses in the city , including the aforementioned <unk> Municipal Golf Course , an 18 @-@ hole course open to the public daily . <unk> County Club , located on Highway 39 North , is a private club with golf , swimming , fishing , and dining facilities . Other golf courses serving the city include <unk> Country Club , <unk> Creek Golf Center , and <unk> Creek Golf Course . 
   
   = = Transportation = = 
   
   
   = = = <unk> and public transit = = = 
   
   Amtrak 's Crescent line connects Meridian with the cities of New York , New York ; Philadelphia , Pennsylvania ; Baltimore , Maryland ; Washington , D.C. ; Charlotte , North Carolina ; Atlanta , Georgia ; Birmingham , Alabama ; and New Orleans , Louisiana . The Union Station Multi @-@ <unk> Transportation Center ( <unk> ) is located at 1901 Front Street , part of the Meridian Downtown Historic District , which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places . Originally built in 1906 , but later demolished in 1966 then rebuilt in 1997 , the station includes several modes of transportation including the Meridian Transit System , Amtrak , Norfolk Southern rail corridor , <unk> buses , <unk> and other providers of transit services . The number of passengers on Amtrak trains , <unk> buses , and Meridian Transit System buses averages 242 @,@ 360 per year . 
   
   = = = Air = = = 
   
   The city is served by Meridian Regional Airport , located at Key Field , <unk> Airport Boulevard South , 3 mi ( 4 @.@ 8 km ) southwest of the city . At 10 @,@ <unk> foot ( 3 @,@ <unk> m ) , the airport 's runway is the longest public runway in Mississippi . The airport , which has been in service since 1930 , offers daily flights to Dallas / Fort Worth , <unk> . 
   During the Great Depression , residents of the city contemplated abandoning the airport because of the cost of maintenance , but in 1935 Brothers Fred and Al Key , managers of the airport , thought of a way to keep the airport operating . From June 4 until July 1 , 1935 , the brothers flew over the city in their plane , the " Ole Miss . " The record they established in their 27 days <unk> , totaling 653 hours and 34 minutes , attracted enough publicity and funds to the city to keep the airport running . Key Field is therefore named after the brothers , whose flight endurance record remains unbroken in conventional flight . 
   
   = = = Highways = = = 
   
   Interstate Highways 
   Interstate 20 
   <unk> west through Jackson , Mississippi , eventually terminating near Kent , Texas , and east through Tuscaloosa , Alabama , eventually terminating in Florence , South Carolina . Interstate 59 
   <unk> with I @-@ 20 in the city and runs north through Tuscaloosa , Alabama , ending in <unk> , Georgia . It also runs south through <unk> , Mississippi , and on to <unk> , Louisiana . 
   U.S. Highways 
   U.S. Highway 11 
   <unk> parallel to Interstate 59 south to New Orleans , Louisiana , and north all the way to the Canada – US border . U.S. Highway 45 
   <unk> route which runs north through Columbus , Mississippi , to the US @-@ Canada border and south through <unk> , Mississippi , to Mobile , Alabama , and the Gulf of Mexico . U.S. Highway 80 
   <unk> west through Jackson , Mississippi , to Dallas , Texas , and east through <unk> , Alabama , all the way to <unk> Island , Georgia and the Atlantic Ocean . 
   State Highways 
   Mississippi Highway 19 
   <unk> north to West , Mississippi , and south to the Mississippi @-@ Alabama border , where it continues as Alabama State Route 10 . Mississippi Highway 39 
   <unk> in Meridian and runs north to <unk> , Mississippi . Mississippi Highway 145 
   <unk> US 45 , but now only exists as an alternate route in several cities . Mississippi Highway <unk> 
   <unk> in Meridian and runs north to <unk> , Mississippi . 
   
   = = Education = = 
   
   Early public education in Meridian was based on the 1870 Mississippi Constitution . From 1870 to 1885 , trustees appointed by the City Council served on the Board of School Directors , which had authority to operate the schools . Although there were several schools in the city before 1884 , they were privately owned and only enrolled about 400 students . The city did not build its first publicly owned school until September 1884 . The first public school for blacks in the city was held in facilities rented from St. Paul Methodist Church . The Mississippi Legislature amended the city charter in January 1888 to allow the city to maintain its own municipal school district , and in March of the same year $ 30 @,@ 000 in bonds was approved for the city to build new public schools . From this bond , the <unk> School was built in 1894 , becoming the first brick public school building in the state built for blacks . 
   From this early district and later additions , the Meridian Public School District grew to its current size , which now includes six elementary schools , 3 middle schools , and 3 high schools . The city also contains several private schools including Lamar School , <unk> Christian School , Community Christian School , and St. Patrick 's Catholic School . The campus of Meridian High School , the main high school in the district , occupies 37 acres ( 15 ha ) , including six buildings and 111 classrooms . The school is made up of grades 10 @-@ 12 and <unk> approximately 1 @,@ 500 students . 
   Meridian is home to two post @-@ secondary educational institutions . Meridian Community College , founded in 1937 , is located at 910 Highway 19 N and offers free tuition for four <unk> to graduates from the Meridian Public and Lauderdale County School <unk> as well as <unk> children who reside inside Lauderdale County . Originally known as Meridian Junior College and located at Meridian High School , the college moved to its present location in 1965 . After <unk> laws were passed , <unk> merged with <unk> Harris Junior College in 1970 , which had previously enrolled African @-@ American students . The name change from Meridian Junior College to Meridian Community College took place In 1987 " to more accurately reflect the diversity of opportunities it provides for a growing community area . " Mississippi State University also operates a campus in the city . As of the Fall 2008 semester , 763 students from 33 counties throughout the state and several in Alabama attended the college . 
   Meridian is served by the Meridian @-@ Lauderdale County Public Library , located at the corner of 7th Street and 26th Avenue . The city originally had two Carnegie libraries , both built in 1913 – one for blacks and one for whites . A group of women had formed the <unk> Book and Magazine Club in the 1880s and began raising money to build a library for the city . The books they collected and shared within the club were later the basis of the library collection for Meridian . With wide support for the library , the club enlisted Israel Marks , a city leader , to approach the national philanthropist Andrew Carnegie for funding assistance . The library for blacks was built at 13th Street and 28th Avenue on land donated by St. Paul Methodist Church , and the library for whites was established in a building originally owned by members of the First Presbyterian Church of Meridian , who sold it to the city on September 25 , 1911 . The African American library was the only library for blacks in the state until after World War I and is the only Carnegie library ever built for African Americans in the country . The two libraries served the city until 1967 , when the institutions became integrated because of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 , combined their collections , and moved all materials to their current location . The former white library was renovated and converted into the Meridian Museum of Art in 1970 , and the former African @-@ American library was demolished on May 28 , 2008 . 
   
   = = Media = = 
   
   The only daily newspaper printed in the city is The Meridian Star , which has been in operation since 1898 . The paper was originally named The Evening Star but was renamed in 1915 and has been Meridian 's only daily newspaper since 1921 . With a daily circulation of about 12 @,@ 000 in March 2010 , the paper serves Lauderdale County as well as adjacent portions of western Alabama and eastern Mississippi . 
   Though the Meridian Star is now the only newspaper printed in the city , there have been a few other historical newspapers . One such paper is the <unk> <unk> , a ten to twenty page publication published during the 1970s . The <unk> focused on issues relevant to the African @-@ American population of the region , gathering a circulation of about 5 @,@ 000 people . Other newspapers in the city have included The <unk> <unk> , The State , The Weekly Mercury , The <unk> , Weekly Echo , Fair Play , <unk> , Meridian Morning Sun , <unk> and Preacher , and Clarion . 
   The city is the principal city in the Meridian , Mississippi <unk> Market Area ( <unk> ) , which includes 72 @,@ 180 households with <unk> . <unk> @-@ TV broadcasts as an ABC affiliate from the city , headquartered at 815 23rd Avenue . <unk> operates two digital <unk> , <unk> @-@ <unk> , a <unk> affiliate , and <unk> @-@ <unk> , Meridian 's CW . <unk> @-@ TV , the market 's NBC affiliate , is headquartered at <unk> <unk> Circle . Since January 5 , 2009 , <unk> has also been the market 's <unk> affiliate , and it also features some programming from the <unk> Television Network ( <unk> ) . <unk> operates under a program services agreement with <unk> @-@ TV , the market 's CBS affiliate which operates a local <unk> service on its second <unk> . <unk> @-@ TV is the local affiliate of Mississippi Public Broadcasting . 
   The city is also the principal city in the Meridian <unk> Radio Market , which includes 64 @,@ 500 people over the age of 12 . <unk> ( FM 105 @.@ 7 ) , headquartered at <unk> Highway 45 North , takes the largest share of ratings in the market at 14 @.@ 8 % in Fall 2009 . In the same period , <unk> ( FM 104 @.@ 1 ) was second with 11 @.@ 1 % , and <unk> ( AM <unk> ) was third with 7 @.@ 4 % . Other popular stations in the market include <unk> ( FM 97 @.@ 9 ) , <unk> ( FM 97 @.@ 1 ) , <unk> ( FM 106 @.@ 9 ) , <unk> ( AM <unk> ) , and <unk> ( FM 95 @.@ 1 ) . Mississippi Public Broadcasting can be found on <unk> @-@ FM ( FM 88 @.@ 1 ) . 
   
   = = Notable people = = 
   
   Meridian has produced or hosted many famous people in the arts and other areas . For example : 
   
   = = = In acting = = = 
   
   Alvin <unk> , who played the lead role in the Amos ' n ' Andy Show , was born in the city in 1907 . 
   Diane <unk> was also born in the city in 1932 @,@ 
   <unk> Ward was born in Meridian , in 1956 . 
   
   = = = In business and politics = = = 
   
   Gil Carmichael , Meridian businessman and transportation specialist , was the Republican nominee for the Mississippi Senate in 1966 and 1967 , U.S. Senate in 1972 , governor in 1975 and 1979 , and lieutenant governor in 1983 . 
   Winfield Dunn , former Governor of Tennessee , lived in Meridian 
   John Fleming , current U.S. Representative for Louisiana 's 4th congressional district lived in Meridian ; 
   The late Lieutenant Governor Carroll <unk> , who was born in Meridian , lived in Laurel ; 
   Lewis McAllister , a businessman in Tuscaloosa , Alabama , was the first Republican to serve in the Mississippi House of Representatives since Reconstruction , 1962 @-@ 1968 ; he resided in Meridian prior to 1971 . 
   Gillespie V. Montgomery , former U.S. Representative , lived in Meridian 
   Hartley <unk> , founder of <unk> <unk> which is headquartered in Meridian , is a Meridian native . 
   Tom Stuart from 1973 to 1977 was the first Republican to serve as mayor of Meridian in the 20th century . 
   
   = = = In broadcasting = = = 
   
   Emmy award winning meteorologist Bill Evans ( meteorologist ) ( <unk> @-@ TV New York ) was born in Meridian , where he held his first broadcasting jobs . 
   
   = = = In literature and comics = = = 
   
   <unk> Edwin <unk> , who won the 1932 O. Henry Award for Best Short Short Story , was born in Meridian . For 30 years , <unk> wrote the <unk> Sawyer comic strip . Meridian is the birthplace of novelist and short story writer Barry Hannah . 
   
   = = = In music = = = 
   
   Classical composer John Luther Adams is a Meridian native . 
   The Island Def Jam rapper Big <unk> was born in Meridian . <unk> is known for his many <unk> and albums such as <unk> <unk> Here and <unk> . He has gained a large following for his <unk> and self @-@ produced beats as well as his ability to change his style on songs from slow and conscious tracks ( " The <unk> " ) to fiery and upbeat tracks ( " Mt . Olympus " ) . 
   The guitarist @-@ songwriter George Cummings , born in Meridian in 1938 , was a founding member of Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show . 
   Paul Davis , a singer @-@ songwriter best known for the late 1970s and early 1980s pop hits " I Go Crazy " and " ' 65 Love Affair " , was born in Meridian in 1948 ; after retiring from the music business , he returned to the city where he remained until a fatal heart attack in 2008 . 
   Chris <unk> ( February 10 , 1947 – April 23 , 2012 ) was an American country rock bass guitarist . He was a member of the International <unk> Band ( <unk> ) and The Flying <unk> Brothers , and he co @-@ wrote several songs with <unk> Parsons . <unk> worked with Jackson Browne , Judy Collins , <unk> <unk> , Whitney Houston , Willie Nelson , Randy Newman , Linda <unk> , Leon Russell , Nancy Sinatra , Johnny Winter , and The Byrds . 
   The singer @-@ songwriter Steve <unk> was born in Meridian in 1954 . 
   <unk> <unk> , the " Father of Country Music " , was born in the city in 1897 . The <unk> <unk> Museum is located in Meridian , and the <unk> <unk> Festival has been an annual Meridian event since 1953 . 
   David <unk> , former lead singer of The Temptations , and his older brother Jimmy <unk> were born in the surrounding area , <unk> and <unk> , respectively . 
   George <unk> , the singer @-@ songwriter most famous for the rhythm and blues anthem " Get <unk> " , is a resident of Meridian , where he was born in 1945 . 
   Hayley Williams , lead singer of the band <unk> , was also born in the city in 1988 . 
   Singer Al Wilson , born in June 1939 , was a Meridian native . 
   
   = = = In sports = = = 
   
   The city has also been home to several athletes , many of whom have competed at professional levels . Among them are : Dennis Ray " Oil Can " Boyd , former Major League Baseball pitcher ; <unk> league baseball catcher Paul Hardy ; professional basketball player Derrick <unk> ; Jay Powell , another pitcher ; Joe <unk> played in the NFL ; professional basketball player George Wilson 
   
   = = = Others = = = 
   
   Other notable natives of the city include : 
   Susan <unk> who won the Miss America beauty pageant in 1986 @,@ 
   James <unk> - one of the victims of the Mississippi civil rights workers murders in 1964 @,@ 
   Fred and Al Key , known as " The Flying Keys " - holders of the world flight endurance record - are Meridian natives . Al Key is also a former mayor of the city . 
   Fred <unk> , leader of the <unk> Baptist Church , 
   
   = = In popular culture = = 
   
   
   = = = <unk> characters = = = 
   
   Cullen <unk> , the protagonist of the AMC series Hell on <unk> , <unk> from Meridian , Mississippi , where he was a tobacco farmer and later a Confederate soldier during the American Civil War . 
   <unk> Harris , one of the characters of the Pulitzer Prize @-@ winning novel To Kill a <unk> ( 1960 ) , is from Meridian , which is mentioned throughout when referencing <unk> 's home . 
   
   