Hattiesburg area
Around Hattiesburg area
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Greater area · Mississippi · 238k people
Hattiesburg area
Locals say Pine Belt · “Hub City”
Pine-scented streets, Southern hearts.
blackgold
Welcome to the Pine Belt! Whether you're here for Southern Miss games, the catfish, or just the big sky and pine trees, you'll find a friendly community that takes it slow. Grab some sweet tea and settle in—there's always a story to share.
Clubs for Hattiesburg area
No clubs for Hattiesburg area yet.
The room
Hattiesburg area is big: its rooms are its areas'. This is Hattiesburg's; the others are below.
One room for everyone around Hattiesburg. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Hattiesburg area. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- University of Southern Mississippi Public university with a scenic oak-lined campus and the Eagle Walk.
- Hattiesburg Zoo Compact zoo in Kamper Park with a petting zoo and train rides.
- Longleaf Trace 44-mile rail trail for biking, running, and walking.
- Paul B. Johnson State Park State park with a lake for fishing, boating, and camping.
- De Soto National Forest Pine forest with hiking, camping, and off-road trails.
- Saenger Theater Historic theater hosting concerts, plays, and films.
- Outdoors Bike or walk the Longleaf Trace
- Outdoors Fish at Paul B. Johnson State Park
- With kids Visit the Hattiesburg Zoo
- With kids Play at Kamper Park
- Evenings Live music at the Saenger Theater
- Evenings Bar hopping in downtown Hattiesburg
- Locals love Meat-and-three restaurants
- Locals love Catfish houses
Through the year
- Hattiesburg Arts Festival April Annual spring arts festival with local artists, live music, and food.
- Mississippi Mudbug Festival April Crawfish boil and live music celebrating Cajun culture.
- Live at Five Summer Free summer concert series in downtown Hattiesburg.
- Hattiesburg Half Marathon October Road race through the Pine Belt with a festive atmosphere.
- Forrest County Fair September County fair with rides, livestock, and local food.
Hattiesburg has a humid subtropical climate—hot, sticky summers and mild winters. The best times to be outside are spring and fall, when the weather is comfortable and the piney woods are at their best. Best: Spring and fall are the best times to be out—mild temps and low humidity.
Talk like a local
- “Hub City”
- Nickname for Hattiesburg, from its railroad hub history.
- “Pine Belt”
- The region's name, referring to the longleaf pine forests.
- “Southern Miss”
- Short for the University of Southern Mississippi.
- “The Trace”
- The Longleaf Trace trail, often called just 'the Trace'.
Getaways
Local flavour
Teams
- Southern Miss Golden Eagles NCAA Division I
Eat and drink
- fried catfish A staple of Southern cooking, often served with hushpuppies and coleslaw.
- sweet tea The quintessential Southern drink, served over ice with sugar.
- biscuits and gravy A hearty breakfast classic found in local diners.
- Mississippi mud pie A chocolate dessert with a crumbly crust, named for the state's dark soil.
Where people go
- meat-and-three restaurants Classic Southern diners where you pick a meat and three sides.
- catfish houses Casual spots serving fried catfish, hushpuppies, and slaw.
- pine forests The longleaf pine ecosystem defines the landscape and the region's nickname.
- historic downtown squares Small-town centers with courthouses, local shops, and a sense of community.
Heritage and traditions
Proud of being the 'Hub City' of the Pine Belt, with a strong sense of Southern hospitality, a deep blues and gospel heritage, and a close-knit community that loves its Golden Eagles.
This time of year in Hattiesburg area
- Southern Miss football tailgating Fall Fans gather at 'The Rock' for pre-game cookouts.
- Hattiesburg Celtic Festival Fall Celtic music, dance, and food, often with a Highland games feel.
Say it like a local: “Over yonder” — Over there.
Festivals
- Hub City Blues Festival Spring Celebrates the region's blues heritage with local and national acts.
- Hattiesburg Celtic Festival Fall Celtic music, dance, and food, often with a Highland games feel.
- Hattiesburg Greek Festival Spring Greek food, music, and dancing at the Greek Orthodox Church.
- Hattiesburg Juneteenth June Celebration of African American freedom with music, food, and history.
- Petal's Christmas on the River December Holiday lights and activities along the Leaf River in Petal.
- Hattiesburg Christmas Parade December Downtown parade with floats, bands, and Santa.
Landmarks with a story
- African American Military History Museum Housed in a historic USO building, honoring African American soldiers.
- Eureka School A historic African American school from the segregation era, now a museum.
- Hattiesburg Historic Neighborhoods Victorian and early 20th-century homes in the downtown area.
- Forrest County Courthouse A historic courthouse with a distinctive clock tower.
- Temple B'nai Israel A historic synagogue serving the Jewish community.
- St. John's Catholic Church A historic church with beautiful stained glass.
Food traditions
- Mississippi hot tamales Spicy corn-husk-wrapped tamales, a Delta tradition that spread statewide.
- Crawfish boils Springtime gatherings with boiled crawfish, corn, and potatoes, a Louisiana influence.
- Pimento cheese sandwiches A Southern staple served at parties, picnics, and lunch counters.
- Barbecue Slow-cooked pulled pork with a vinegar-based sauce, a Mississippi classic.
- Hushpuppies Fried cornmeal balls served alongside catfish.
Music and arts
- Blues heritage Hattiesburg has a rich blues history, with markers on the Mississippi Blues Trail.
- Southern Miss School of Music Known for its opera and choral programs, and the Pride of Mississippi marching band.
- Hattiesburg Symphony Orchestra A community orchestra performing classical and pops concerts.
- Hub City Arts A vibrant arts community with galleries, studios, and the Hattiesburg Arts Council.
A little history
- 1882 Founded by William H. Hardy as a railroad town, named after his wife Hattie.
- 1910 Mississippi Normal College (now University of Southern Mississippi) established.
- 1917 Camp Shelby established as a training base during WWI.
- 1929 Saenger Theater opens as a grand movie palace.
- 1964 Freedom Summer: Hattiesburg becomes a center for voter registration and civil rights activism.
Rivalries
- Southern Miss vs. Tulane Historic football rivalry with the Green Wave.
- Southern Miss vs. Louisiana Tech Conference USA rivalry that gets heated.
- Hattiesburg vs. Petal Friendly high school sports rivalry between the two towns.
- Hattiesburg vs. Laurel Pine Belt bragging rights for the biggest city.
- Game day Southern Miss football tailgating
- Game day Friday night lights
- Outdoors Fishing on the Leaf River
- Outdoors Hunting in De Soto National Forest
- With kids Hattiesburg Zoo train ride
- With kids Pocket Museum
A classic Southern accent with a drawl, using 'y'all', 'fixin' to', and 'over yonder'. Locals often say 'coke' for any soft drink and 'mash' for pressing a button.
Only here
- The Hub City nickname comes from its railroad history.
- The Longleaf Trace is a rail trail converted from an old railroad line.
- The Hattiesburg Pocket Museum is a tiny museum in a wall.
- The Mississippi Mudbug Festival celebrates crawfish.
New here? A few tips
- Embrace the heat: summers are hot and humid, so stay hydrated and use sunscreen.
- Learn to love sweet tea - it's the house drink.
- Try a meat-and-three for lunch - it's a local institution.
- Don't be surprised if strangers say 'hello' - Southern hospitality is real.
- Get used to train crossings - Hattiesburg is a rail hub.
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Areas in Hattiesburg area
Nearby
Every areaCollinsMississippiWhere the pines meet the red dirtLucedaleMississippiWhere the pines whisper and the river runs deepColumbiaMississippiWhere the pines whisper and the Pearl flows.BogalusaLouisianaWhere the piney woods whisper Louisiana stories.MeridianMississippiHeart of the Black PrairiePicayuneMississippiWhere the pines meet the PearlGulfport–BiloxiMississippiWhere the water meets the welcomeMcCombMississippiWhere the pines meet southern hospitality
Hattiesburg-Laurel, MS CSA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.