Datasets:

Salesforce

/

wikitext

like 327

= = 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