Not every big city in Mississippi is packed with people. Some are sprawling due to annexation, growth, or sheer geography. Using the latest U.S. Census data, we ranked Mississippi’s 10 largest cities by land area. You’ll find history, growth, and a few surprises—plus a bit of fun perspective on how big these places really are.
10. Columbus
Land Area: 25.05 sq mi | Founded: 1821
Columbus sits near the Alabama border and is steeped in Southern history. It’s home to Mississippi University for Women and is known for its antebellum architecture and role during the Civil War. Though smaller in footprint than many of its peers, its 25 square miles still make it larger than several major urban cores. Think half the size of San Francisco—but with more magnolia trees than fog.
9. Madison
Land Area: 25.25 sq mi | Founded: 1856
Madison is an upscale suburb of Jackson that prides itself on order, zoning, and carefully managed growth. With high-ranking public schools, strict design codes, and master-planned communities, it’s long been one of Mississippi’s most desirable addresses. Covering just over 25 square miles, it’s about the size of Manhattan—though its tallest structure might be a church steeple or a town hall cupola.
8. Southaven
Land Area: 41.33 sq mi | Founded: 1980
Southaven didn’t become a city until 1980, but it quickly exploded into one of the largest suburbs in the state. It’s known for its shopping centers, chain restaurants, and rapid growth fueled by its proximity to Memphis. With over 41 square miles, Southaven rivals Boston in land area. The difference? Southaven’s grid is full of cul-de-sacs and drive-thrus instead of brownstones and transit lines.
7. Biloxi
Land Area: 42.94 sq mi | Founded: 1699
Biloxi is one of the oldest cities in the United States, founded by French colonists in the 17th century. Today, it’s a gambling and tourism magnet, home to Keesler Air Force Base, seafood docks, and casino resorts. Stretching nearly 43 square miles, it’s just a bit smaller than Washington, D.C.—but it trades monuments for slot machines and oysters.
6. Hattiesburg
Land Area: 53.44 sq mi | Founded: 1882
Home to the University of Southern Mississippi and Camp Shelby, Hattiesburg is a city defined by education, the military, and medicine. It’s a key regional connector in South Mississippi, with a population that skews young and diverse. It covers roughly 53 square miles—close in size to Hattiesburg’s cultural reach and about half the footprint of Atlanta.
5. Meridian
Land Area: 53.74 sq mi | Founded: 1860
Meridian was once a booming railroad town and is still an important healthcare and commercial hub for east Mississippi. It’s the birthplace of Jimmie Rodgers, considered the father of country music, and still has strong cultural roots. With nearly 54 square miles, Meridian is about the same size as Pittsburgh—just swap the steel mills for historic districts and medical centers.
4. Gulfport
Land Area: 55.63 sq mi | Founded: 1898
Gulfport is Mississippi’s second-largest city by population and a key port on the Gulf Coast. It’s known for shipping, tourism, beaches, and resilience after storms like Hurricane Katrina. The city covers over 55 square miles, slightly more than San Francisco, though with a much lower skyline and a whole lot more shrimp.
3. Olive Branch
Land Area: 56.05 sq mi | Founded: 1874
Olive Branch has evolved from quiet farmland into one of Mississippi’s fastest-growing cities. Sitting just outside Memphis in DeSoto County, it’s now a major suburban hub filled with distribution centers, sprawling subdivisions, and retail growth. After a major annexation in 2021, the city’s footprint expanded to over 55 square miles, making it even larger than Walt Disney World. But instead of roller coasters and monorails, you’ll find cul-de-sacs, logistics parks, and the occasional Cracker Barrel.
2. Tupelo
Land Area: 64.38 sq mi | Founded: 1866
Best known as Elvis Presley’s birthplace, Tupelo has grown into an economic and medical center for northeast Mississippi. It blends cultural history with solid infrastructure and regional retail clout. Spanning 64 square miles, Tupelo is larger than Paris—yes, that Paris—but the Eiffel Tower has some serious competition from the Elvis Presley Birthplace Museum.
1. Jackson
Land Area: 111.72 sq mi | Founded: 1821
Jackson is Mississippi’s capital and by far its largest city in terms of area and population. It houses the state government, universities, museums, and much of the state’s legal and political machinery. At nearly 112 square miles, Jackson is double the size of Miami. It’s a city of sprawl, history, and struggle—simultaneously Mississippi’s center of gravity and its most complex challenge.
Last Updated on December 13, 2025 by F.E.M