Quality of Life
Noxubee County Scenery, photo by Jewel Miller
When you live in Noxubee County, you can be assured of excellent health care; safe, friendly communities with affordable housing; outstanding opportunities for outdoor recreation; and access to educational opportunities from kindergarten through graduate degrees. You’ll also like the welcoming spirit, sense of community, and affordable living costs.
Visit the pages in this section for full details about the high quality of life in Noxubee County.
Health Care
Health-care services are provided locally by the Noxubee medical complex, which operates a 25-bed critical-access hospital with a 24/7 urgent care facility plus a 60-bed nursing home and three medical clinics.
For situations requiring medical specializations and treatment options not available locally, hospitals in Columbus and Starkville, Mississippi, are just a 35-mile drive away.
Patients needing highly advanced diagnosis and treatment can access either of two nationally acclaimed health centers: the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson (125 miles) and the University of Alabama Birmingham Health System (140 miles). Learn more about medical care in Noxubee County.
Communities
In Noxubee County, the pleasures of small-town living are accompanied by access to the attractions of larger cities a short drive away. Noxubee’s three primary communities of Macon, Brooksville, and Shuqualak are aligned along north-south US Highway 45.
Macon, the largest, is the commercial hub of the county and home to about 2,000 people. Each community is known for its specific industries and the opportunities it provides for enjoyable, affordable living.
The Golden Triangle communities of Starkville, West Point, and Columbus, with extensive opportunities for shopping, dining, and entertainment, are about a 30-minute drive away. Learn more about the Noxubee County communities of Brooksville, Macon, and Shuqualak.
Recreation
Recreational opportunities abound in Noxubee County. For outdoor recreation, there’s the 48,000 acre Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, which draws a quarter million visitors a year to enjoy the woodlands, water, and wildlife. The scenic Noxubee River and the 234-mile Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway offer a multitude of ways to enjoy the great outdoors.
If you prefer festivals, you’ll like the annual Dancing Rabbit Festival and the Juneteenth Festival held in Macon in October and June, respectively.
Golfers will enjoy the Zach Brooks 9-hole course near Macon plus the renowned Old Waverly Golf Club, an 18-hole championship course 40 miles to the north and two premier 18-hole championship courses at Pearl River Resort in neighboring Neshoba County.
For those interested in history and culture, the county has five unique historical sites and one historical trail, all well worth a day’s visit. Learn more about outdoor recreation and festivals and events in Noxubee County.
Education
The Noxubee County School System provides a sound basic education from kindergarten through 12th grade. Private schools are also available.
Those who wish to advance their education beyond the high-school level have three excellent opportunities nearby:
- East Mississippi Community College, offering an academic college-transfer track in addition to technical career-oriented programs
- Mississippi State University, internationally known for the quality of its programs from the undergraduate through the doctoral level
- Mississippi University for Women, providing an excellent education through the master’s degree level in the atmosphere of a small liberal arts school.
Learn more about K-12 schools and higher education opportunities for Noxubee County residents.
History
Noxubee County was formed in 1830 from land ceded by the Choctaw Nation. Land sales began in 1834. Most settlers were farmers from the Carolinas, Georgia, and Alabama seeking land for their families. Macon, centrally located within the new county, was chosen as the county seat. The county saw rapid growth in population and wealth in the 1850s and the construction of many homes, schools, churches, and businesses. The 1860s brought war and poverty to the county, but since it was never the site of battle, the state government was moved to Macon for a time after the city of Jackson was destroyed. In the early and mid-20th Century, many new enterprises came to the county, but logging and farming formed the backbone of the economy, as they do today, with timber and row crop agriculture predominating. Learn more about the history of Noxubee County.
Government and Taxes
As is true of all Mississippi counties, Noxubee County is governed by a five-member board of supervisors, with one member elected from each of the county’s five districts. The county’s three cities — Macon, Brooksville, and Shuqualak — are governed by a mayor and board of aldermen. Learn more about Noxubee county and city government and associated taxes.
