DeSoto County Love: Southaven edition

DeSoto County, Mississippi, is known for its diverse cities, local businesses and active event spaces – and one of the staples of the county is located at its center – Southaven. Just minutes from Memphis, Southaven was incorporated in 1980 with the help of homebuilder Kemmons Wilson. Does that name sound familiar? It may be because Wilson is also the founder of the Holiday Inn chain of hotels. 

Now, let’s get to know Southaven. If you’re an avid concert-goer, love the theater or have a particularly large funny bone, Landers Center hosts a myriad of performances from top comedians, bands and solo artists from across the country. Plus, each fall, the historic Mid-South Fair sets up shop on the grounds. The annual event typically features 11 days of music, rides and entertainment for the whole family to enjoy.

There is never a shortage of shopping opportunities when you visit Southaven. You’ll find outlet malls like Tanger Outlets and Southaven Towne Center, as well as a mixture of favorite local restaurants like Maria’s Cantina and The BBQ Allstars. 

Southaven has an array of different parks to choose from for those who love to spend time outdoors. Take an educational walk through DeSoto County Veterans Park or grab the kids for a round of disc golf at Central Park. If you have young athletes in your family, take note of Snowden Grove. It hosts the largest junior baseball tournament in the country – the Dizzy Dean World Series.

The Mayor of Southaven, Darren Musselwhite, had this to say about living here:

"I love living in DeSoto County because we check all the boxes required for a great place to live. Over the years, we’ve progressed from a small, suburban area that depended on Memphis for everything to a thriving, independent community that truly has it all. I loved DeSoto County back then, and love how now we have grown while still preserving the character of our cities and county in general."

Something about Southaven instantly makes it feel like home. If you’re not a resident, come see what we mean here at the top of the Magnolia State!