Vicksburg is more than a small city with a strong history, sitting on the historic Mississippi river. Vicksburg is a community filled with welcoming people, aesthetic natural sights and thriving industries. The city continues to grow and now is an exciting time to be a resident.

Recently, Vicksburg was ranked on the list of “Best Towns in Mississippi,” and “Best Places to Raise a Family in Mississippi.”

Niche.com is a resource that breaks down statistics of a city such as crime rates, education standards, average income of residents and cost to rent a home. It takes these statistics and others to produce lists ranking the best states for millennials and metropolitan areas.

“I think we can be in the top five. I think we can compete with any city. We have the attractions and all the amenities,” Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs Jr. said.

Flaggs, who grew up in Mississippi, was excited to hear Vicksburg named on those lists, but wants to see the city achieve more. He feels Vicksburg is a safe community and said with the addition of a proposed sports complex, it will attract more outside people to the city.

“I’m convinced when people come to Vicksburg and they see Vicksburg, they like Vicksburg,” Flaggs said.

Flaggs would like to see more festivals and summer programs for the kids. He said the addition of a pavilion on Washington Street will add two restaurants and is adjacent to the river, becoming an added attraction. He would also love to see more after-hour events targeting the 20- to 40-year-old demographic.

Flaggs mentioned the potential of Vicksburg and said it’s developing.

Having raised his family here, Flaggs knows this is a family-orientated city. Vicksburg is known for tradition and developing a close bond among residents.

“When you look at our health care system, education system, the cleanliness of the city and crime being reduced, I think we are on our way. We’re right there on reaching the pinnacle of what Vicksburg can be.”

The Vicksburg Convention Center, in addition to playing host to groups and visitors from throughout the country, often events that offer a great time for local residents.

Recently, when 17 inches of rain feel on Vicksburg in early May, the convention center held commencement ceremonies for the local high schools. The convention center also hosts the annual Miss Mississippi Pageant and events like the Mississippi State Road Dawgs Tour.

“I think the secret is out,” said Annette Kirklin, executive director for the convention center, of Vicksburg. “We’re more of a destination now than we have been in the past.” Kirklin said the main goal of the convention center is to be an economic booster for the city.

Kirklin doesn’t think there’s one thing that makes Vicksburg unique. She talked about the history of the town and how the people here are close and share a bond.

“Even if you’re not from here they accept you,” Kirklin said. “It’s a very good partnership between business and the community.”

Kirklin, who raised a family in Vicksburg, moved to the city in 1988 and calls this her adopted hometown. She feels Vicksburg fosters an atmosphere of home and family.

“It’s the hometown feel that makes you feel safe,” Kirklin said. “Everybody knows everybody.”

Vicksburg Warren School District Superintendent Chad Shealy has only lived in Vicksburg for a little over a year, but immediately felt welcomed when moving to Vicksburg. Shealy said moving to the city felt like coming home to a place he always should have been from. The community embraced him and his family unlike a place he’s ever seen.

“It’s truly a wonderful place to raise a family,” Shealy said.

As for education, Shealy said education significantly impacts the community which it serves. Shealy, once he moved here, reached out to the community to decide how to improve the school district and discovered several needs.

Shealy has incorporated a focus on engineering in high school through a partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers Engineer Research Development Center and has plans for an upcoming biomedical program for high school students and ninth grade academies that help students focus on a career.

“We need to provide choices for parents as we try to make options that are allowable for our school district to provide for the needs of our school district,” Shealy said.

He said having a resource like ERDC goes a long way in improving education.

Shealy described engineering as more than math and science, and said there are students who may never know they can be engineers and who need that opportunity.

“If we’re not preparing our students to graduate for a science, technology, engineering and math world, then they’re going to miss out on job opportunities,” Shealy said.